Wyatt Merrill

UConn School of Pharmacy

I was born in Boston, Massachusetts. I grew up near the seacoast of New Hampshire in a sleepy rural town called Kensington.

As a technician at a Walmart pharmacy, I encountered many community members who were down to their last leg. This ranged from those suffering from chronic conditions, to those who were unable to drop a dime on their prescription for their child’s antibiotic. It was here I learned what it means to be empathetic and to remain invested in people’s stories, the ones that didn’t involve medications. These stories served as backdrops that highlighted underlying issues behind their health. When I first thought of pharmacy, I wanted to find ways I could help others but I didn’t know where to start.

Over time, I’ve developed that focus. I’ve found it in the in-patient setting interning at Elliot Hospital in Manchester, NH. And I’ve found it here in Urban Service Track working with underserved populations. My goal at UST is to broaden my scope of care and to understand the diverse and invisible populations that our healthcare system overlooks. I believe I have much to learn from not only the community members I serve, but also from the stories of healthcare professionals and my fellow UST colleagues.