Madeleine Pettit

UConn School of Medicine

I was born in New York City, where I spent my early childhood before my family relocated to the suburbs. I completed a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at the University of Toronto, where I also earned a certificate in Global Kinesiology & Physical Education. Since graduating in 2023, I have been living and working in Greenwich, CT.

Several experiences have inspired me to work towards health equity. Volunteering with an adaptive dance program in Toronto, where I helped children with disabilities explore movement and self-expression, showed me how inaccessible physical activity programming can be. When I  tutored a young student online during COVID-19, I learned how essential free academic support is to child development. Leading a student mental health group in college gave me insight into  how severe the mental health crisis is and the lack of resources available to address it. Finally, my work as an ER scribe introduced me to patients who frequently visited the ER because social determinants of health made managing chronic conditions impossible.

Through academics and experiences, I have learned that individual and community health are  closely intertwined. As a future physician, I aspire to provide individuals with treatment plans  that consider their social circumstances. I also aim to become a health-equity advocate and work to reduce the barriers to care that marginalized communities face. I believe that UST/AS will provide me with the tools I need to achieve these goals and improve the health of individuals and communities.