The Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars Program is a 2-year program designed to produce a cadre of well-qualified health care professionals through prevention and primary care in Connecticut’s urban underserved communities. Nine UConn nursing juniors are in the incoming UST Cohort #18 (out of 45 health care students) from UConn schools of nursing, medicine, pharmacy, social work, dental medicine, and Quinnipiac’s physician assistant program. 

UConn Health’s chief diversity officer, Dr. Jeffrey Hines, MD, opened the event with a presentation titled Medical Management of Vulnerable and Underserved Patients: There is No YouTube Video for This.  

Through a series of learning retreats on special populations, such as veterans, LGBT+, and urban youth, UST scholars learn about gaps in services and how to best address them. There is a particular focus on understanding the social determinants of health that impact patient access and care. 

“Students in our program are keenly interested in better understanding the health needs and concerns of underserved rural and urban populations. Personally, I applaud our nursing students who want to be part of the UST team because it takes a special student to take on this commitment along with their already demanding course load. I’ve been involved with UST for five years and have seen the results – believe me, it is well worth it!”
– Dr. O’Neill 

The students also participated in a clinical skills bootcamp at UConn Health Center in Farmington the following day. UST students are expected to participate in at least two community service activities each semester. They may participate in health clinics, community fairs, and educational activities at schools, nursing homes, and other organizations.

At Saturday’s bootcamp, the students went through a series of stations where they learned the skills they will need when they go out into the community.

Six senior nursing students are entering their second and final year in UST. The School of Nursing has the largest group at 15 students compared to the other schools. Dr. Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., RN, and Nicey Brooks, BSN, RN, UConn UST Scholar ’22, and graduate assistant are the nursing school facilitators for the UST program.