Kush Kataria

UConn School of Medicine

I was born in California, but raised in Connecticut for most of my life. I attended Johns Hopkins University, where I obtained a B.A. in chemistry with a minor in entrepreneurship.

During my time at Hopkins, I engaged extensively with the Baltimore community through nonprofit work. I did a summer internship with an education nonprofit, where I helped to teach entrepreneurial skills to disadvantaged high schoolers in the community. I was also a member of the Students Consulting for Nonprofit Organizations club at Hopkins, where we partnered with local organizations to address challenges and expand their community impact. Through this work, I gained experience engaging with, and understanding the needs of, vulnerable populations, including at-risk youth, incarcerated individuals, refugees, people with disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness. I also volunteered at community hospitals in the city and worked as a medical assistant downtown. Lastly, in my gap year research role at UConn, I worked to develop and deliver our community-based intervention aimed at aiding rehabilitation for children with hemiplegia.

The UST/AS Program will allow me to work alongside like-minded individuals from various disciplines who share a common passion for community-centered, holistic healthcare. My experiences have shown me that vulnerable populations often fall through the cracks of our healthcare system and struggle to access consistent, comprehensive care. The UST/AS curriculum will equip me with the skills, mentorship, and resources needed to help me achieve my goal of bridging care gaps in urban, underserved communities through patient-centered care, research, and advocacy.