Maria Antony

UConn School of Medicine

I was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, but lived in South India until the age of three. Since returning, I lived in Bridgeport, Milford, and Monroe, Connecticut, before attending college at the University of Connecticut. There, I earned degrees in molecular and cell biology and allied health sciences.

For my honors thesis, I spoke to 100 low-income families, predominantly Hispanic ones, who used Santa Marquez WIC in Hartford, Connecticut for supplemental nutrition. My project assessed the benefits of and barriers to social service use, with a focus on understanding differences in social service use among English-speaking and non-English-speaking families. I have also served as a Collegiate Health Service Corps member and a translator for migrant farm workers. Through AHEC, I have visited local farms, soup kitchens, and shelters throughout Connecticut. I recently began volunteering through the National Institute of Health to provide activities to children in shelter communities in Maryland.

Through firsthand experiences with immigrants to the United States, I learned that I want to help obviate the physical, emotional, and social barriers that affect such people when they try to access healthcare. I feel a personal obligation to give back to the urban community that has provided me difficult yet invaluable lessons on perseverance and compassion. Through the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars Program, I can fulfill this obligation by offering my skills in medicine, cultural competence, and healthcare literacy in a dignified and respectful atmosphere