Klair Lubonja

UConn School of Medicine

I was born and raised in Tirana, Albania, and currently reside in Newington, Connecticut. I attended the University of Connecticut and graduated in 2015 as an Honors Scholar with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology.

In high school, I was able to give back to the Hartford community by mentoring students who attended the Boys and Girls Club in Hartford, CT; I helped educate them, and motivated them to pursue careers in the STEM fields. I have also had the privilege of participating in four medical humanitarian trips abroad to the countries of Peru, Guatemala, and Albania. During these trips, I came to better understand the problems international communities face in their access to health care, as well as what the governments of the aforementioned countries were doing to address those problems.

Being a member of the Urban Service Track will allow me to give back to the communities that helped me and my family in our time of need. Through the UST, I want to learn more about the health care-related problems faced by the underserved communities of Connecticut. I hope to use this knowledge to do all I can to lessen the severity of these problems, and to work towards their solutions. Additionally, my experience with the UST will help me become more culturally competent and understanding, permitting me to better interact with my patients and their community.