Daisha Drake

UConn School of Dental Medicine

My name is Daisha Drake, and I am a member of the UConn Dental Medicine Class of 2028! I have moved many times throughout my life—a total of 15 times across six different states. I was born in Charleston, WV, and spent most of my childhood in Mississippi before moving to Massachusetts when I was 16 years old. I attended the University of New Hampshire, where I received my bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences.

Throughout my undergraduate studies, I was incredibly dedicated to community service, particularly to services that worked to help increase access to dental care. For the past two years, I have volunteered at Connecticut Mission of Mercy (CTMOM), a two-day free dental clinic that serves many individuals who are uninsured and underserved. I volunteered as a patient liaison at CTMOM, which gave me the opportunity to connect with the patients and listen to stories about their personal lives, along with the barriers they faced in accessing dental care. I really enjoyed my time volunteering at CTMOM and wanted to continue my community service in the healthcare field during my time at CTMOM. It is for this reason, combined with my interest in learning how to care for underserved and vulnerable populations, that I am excited to join the Urban Service Track.