“I am excited to serve as Region VII director on the Student National Medical Association’s Board of Directors,” said Bawuah. “SNMA has been a pivotal part of my journey to medicine, and I am honored to have the privilege to pay it forward. In my first year, I have 10 goals focusing on enhancing academic opportunities for the members of Region VII, supporting our pipeline programs and community service initiatives and increasing sponsorships and financial opportunities to empower our region further.”

Bawuah will represent six states in the Northeast, including 11 SNMA chapters and more than 10 Minority Association for Premedical Students chapters.

“The Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine community is extremely proud of Stacy Bawuah for her election to this vital SNMA leadership position,” said Dr. Phil Boiselle, dean of the School of Medicine. “As a relatively new medical school, it is particularly meaningful to have leadership representation in such a venerable organization, which shares our goals of supporting current and future medical students who are underrepresented in medicine, addressing the needs of underserved communities and training the next generation of culturally competent and socially conscious physicians.”

Born and raised in the Bronx, N.Y., and parts of Connecticut, Bawuah earned her Bachelor of Science in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Connecticut and her Master of Biomedical Sciences from Elms College. Before entering medical school, Bawuah completed 1,700 hours of service through UConn Health’s Area Health and Education Center in Farmington. She also worked as a patient care associate at Hartford Hospital.

Bawuah was among the 100 participants selected for the Obama Foundation Community Leadership Corps in Hartford, where her team focused on providing resources to homeless populations. Her interest in medicine evolved through recognizing healthcare inequities and participating in community service.

The SNMA is committed to supporting current and future underrepresented minority medical students, addressing the needs of underserved communities and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent and socially conscious physicians.