“I hope to integrate these skills with my clinical and surgical training to identify gaps in violence prevention, particularly in areas touching New York—such as subway surfing, gun violence, and motorbike injuries—and improve outreach to the most affected populations.” – Ashley Brown, MHA and MD student
Ashley Brown is a second-year student in the Master of Health Administration program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she is also completing requirements toward her medical degree.
She received a Bachelor of Arts from Emory University in 2018, where she majored in Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies focusing on reproductive justice in communities of color. She also completed a pre-medicine post-baccalaureate program at Fordham University in 2020, and then had a wide choice of medical schools. Two years after beginning her MD degree, she joined the MHA program in September 2024. She expects to complete the MHA program in June and complete the MD program in May 2026. Then she hopes to embark on a career in surgery and help others in need in her hometown of New York City.
Her interest in trauma medicine and public health began when she was a teenager, including a memorable introduction working with the local ambulance squad as a volunteer. In this Q&A, she explains how her quest led to Mount Sinai.
Why did you choose the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program at the Icahn School of Medicine?
At fourteen, I stood in the back of an ambulance for the first time, sweating as a paramedic swapped me out for the next round of compressions. I had joined my local ambulance center as a junior volunteer, eager to learn how hands could save lives—unaware it would spark a lifelong passion for acute care and trauma.
At Emory, I majored in gender studies to better understand health disparities and to develop the language needed to communicate those disparities.
With my interest in urgent care and addressing social determinants of health, I was drawn to the Icahn School of Medicine for its commitment to training future leaders. Working alongside pioneers in the field taught me the weight of that mission. Exposure to cutting-edge research and practice has deepened my drive to uncover and address the root causes of care disparities, preparing me for the next stage of training.
Driven by a passion for urgent care and health equity, I was drawn to the Icahn School of Medicine not only for its leadership in research and clinical innovation but also for its commitment to equity, right in the heart of my home—New York City. It was here that I first donned a white coat, surrounded by pioneers in various fields dedicated to advancing health care while committing to health equity. Consistent exposure—and collaboration—with providers and researchers at the forefront of both medicine and advocacy has deepened my understanding of health care disparities and prepared me to address them in the next stage of my training.
How do you think an MHA will enhance your career in medicine?
The MHA program has been one of the most formative experiences of my graduate education. It helped me define my leadership style, learn from health care administrators, and strengthen my quality improvement skills through a capstone project exploring how language preference affects follow-up rates. Courses in health care promotion, policy, and health IT, along with strong mentorship, have taught me how to better communicate with the public using tools like apps, AI, and strategic messaging. In the next chapter, I hope to integrate these skills with my clinical and surgical training to identify gaps in violence prevention, particularly in areas touching New York—such as subway surfing, gun violence, and motorbike injuries—and improve outreach to the most affected populations. As my career progresses, I aim to step into leadership roles where I can leverage my expertise in quality improvement, stakeholder engagement, and policy to drive meaningful, large-scale change in communities disproportionately affected by violence.
What are some of your achievements in the MHA program so far?
One of my most meaningful achievements of the MHA so far has been leading my capstone project that examines how language preference influences follow-up rates at Mount Sinai Morningside. This is the first time I have led a research team as a principal investigator. This project has allowed me to directly apply what I have learned in the project management course and tie in quality improvement methodologies covered in various class to address real-world disparities in care. The MHA helped me identify my leadership style and strengthen my ability to collaborate across interdisciplinary teams through effective communication. My capstone project has helped me apply these leadership skills in a group context.
What activities outside the classroom have contributed to your success in these programs?
The successful completion of this MHA program would not have been possible without Dean Charney’s support of the Leadership in Healthcare Equity and Administration Scholar Program, which enabled Dr. Yvette Calderon and Dr. Brian Nickerson to oversee and guide this initiative. The mentorship and guidance of Dr. Calderon, Dr. Nickerson, and Herb Lopez, a program manager, were instrumental, as they supported me through every step of this journey. I am also deeply grateful to the medical school and this program for providing the funding and resources that made it possible for me to benefit from such a transformative experience.
In a similar way, activities outside this program that I feel have contributed largely to my success include collaborations with my classmates. These collaborations have not only broadened my perspectives but also strengthened my ability to connect clinical care with administrative strategies. Engaging with classmates in discussions around health equity and actively contributing to projects and conversations centered on marginalized communities has been especially important. Through these experiences, I feel that I am walking away with a much more developed understanding of the health care system as a whole and a clearer sense of the different roles that individuals occupy within it.
What advice would you give to prospective students considering the MD or MHA programs?
Advice that I would give to prospective students considering the MD or MHA program is to:
- Find your learning style and understand that, unlike undergraduate education, what you put into graduate school will ultimately determine how much you get out of it at the end of the day.
- Value every moment and prioritize the people around you. Engage your professors and mentors early, because they will help guide you to opportunities that you didn’t even know existed.
- Continue to expand your network, since your classmates today may be your colleagues, consultants, and even administrators in the future; get to know them on a deeper level by going out to lunch or starting a GroupMe that helps to develop camaraderie. When times get tough, you realize that it is the community around you that will lift you up and motivate you when times get tough.
What are your plans upon completing your MD and MHA programs?
Upon completing both my MHA and MD programs, I hope to move on to the next phase of my training by entering a general surgery residency program. During residency, I aspire to continue developing my leadership skills by taking on roles that involve educating and mentoring medical students, with the goal of eventually serving as a chief resident in my final year. Throughout these next few years, I plan to continue integrating my expanding knowledge of surgical management with my commitment to understanding and addressing the challenges faced by patients who often fall through the cracks of violence prevention efforts. Following residency, I hope to further this trajectory by pursuing a trauma surgery fellowship, which will best position me to continue addressing social determinants of health on a broader scale. My ultimate goal is to lead departments that not only provide excellent clinical care but also play an active role in shaping policies and engaging stakeholders to create a safer and more just world, particularly for those living at the margins of society.