Keisha White

UConn School of Medicine Class of 2016

I was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. I attended Vanderbilt University, where I obtained my Bachelor of Arts in 2012. While at Vanderbilt, I double majored in Sociology and “Medicine, Health, & Society”– an interdisciplinary major focusing on the social dimension of health and illness. During my undergraduate career, I spent time researching the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in an ethnically and socially diverse neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee. I had the opportunity to interview local corner store owners about their perceived roles in the community, particularly regarding the community’s health. Also, I conducted audits of foods available in each store to assess both quality and quantity. Interestingly, store owners felt they were providing an otherwise unavailable resource to the community in the form of ethnic foods. Also, the data indicated that in this particular community, corner stores had similar, and many times cheaper prices than the nearest Walmart. This was surprising as it was not in line with much of the literature about corner stores and their roles in the community. The Urban Service Track is a great opportunity for me because it allows me to combine my passion for medicine with ideals of interprofessionalism and commitment to underserved populations.  Many of my experiences thus far have analyzed the aspects of life that influence health that do not come from a biological basis; therefore, it’s important for me to continue this education and learn to implement it with my medical education. Ultimately, I’d like to run a comprehensive community health center that focuses on addressing the complex issues that prevent individuals from being optimally healthy.