Linda Barry

University of Connecticut School of Medicine | Farmington, CT | 2022

Linda Barry Portrait Photo

The Presidential Award recognizes the invaluable role of mentorship in recruiting, promoting, and sustaining the next generation to pursue scientific careers. It celebrates the success of our mentees, those who receive accolades and those who overcome challenges. After a major illness, mentorship gave me renewed purpose. This honor validates this commitment. It is a profound acknowledgment of the time and effort we invest in our mentees to succeed often without the expectation of recognition.

The official biography below was current at the time of the award. Awardees may choose to provide their latest biographical information on their profile page.

Linda Barry has taught at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine (UConn) for the past 12 years. She is Associate Dean of Multicultural & Community Affairs, Associate Director of the UConn Health Disparities Institute, and Associate Professor of Surgery. Linda previously created the Young Innovative Investigator Program (YIIP), a two-year Master of Biomedical Research program focused on recruitment of underrepresented post-baccalaureate students as a pipeline for M.D., M.D./Ph.D., and Ph.D. programs. YIIP has the components and supportive infrastructure – including a mentorship team – to ensure a comprehensive introduction to basic science research. Across nine years, 22 students completed the program to pursue careers in medicine or biomedical research. During her 36 years of mentoring experience, Linda has encouraged over 300 students from middle to graduate school to pursue careers in science. For 12 years, the Women in Surgery Interest Group she founded mentored more than 400 women medical students interested in a surgical career. She developed and directs the Visiting Externship for Students Underrepresented in Medicine program for visiting fourth-year medical students to increase diversity among the UConn residency programs. In recognition of her work, Linda was honored with The Edythe J. Gaines Award for Inclusive Education, Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Award, and the West Indian Foundation Education Award. She has successfully obtained a National Institutes of Health grant and extramural funding for her research and published several peer-reviewed articles. Linda holds a B.A. from Yale University, an M.D. from Cornell University Medical College, and an M.P.H. from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.