Lily Zhong

UConn School of Medicine

I was born in Lawrence, Kansas and moved around Michigan before settling in East Lyme, Connecticut where I have lived most of my life. I graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in physiology and neurobiology and a minor in English. 

As an undergraduate, I worked as a Health Ambassador Intern, acting as a liaison between patients and healthcare providers. My experience listening to patients’ stories revealed how vulnerable populations often came in for diseases that could have been prevented or delayed treatment due to lack of access to health care. I saw similar trends through my work as an EMT, which brought home to me the need for better availability of health care to all those that need it. This realization was further strengthened while working with Habitat for Humanity in an underserved Tennessee community, which highlighted the detrimental effects that economic inequalities can have on physical and mental health.

I sought involvement with Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars (UST/AS) Program because it combines a traditional health science curriculum with a focus on vulnerable populations and fosters a community with a shared passion for serving the underserved. As a future primary care physician, I want to develop a better understanding of the unique concerns faced by underserved communities and to gain skills needed to effectively address these issues. I also hope to gain experience working interprofessionally, learning from practitioners of diverse healthcare disciplines and collaborating with the shared goal of providing optimal, comprehensive patient care.