Maria Peraza

UConn School of Pharmacy

I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, and moved to the U.S. in 2007. My family moved here mainly because my father transferred jobs, but also to find a better quality of life, since Venezuela has been undergoing a series of economic and political crises. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in pharmacy studies in May 2019. Outside of class, I intern at St. Vincent’s Outpatient Pharmacy in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The majority of the population I serve there is Hispanic and from a lower-income background; my fluency in Spanish helps me better connect with many of my patients.

I sought out the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars Program in order to get more hands-on experience working with underserved, minority patient populations. As someone who hopes to become a licensed pharmacist practicing in a lower-income urban setting, it is vital that I gain knowledge of and insight into these environments and populations while I am a student. I’m also excited to be taught by the UST/AS Program’s cadre of skilled health professionals. Lastly, I look forward to the program’s emphasis on interdisciplinarity, the opportunity to work and study with students from health disciplines other than my own.