Frukan Ileaasu

UConn School of Medicine

I was born and raised in a rural village in Kumasi, Ghana, and moved to East Hartford, Connecticut shortly after high school. I obtained an Associate of Science in general studies from Capital Community College and then transferred to Central Connecticut State University where I completed my bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry.

As an undergraduate, I volunteered for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program through the IRS preparing taxes and providing tax education to low-income families, immigrants, and other underserved populations. Currently, I train new volunteers on tax filing and on how to effectively communicate with such populations. I also work as an Emergency Department Technician at a Level 1 trauma center in Hartford where I work with a diverse patient population. As a technician, I take vital signs, assist the trauma team during traumas, and work closely with the nurses and licensed crisis and social workers.

I naturally sought involvement in the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars (UST/AS) Program since its focus aligns with my career goal of providing primary care to underserved and vulnerable populations. Growing up in an underserved community with no access to health care, I became interested in helping solve health care problems; the UST/AS Programs provides me a unique opportunity to work in an underserved setting. Working on health issues in such communities requires interprofessional collaboration to improve the overall health of the underserved population, and I look forward to collaborating with students from diverse healthcare disciplines. I believe the UST/AS Program will best equip me to advocate for and provide patient-centered care to my future patients.