Meet Sherene...
 Class: 2006
Hometown: Kingston, Jamaica
Undergrad: University of Connecticut
Major: Physiology and Neurobiology
Program: M.D./M.B.A.
I was raised in a working-class family on the island country of Jamaica where routine visits to a pediatrician were not a common occurrence. In fact, my contact with a primary
medical provider came in the form of school nurses and mobile health vans for immunizations and sick visits. Therefore, unlike many of my medical school counterparts, my early interest in the
field of medicine wasn’t realized through encounters with a pediatrician or a physician-mentor. Instead, it was the untimely passing of a high school classmate after a brief medical illness
that provided the inspiration to become a physician. My decision was not only a response to an unfortunate event that occurred in my life but also to a desire for improving the lives of
others.
My life has been enriched with a variety of experiences where I was able to become involved with community service endeavors at an early age. I was humbled by my time spent
volunteering in a Jamaican orphanage where I developed an appreciation of physical suffering as well as an awareness of social issues that influences an individual’s overall well-being.
Throughout the years my experience in various humanitarian efforts provided the awareness that caring for people involves addressing the physical, psychological and social aspects of their
being. This allows for a more holistic approach to care, an essential quality to possess as a physician.
Prior to formally pursuing my medical school education, I decided to spend a few of my post-graduate years obtaining some life experiences. During the next three-and-a-half
years I was able to establish my own family unit with a young son and husband while working in science and health-related fields. For one year, I worked as an associate scientist in a
laboratory for genomic research while the subsequent years were spent as a pharmaceutical sales representative. Each of these jobs provided me with great knowledge on emerging trends in
medicine while enhancing my desire to pursue my childhood goals. Most importantly I acquired excellent time management skills and the ability to effectively balance family commitments, career
goals, and life-long humanitarian efforts.
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“The UConn School of Medicine seamlessly fit all my expectations and even after my admission continued to nurture my growth as a budding physician leader.”
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When the time arose to make a decision on the choice of medical school, I had a clear idea of the factors that were important to me. Above and beyond the strong medical
education one expects in any such institution, I sought a place where students had a strong involvement in the surrounding community as well as a voice in decisions regarding the core
curriculum. Most importantly as an entering non-traditional student I desired an institution which wholeheartedly supported a student body diverse in age, culture, and life-experiences. The
UConn School of Medicine seamlessly fit all my expectations and even after my admission continued to nurture my growth as a budding physician leader.
At UConn I have worked alongside very accessible faculty who favorably respond to students’ input as well as respected peers. This occurred whether I was a student member of
the Admissions Committee, during my clerkships when making decisions regarding patient care, seeing patients at our homeless clinic at South Park, or working in outdoor make-shift clinics at
migrant farms. Additionally, the school with all its flexibility in tailoring our individual medical careers made it easy for me to pursue a combined M.D./M.B.A. degree after my second
year of medical studies.
Now that I am nearing the end of medical school I can confidently say I feel adequately prepared to enter the next phase of my education in the field of pediatrics. I have a
solid foundation on which I can build a career that goes beyond my existing community to that of others such as the one in which I was raised.
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