Disha Patel

UConn School of Pharmacy

Growing up, I volunteered at many community-centered events in my town, where I educated the public on topics ranging from environmental preservation to health safety. I also volunteered at a soup kitchen, where I first witnessed a large, underserved population lacking many basic necessities. While at UConn, I gained pharmacy and medical experience working for CVS Health, Student Health and Wellness, and Yale New Haven Health. These jobs solidified my interest in working with medically underserved populations, as it is among these populations where I believe that I can make the biggest impact as a healthcare professional.
My professional experience as an undergraduate led me to seek out the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars (UST/AS) Program. I believe this program will furnish me with the knowledge and skills required to treat underserved populations, and allow me to directly apply these skills and this knowledge in hands-on experiences with underserved populations. I also applied because the UST/AS Program is unique in promoting and educating its participants on interprofessional care practices. Most importantly, the UST/AS Program will encourage me to have encounters that take me outside of my comfort zone, helping me develop as a pharmacist and as an individual.