Crystal Shaw

School of Pharmacy, Class of 2015

I grew up all over New England, but I spent most of my childhood in Merrimack, New Hampshire. I obtained my B.S. in Pharmacy Studies in the spring of 2013, and I will graduate with my Pharm.D degree in spring of 2015.

As a member of the student board at the South Park Clinic, a program run by medical students that provides free health care clinics to the homeless in Hartford, I saw health disparities first-hand. As part of these clinics, I’ve directly experienced how my knowledge as a pharmacy student can have an impact on people’s lives. UST will provide me the opportunity to learn how I can better serve this population by working closely with my fellow health care students and providers.

Since my teenage years, I have lived amongst many different cultures and peoples from across a board spectrum of socioeconomic backgrounds. My most memorable experience came during my year living in New Mexico, near a Navajo Indian reservation. I learned that being part of a unique culture often meant inferior access to crucial services, especially in terms of healthcare. As I am progressing through my studies, I hope to give back to the people that have shaped my childhood and who I will eventually serve as a healthcare professional. Being a UST scholar will grant me access to the tools, networks, and interdisciplinary knowledge of the healthcare field needed to help me best serve at-risk populations.