Sumanya Kumar

UConn School of Medicine

I was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in Nashua, New Hampshire and Acton, Massachusetts before matriculating at the University of Connecticut. There, I earned my Bachelor of Science in molecular and cell biology with a minor in statistics.

In college, I volunteered at health screenings in local underserved areas through the Kidney Disease Screening Awareness Program (KDSAP), where I raised awareness of kidney disease and its significance. I went on two mission trips to Haiti, where our team assisted physicians providing care to medically underserved communities. Finally, as a member of Jumpstart Americorps I taught English literacy skills to disadvantaged preschoolers, and I was a mentor with Kids and UConn Bridging Education.

My volunteer and healthcare experiences have shown me the glaring healthcare disparities that exist in our society; I aspire to suture these gaps in our system. Through the Urban Scholars Track/AHEC Scholars Program, I hope to learn how to advocate for disadvantaged patients and fight for health equity. Frequent work with patients from these communities will allow me to better understand difficulties they face, and, by working on an interdisciplinary team of fellow healthcare students and professionals, I will be able to contribute to the provision of holistic care to all my patients. Eventually, I hope to integrate the lessons I learn into my medical practice, and continue connecting underserved patients with the resources they need.