Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars have the opportunity to participate in community research projects and professional meetings that enhance their knowledge and skills in working with underserved communities. Scholars participate on interprofessional research teams focusing on health care issues with the ultimate goal of creating better health outcomes for patients and communities. Student teams are placed at community partner agencies for six weeks, working collaboratively with staff from the cooperating agency and supported by discipline-specific faculty within the UST/AHEC Scholars Program. At the end of the six weeks, scholars are required to submit a manuscript about the research project's goals and outcomes, as well as a poster for submission and presentation to professional meetings and conferences.

Community partner agencies supporting research projects include:

• City of Hartford Health and Human Services (HHHS)
• Connecticut Center for Primary Care (CCPC)
• Community Health Center Association of Connecticut (CHCACT)
• Khmer Health Advocates (KHA)
• Connecticut Area Health Education Centers (AHEC)
• Institute for Community Research (ICR)

UST/AHEC Scholars are encouraged to present scholarly work at state, regional and national meetings as means of professional growth and development. UST/AHEC Scholars have presented posters and seminars at meetings and conferences across disciplines.

They include:

• Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
• American Dental Education Association (ADEA)
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
• Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU)
• Connecticut Public Health Association (CPHA)
• Family Medicine Education Consortium (FMEC)
• National AHEC Organization (NAO)
• Society of Teachers in Family Medicine (STFM)
• UConn Graduate Student Research Day

Presentations by UST/AHEC Scholars/Faculty in 2016-2017:

• National AHEC Organization, Building a Clinical Skills Boot Camp in an Interprofessional Team-Based Environment, Presenters: P. Clark-Dufner, MA, Bruce Gould, MD, H. Tucker, DO
• Connecticut Center for Primary Care 9th annual Summit, Health Professions Student/Resident Leadership Training, Presenters: L. Frederickson, M. Obeng, R. Patel
• UConn Graduate Research Day, Poster Presentation, Addressing the Social Determinants of Health: Strengthening Clinical and Community Partnerships; Authors: L. Frederickson, M. Obeng, R. Patel; Faculty Advisors: A. Perrin, MD, G. Garber, DMD, K. Anastasiou, APRN
• Eastern Nursing Research Society Conference, Poster Presentation, Addressing the Social Determinants of Health: Strengthening Clinical and Community Partnerships; Authors: L. Frederickson, M. Obeng, R. Patel; Faculty Advisors: A. Perrin, MD, G. Garber, DMD, K. Anastasiou, APRN
• UConn Service Learning Ex-po-sition! Poster Presentation, The Urban Service Track:  Interprofessional Education for Health Care Students Committed to Connecticut’s Underserved Populations – A Service Learning Focus; Authors:  M. Ayers, C. Bisaillon, J. Choate, K. DeMeo, O. LaFontan, B. Leaf, V.Pita, R. Ziter; Faculty Advisors: L. Griffiths, MA, MSN, APRN, C. Yi, MSN, RN