Carolina Vicens-Cardona

UConn School of Medicine, Class of 2019

I was born and raised in Manati, Puerto Rico. In 2014, I graduated from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez with a B.S. in Industrial Microbiology. I have volunteered with Floating Doctors, a nonprofit organization that provides health care services to indigenous communities in Bocas del Toro, Panama. As a volunteer, I worked as a medical interpreter, gave health education talks to the children of the communities, and volunteered at a nursing home for elderly Panamanians. I also volunteered for a month at a public health clinic in Magdalena, Guatemala, where I assisted the staff in triaging patients and held educational conferences on health-related issues for patients and schoolchildren. During my undergrad, I volunteered at a home for abused children where I entertained younger children and helped older children with their coursework.

As a future health care professional, I believe it is my duty to ensure I am prepared to provide the best care possible to my patients. My experiences working with underserved populations showed me how vital it is for a healthcare professional to be knowledgeable about patients’ socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds: it was often necessary in order to provide proper care. The Urban Service Track will help me take a holistic approach, one which takes social and cultural facts into account, towards treating patients that will ensure they receive the care they need and deserve.