Rachel Markoya

UConn School of Nursing

I was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Derby, Connecticut. I am now working towards getting a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at UConn.

I have volunteered at Camp Sunshine, a camp for children with life-threatening illnesses, where I had the opportunity to work with families and children from all over the world. At UConn, I work with Huskython, a year-long fundraising event that raises money for the children being cared for at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, and am a member of the UConn Student Nurses Association. I will soon have the opportunity to work as a Patient Safety Monitor at Griffin Hospital, which I hope will expose me to yet another diverse patient population.

I wanted to get involved in the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars Program because of the educational opportunities it offers that go beyond a traditional, clinic-focused education. My past professional and volunteer opportunities have allowed me to see that disparate communities have disparate needs, and the UST/AS Program will let me apply and expand upon this insight. It is an opportunity like no other: it will allow me to better communicate with a wide range of medical professionals and patients, and will give me hands-on experience in care and advocacy for those who need it most.