Meet the Speakers
Gabriella Balazquez
Gabriella Blazquez is a third-year dental student at the University of Connecticut who is perusing a specialty in endodontics. She is passionate about providing care to patients in underserved communities, including those with dental fear and anxiety. In her spare time, she enjoys watching old films, trying new recipes, and hiking with her two dogs, Loch and Nessa.
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Victoria (Tia) Kozar
Victoria (Tia) Kozar found her passion for geriatrics as one of the pioneer participants in the Students-in-Residence program, spending a year living with the older adults of an assisted living community. After her neighbor and close friend from the experience began to struggle with cognitive decline, she dove head first to learn all she could about Alzheimer’s and other dementias. She has gone on to share her friendship and story on the Steve Harvey Show and ABC World News and continues to speak to the importance of intergenerational relationships and reframe how others view aging.
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Laura Marquez
Laura is a transformational leader committed to bringing out the best in people by tapping into their strengths. She believes when organizations recognize their most valuable asset - their employees - then leaders can change the culture to be rich, inviting, and inspiring. Laura has worked her way up from the bottom, performing each job along the way, which has broadened her perspective and strengthened her appreciation for what people do day in and day out. Laura is now the Assistant Vice President over IT Applications at UConn Health, and she is committed to put ideas into action to positively affect change.
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Livja Koka
Livja Koka is an MD/MBA student pursuing a career in her passion of neurology and neuropsychology. She is also a writer and songwriter, an immigrant from Albania, and a proud mom and wife.
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Michaela Matos
Michaela Matos is a 3rd year dental student at University of Connecticut working with Dr. Sharon Gordon's research team on a Special Olympics 2020 Inclusive Health Innovation grant from the IMPACT, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prior to joining the dental school, she earned her bachelors of science degree from UConn Storrs in 2018 with a major in theoretical mathematics and molecular cell biology. In her spare time she enjoyed traveling (pre-COVID!), baking, and spending time with her puppy Gus!
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Patrick Bogui (Dr. Violin)
Patrick is a soulful violinist and aspiring medical doctor. He has traveled the country sharing his passion in multiple organizations, schools, private events, churches, youth groups, and other venues nationwide.
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Currently, Patrick is a medical student at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, where he plans to one day become a physician and not only treat his patients with medicine, but with music as well! For this reason, he humbly takes on the title of "Dr.Violin" and is a firm believer, as he often says, that "music heals."
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