Ryan Hannon had years of cancer research under his belt even before he entered medical school. His research honors those he\u2019s lost to the disease: his grandfather, a high school classmate he had known from childhood, and a close friend who was a fellow medical student at UConn. Their memories will continue to inspire him as he begins his residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
Why did you choose UConn?<\/strong><\/p>\n Its exceptional school culture! UConn\u2019s medical curriculum revolves around a team-based learning model, where collaboration is not only fostered but required of its students. This structure, and how it necessitates teamwork, communication, and cooperation, begets an environment which attracts some of the most thoughtful, empathetic, and engaged trainees in medicine. I\u2019ve found lifelong friends amongst both peers and faculty during my time here.<\/p>\n What\u2019s your major or field of study, and what drew you to it?<\/strong><\/p>\n I am graduating after five years of study with my medical degree. I took an elective research year between my third and fourth years of school to work in the Pediatric Oncology Branch of the National Cancer Institute at the NIH through the Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP). While there, I worked on the upscaling of a CAR T-cell immunotherapy against neuroblastoma in preparation for a first-in-patient clinical trial. I pursue medicine in memory of all those I have lost to cancer. Walking alongside and supporting patients and families navigating some of their most challenging moments is the greatest of privileges, and in serving others I\u2019ve found my calling as a healer.<\/p>\n Did you have a favorite professor or class?<\/strong><\/p>\n I have had the privilege to be a preceptor for first-year medical students taking their clinical skills class, in which they learn the art of medicine \u2013 how to converse with patients, assess them clinically, and sow the seeds of a trusting and respectful relationship within a short amount of time. This was my favorite class to take myself in medical school and I was fortunate to have the opportunity to help build curriculum improving students\u2019 competency with working with and respecting members of the LGBTQIA+ community in the clinical setting. But what is truly one of my favorite aspects of medical school? Every class is doctor class.<\/p>\n What activities were you involved in as a student?<\/strong><\/p>\n Outside of my research year at the NIH and precepting for a first-year medical student clinical skills class, I\u2019ve held various leadership positions, including but not limited to vice president of the Med-Dent Student Government; co-president of the Student Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee; and co-president of our LGBTQIA+ health interest and advocacy group, Reach Out.<\/p>\n I have also worked as the director of outcomes and co-director of the Psych Clinic for our student-run South Park Inn clinic. I\u2019ve served as a voting member of the Medical School Admissions Committee, John Dempsey Hospital Ethics Committee, UConn Medical School Alumni Association, and the UConn chapter of the Gold Humanism Honors Society.<\/p>\n Some more unique experiences include being a member of the 2024 first-place winning UConn SonoSlam ultrasound competition team, working as a UConn-Canaan Partners Venture Capital Fellow, advocating in Washington, D.C., with the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship for more equitable cancer survivorship care planning, serving on the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) Independent Student Analysis executive committee, and working with UConn faculty for a month abroad at a rural community hospital in Kisoro, Uganda.<\/p>\n What\u2019s one thing that surprised you about UConn?<\/strong><\/p>\n Though unsurprising now in hindsight, I was blown away by the support and care of our faculty members and support staff. They truly care about you, your well-being, and your success, not only as a future physician, but as a whole person. They invest in you and match the passion you bring to initiatives, all in the collective service of improving UConn.<\/p>\n What are your plans after graduation\/receiving your degree?<\/strong><\/p>\n I will be going into a combined internal medicine and pediatrics (Med-Peds) residency at my top ranked program, USC in Los Angeles, starting this upcoming June. Following residency, I am considering pursuing fellowship in combined adult and pediatric hematology\/oncology, with a focus on adolescent, palliative, and cancer survivorship care. With my various advocacy and leadership experiences in medical school, I also foresee a career path that touches medical education, public policy, and global health work.<\/p>\n How has UConn prepared you for the next chapter in life?<\/strong><\/p>\n So much of the doctor I\u2019ve become has been shaped by my professors and mentors at UConn Health. They lead by example, and their practices are emblematic of evidence-based, empathetic, and patient-centric care. Most of the life-changing experiences afforded to me over these past five years were due to faculty support and encouragement.<\/p>\n Any advice for incoming students?<\/strong><\/p>\n Stay as present as possible! It can feel like forever, but medical school passes in the blink of an eye. It is easy to spiral when one considers each peak of the mountain that is medical training. Focus on doing your best with what is immediately in front of you. Lean on your classmates for support and find mentors that uplift you; asking for help is the greatest strength. Stay curious \u2013 for your sake and for the sake of your future patients. You will end up where you are meant to be, trust yourself, and make the best decisions you can with the knowledge you have in the present moment. Everything will be ok.<\/p>\n What\u2019s one thing everyone should do during their time at UConn?<\/strong><\/p>\n Spend a shift volunteering at either our student-run South Park Inn clinic serving unhoused folks in Hartford or our summer migrant farmers clinic. Outside of giving back to the community, the most important thing someone should do while at UConn is find an initiative they are passionate about, whether in service, leadership, advocacy, research, or curricular reform, and pursue it wholeheartedly. Leave UConn even better than you found it.<\/p>\n What will always make you think of UConn?<\/strong><\/p>\n The sound of a ping-pong match immediately brings me back to our student lounge. Plus, any mention of the terms \u201crotunda,\u201d \u201cReALM,\u201d or \u201cTBL.\u201d If you know, you know.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hannon reflects on his time at UConn<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":243582,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"quote","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[117],"class_list":["post-243581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-quote","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","post_format-post-format-quote"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-08 23:07:28","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=243581"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243581\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":243583,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243581\/revisions\/243583"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/243582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=243581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=243581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=243581"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=243581"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=243581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}