Salem Harry-Hernández

School of Medicine, Class of 2020

I was born in Kansas City, Missouri and grew up along the United States-Mexico border in southern Texas. After high school, I graduated from Bowdoin College with a B.A. in Chemistry.

My experiences in rural and urban clinics originated my interest in health care. Throughout my college years a growing interest in population health and critical race theory led me to volunteer with the Southern Appalachian Labor School in rural West Virginia and later a primary care clinic in Kansas City. After college I worked in higher education as an admission officer at Connecticut College in New London to more closely explore and wrestle with complex issues of access and oppression in the field of education.

Being the son of a migrant worker has tremendously affected the lens through which I view life and privilege. My heritage and backdrop has created within me a strong sense of responsibility to advocate and care for the underprivileged individuals. Having partnered with community-based organizations in my professional work and supported education in undeserved urban communities around the United States, I have seen the power of inter professional collaboration to transform communities by providing exceptional service and new opportunity. I am eager to get to work in the Greater Hartford area and learn the functionality of partnerships between different health disciplines. I believe that the Urban Service Track will equip me with the skills, mentorship, and exposure necessary to make a tangible impact where the need for patient care is greatest.