Marta Stetsiv

UConn School of Medicine

I was born and raised in Drohobych, Ukraine, then moved to Kansas at age ten. I obtained my B.S. in biochemistry from Kansas State University in 2020.

My healthcare experiences include volunteering with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients in an urban setting and working as a home health aide in both assisted living and in clients’ private homes. While volunteering with MS patients, I saw firsthand how socioeconomic disparities caused differences in the disease’s progression and reduced quality of life. As a volunteer, I assisted patients with their occupational and physical therapy sessions, assisted with meals, and ran brain games to improve their cognitive functioning. As a home health aide, I assisted clients of different abilities with their daily activities and learned about geriatric care.

I sought involvement in the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars (UST/AS) Program to become a culturally competent physician and to learn how to address the challenges faced by urban and underserved populations. These challenges include bias in medicine and lack of equity in access to health care, resources, and education, especially due to rising costs. The UST/AS Program prepares students for these challenges in a compassionate and collaborative environment. I hope to use the skills I learn in the program to serve patients in urban communities and to bridge the growing health care disparities.