For her work with the DEAC Clinic, Lauren Kratky, MD ’21, received the 2021 U.S. Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Award, which honors medical students who have positively impacted public health in their communities.
With the DEAC Clinic, Kratky served as executive clinic director, clinic operations co-director and founder of the gynecology specialty clinic. She also started a telehealth clinic and a food insecurity project during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure continuity of care and support for her patients. She volunteered over 200 hours at the clinic and worked as a manager at the School of Medicine’s annual Share the Health Fair during her first two years of medical school. In addition, Kratky used her Spanish language skills to help Spanish-speaking patients at the AmeriCares Free Clinic and the Community Care Clinic.
Kratky is now a general surgery resident at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire.
In its nine years, the award has recognized students at almost 100 medical schools across the country. It is given to medical students who demonstrate excellence in and dedication to serving a medically underserved community through work that supports the philosophy and goals of the Public Health Service.