Erin Cova

UConn School of Medicine

I was born in Bristol, Connecticut and raised in Southington, Connecticut. I received my Bachelor of Science in biology from Brown University in 2019. After graduating from college, I sought out further experience in health care as an emergency department medical scribe and by joining the UConn Health Leaders (UCHL) program. My experience as a scribe in an urban ED taught me that many social factors affect patients’ health and access to health care. I joined the UCHL program because it strives to decrease health disparities by addressing such social factors. As a research coordinator and founding member of UCHL, I worked alongside medical students to develop a social determinants of health screening tool to identify patients who experience social barriers to health care. I also found and vetted resources that patients can use to overcome barriers they face due to social determinants of health.

I sought involvement in the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars (UST/AS) Program to further my passion for and understanding of urban underserved populations. This program will inculcate in me cultural competencies which will guide me as I care for these populations, and will allow me to learn from students from other health disciplines so I can be an effective member of a health care team.