By Audrey Maynard

From her earliest years, Hannah Teo, HBS ’26, HBA ’26, has been drawn to a life of service. Before enrolling at the University of Utah, she worked directly with organizations in her hometown of Ogden, helping members of her community access essential resources. These formative experiences deepened Teo’s sense of purpose and shaped her academic interests as a student at the U.

With dual honors degrees in biomedical engineering and Spanish, Teo is preparing for medical school with a clear vision: to expand patients’ access to care and reduce health disparities through technical innovation and meaningful human connection.

While many pre-med students follow traditional paths in biology or chemistry, Teo chose a more technical route. Biomedical engineering allows her to understand the “why” behind the tools and technologies physicians rely on every day.

I’ve always been interested in how things work,” she says. “Engineering lets me look behind the scenes—how devices function and how systems are designed—and I think that perspective will help me become a better physician.”

At the same time, Teo’s Spanish courses have deepened her understanding of patient care in ways that extend beyond language alone. For her Honors thesis, Teo researched how Spanish-speaking patients navigate the American health care system, with a particular focus on the role of medical interpreters in clinical settings.

“For me, understanding Spanish—not just conversationally, but in a medical context—has helped me connect more meaningfully with patients,” she says. “Through my research, I’ve seen how language access builds trust and leads to better health outcomes.”

At the U, Teo found both academic rigor and a strong sense of belonging. Living in the Honors residential community provided a close-knit network of peers and mentors who have supported her growth. She has also benefited from the Honors College’s small, interdisciplinary classes that encourage exploration beyond a single field of study.

Last year, she enrolled in Women in the Law, a course that took her to Washington, DC, where she met with elected officials and a US Supreme Court Justice. This experience broadened her perspective on leadership, policy, and advocacy.

This class had nothing to do with my major, but that’s what I love about Honors,” she says. “It gives us all these different pathways to make connections and brings people from every discipline together.”

Equally transformative has been Teo’s involvement with the Bennion Center for Community Engagement. Since her freshman year, she has served in roles ranging from partner liaison for the Ronald McDonald House to issue area coordinator supporting arts and recreation programs across several community organizations. She has also had the opportunity to work in multiple health care settings, helping patients secure insurance coverage, providing sexual health counseling, and supporting families as a volunteer doula.

“Community service is my passion, and the Bennion Center has been essential in connecting me to opportunities where I can make a difference,” she says. “It’s allowed me to build relationships with people and communities I wouldn’t otherwise encounter in my day-to-day life.”

Looking back on her undergraduate experience, Teo reflects with gratitude on the many individuals who have made her journey possible, especially those who have invested in her education through scholarships. She is the recipient of the Lear Family Scholarship in the Honors College and the Alumni Bennion Scholarship for Equitable Access.

“Scholarships empower students to learn from the people around them, and they remind us that education and service are most powerful when they inform and strengthen one another,” she says. “I’m deeply grateful for the generosity of those who invest—not only in students, but in the broader community and its potential to create meaningful change.”

This summer, Teo will begin applying to medical schools, where she hopes to continue her outreach and advocacy for vulnerable members of her community. She plans to specialize in women’s health or pediatrics.

My experience in Spanish-speaking clinics during my time at the U has definitely shaped my vision for the kind of doctor I want to become,” she says. “More than anything, I want to keep on volunteering and giving back any way I can.”