Douglas Lambert

UConn School of Medicine Class of 2016

I was born and raised in Fairfield, Conn. I attended Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., graduating in 2006 with a B.A. in English Literature. I later attended New York University and Columbia University to take the science classes necessary for me to apply to medical school. The volunteering experience I had that is most relevant to UST was working for 18 months as an interviewer in the Bronx for a child psychiatric epidemiology group at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. The goal of the study was to understand the psychological consequences on children when one or both of their parents had been through the New York City criminal justice system. I sought to be a UST scholar because I was motivated by my volunteer experience, and by my education both in and outside of school, to channel my medical career into underserved community improvement. During my time interviewing in the Bronx, I gained an acute awareness of the interconnectedness between environment – in all its meanings – and physical and mental health. As a UST scholar I can develop my understanding of this complex interconnectedness and begin committing my professional career to making a difference in the lives of people whose well-being is not given the attention it deserves. Additionally, being able to work together with students aspiring to varying health professions will provide a good foundation for working collaboratively in health care delivery -– which will be essential to my success as a physician, and essential to the success of health care improvement in the U.S. in the future.