Kate Topalis

UConn School of Medicine, Class of 2020

I grew up in Simsbury, Connecticut, and obtained my B.A. in Hispanic Language and Literature and Ecology and Conservation at Boston University.

Throughout undergrad, I spent much of my time connecting my interests in public health, Spanish, and environmental stewardship through community outreach. I worked as an intern at the Action for Boston Community Development and a research assistant in the Center for Infectious Diseases at Boston Medical, and I volunteered in the Pediatric Emergency Department

 I traveled to Honduras three times through Global Medical Brigades to care for residents in otherwise inaccessible areas, and spent my sophomore spring break working with HIV patients and at-risk youth in Puerto Rico. I coordinated my own service trip during my senior year, during which I worked with disabled and mistreated animals at a livestock rescue in rural Virginia. After graduating college, I spent my gap year at the Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s Health and the Environment in Washington, D.C., where I conducted educational outreach throughout the Mid-Atlantic States on issues such as lead exposure, poor housing conditions, and unsafe drinking water.

As I begin my career as a medical professional, I hope to continue exploring the connections between environmental and human health, especially with regard to their impacts on urban populations. Through its focus not only on healthcare, but also on patient empowerment, education, and public policy, the Urban Service Track will help me become an open-minded caregiver with the ability to assess and address the diverse needs of urban residents and communities.