James He ’21, Molecular & Cell Biology
Spring 2020 UConn Co-op Legacy Fellow – Change Grant Recipient

UConn KDSAP’s Initiative to Promote Kidney Health Awareness in Youth Populations

Project Summary

The KDSAP chapter at UConn advocates for the awareness of chronic kidney disease; often overlooked at
primary levels of healthcare. With the support of the Change Grant, the group will establish an educational program for middle school students focused on healthy habits, an emphasis on prevention efforts, and kidney-centered activities.

About James

James He, from Woodbridge, CT, is a junior in the STEM Scholar community majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology while working towards minors in Mathematics and Neuroscience. He is currently an undergraduate researcher in the LoTurco Lab, a violinist in the UConn Symphony Orchestra, the Director of Programming of the Kidney Disease Screening Awareness and Prevention Program (KDSAP), and the preschool site manager for America Reads. His experience working with younger students and passion for medical science motivate KDSAP’s Change Grant initiative to broaden preventative care for kidney disease in middle and elementary school students. Throughout high school, James conducted a research study aiming to define accurate predictors of reading development in early education and realized the magnitude at which a child’s academic, social, and physical development can impact their lives decades later. KDSAP’s core focus on kidney disease, an often overlooked aspect of physical health, presented a clear opportunity to deliver a lasting impact in young populations. In the future, James hopes to integrate his interests in medicine and research as a physician-scientist. In addition to his academic pursuits, he is a passionate violinist, card game strategist, and basketball enthusiast.