Mary Staunton

UConn School of Medicine

I was born and raised in Clinton, a small town in Connecticut. I received a B.S. in Biological Sciences with a minor in Anthropology from the University of Connecticut.

Before attending medical school, I engaged in many different volunteer and work experiences that exposed me to underserved communities and the structural barriers that make it difficult to access appropriate resources, both in healthcare and otherwise. I spent several months administering COVID-19 vaccines at a drive-through clinic in East Hartford. I spent a year as an English tutor with Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services in New Haven, helping newcomers to Connecticut improve their communication and literacy to find employment opportunities. I also participated in research through Yale School of Medicine working with patients found to have acute renal failure, many of whom were learning of their kidney problems for the first time.

I wanted to complement my medical school with the Urban Service Track because I know that the community I will one day serve goes beyond the patients who come into my office. Truly caring for my community means identifying gaps in care to reach the patients who need it most, and the clinical workshops and outreach opportunities offered by this program will equip me with the skills I need to make a true impact in the lives of the underserved patients of Connecticut.