Jakob Lattanzi

UConn School of Medicine

My name is Jakob Lattanzi, and I am a first-year medical student at UConn School of Medicine.
I was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and raised in the nearby town of Guilford. I earned my bachelor’s degree in biology from Tufts University in 2022.

At Tufts, I made an effort to get involved in community service. I taught English as a Second Language to adult immigrants in the Boston area. As I got to know my students personally, I realized the extent to which language barriers obstruct immigrants’ access to healthcare and other important resources in society. In addition, I was a hospice patient care volunteer. In talking with patients, their family members, and other staff, I learned about the prevalence of
elder abuse as well as paternalism in the care of older people. My work experiences have illustrated the injustices faced by members of underserved communities, and they have inspired me to continue working with these communities as a medical student.

I sought involvement in the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars Program (UST/AS) because of its emphasis on supporting the underserved through community health initiatives. Through outreach and education, I believe that we can empower people to become more independent in managing their own health. Furthermore, the interprofessional aspect of UST/AS will prepare me to work as a part of a healthcare team and provide my future patients with holistic care