Desiree Campbell

UConn School of Medicine

I was born to Jamaican immigrants and raised in Mount Vernon, New York. I spent the first fourteen years of my life in New York before moving to Bethel, Connecticut. I graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science in molecular and cellular biology.

As an undergraduate student, I volunteered as a tutor and mentor to disadvantaged youth through Big Brothers, Big Sisters. After graduating, I worked as a medical scribe in an emergency department serving a large underserved patient community. I also volunteered at my local food bank, where I provided food and resources on community shelters for individuals experiencing homelessness.

I sought out involvement in the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars (UST/AS) Program to prepare myself to address the inequities of American health care and to work in a collaborative environment. My family has been affected by multiple public health issues, including lack of health literacy and access to health care. Through this firsthand experience, I learned how social determinants of health, including education, socioeconomic status, and community support, directly impact the overall healthcare experience. As a physician, I plan to empower my patients and to account for their differing life experiences by approaching each case with both strategic planning and a hands-on effort to implement real systemic changes. Through participation in the UST/AS, I will be well equipped to take on this challenge and make a positive change.