Caroline Thomas

UConn School of Dental Medicine

I was born in Waltham, Massachusetts and grew up in Sudbury, Massachusetts. I graduated from the University of Rochester in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in cell and developmental biology and a Bachelor of Arts in public health.

As an undergraduate student studying public health, I witnessed many of the serious health disparities that urban underserved communities across the United States face. I encountered them especially while volunteering at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts and at Strong Memorial Hospital in upstate New York. At the University of Rochester, I became involved in the Habitat for Humanity chapter on campus, through which I had the opportunity to work alongside soon-to-be Habitat homeowners. Hearing the stories told by these families struggling to find adequate housing in an urban environment, I came to understand how important such ostensible externalities are to health outcomes and wellness.

The Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars (UST/AS) Program will expand my public health education and help me become a comprehensive primary care provider. By learning and working with an interdisciplinary and interprofessional team, I will become a provider that views my patients as more than mere bearers of a cavity: I will learn to view them holistically, and to direct them to other providers to ensure they get the best care possible. With the knowledge from UST/AS Program, I will become a primary care provider focused on preventative care, dental public health, and the needs of my patients.