Caitlin Lawrence

Caitlin is a second-year student at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. She was raised in Killingworth, Connecticut, and earned her undergraduate degree in neuroscience at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Before medical school, she worked as an English teaching assistant in Gray, France. She is interested in infectious diseases, tropical medicine and pediatrics. At the UCONN school of medicine, she is a member of the Urban Service Track, a supplemental academic and service program which focuses on providing care to medically underserved populations. With the support of the Kean Fellowship, she will be conducting research regarding pediatric caregiver attitudes toward dengue vaccination in Kandy, Sri Lanka. She is passionate about reducing inequity in global health and infectious disease. Outside of school, Caitlin loves music and the outdoors. In her first year of medical school, she founded an eight-member vocal ensemble that raises funds for community organizations in Connecticut, and she is interested in bringing music into local care environments.

Assessing Vaccine Acceptance in Caregivers of Pediatric Patients with Dengue Virus in Kandy, Sri Lanka
University of Peradeniya
Sri Lanka

What does the Kean Fellowship mean to you?
The Kean Fellowship is awarding me the incredible privledge of conducting research in a foreign environment and collaborating with an international institution. I am so grateful to be afforded the opportunity to develop my research skills as well as explore the field of infectious diseases and tropical medicine. I am also so thrilled to join the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygeine community, a group committed to innovative scientific discovery as well as the care of the medically underserved. I am excited to develop relationships within this network of compassionate and driven professionals, and develop mentorship relationships that will support me in pursuing a career in infectious diseases and tropical medicine.

What do you anticipate learning?
I am excited to partake in research in Sri Lanka and learn from the expertise of local mentors. I anticipate developing a better understanding and knowledge of the Sri Lankan healthcare system, and strengthening my ability to interact with patients in a way that transcends cultural differences. I look forward to developing my research skills and working towards becoming a physician-scientist. Additionally, I look forward to learning about dengue management in Sri Lanka, and investigating local attitudes and goals for dengue eradication or minimization of transmission among providers and caregivers.

What interests you about tropical medicine and what problems are you interested in solving?
I am particularly interested in researching neglected tropical diseases and those that disproportionately affect the world's medically underserved populations. My goal is to work on projects that not only develop new treatments for these illnesses but also improve access to existing therapies for those who need them most. I am passionate about fostering a culture of equitable care, where patients receive the same standard of treatment regardless of nationality or citizenship. In the field of dengue research, I am eager to learn from Sri Lankan healthcare professionals about their strategies for managing dengue and their approaches to minimizing cases.