By Karen Carlo Ruhren
With an aging population and growing shortage of physicians, physician assistants are in demand in the U.S. now more than ever. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the occupation will grow almost 30 percent in the next decade—well above the national average. This may be news to some people, but for Ashlin Brown ’18, the opportunities in the field were evident soon after she arrived at Salve Regina University as a biology major and chemistry minor.
“I knew I wanted to go into medicine, and I was part of Salve’s pre-med club,” said Brown. “Just after my freshman year I discovered the PA (physician assistant) career path, and Salve’s biology major made it easy to complete my requirements.”
Today, Brown works as a physician assistant for South County Dermatology, a five-office Rhode Island-based practice. Her path is an ideal example of how a rigorous science major can open doors for graduate programs in the health care field.
“The courseload for my bio major was challenging,” recalled Brown. “I definitely felt well-prepared for a PA graduate program.”
In particular, Brown counts pathology and pharmacology among her ‘standout’ instrumental undergraduate courses and appreciates the guidance of Dr. Anne Reid, associate professor of biology and biomedical sciences. “Dr. Reid was my advisor and a big help,” said Brown, whose senior thesis was a study of immunotherapies for melanoma.
Despite the demands of a science major and minor, in the spirit of service, Brown found time to volunteer at Newport Hospital and for the Tomorrow Fund, helping with fundraisers for pediatric cancer at Hasbro Children’s, the pediatric division of Rhode Island Hospital.
Well-equipped and well-informed, Brown graduated from Salve knowing that she would need 1,000-2,000 hours of practical experience in addition to her undergraduate degree to be accepted into a PA master’s program.
She took the year after graduation to fulfill these requirements, working as a medical assistant and scribe. “This was so important because it enabled me to see the field firsthand,” said Brown. Her industrious work ethic, coupled with her academic performance at Salve, got her accepted into the two-year physician assistant master’s program at Johnson & Wales University.
After obtaining her MSPAS (master of science in physician assistant studies) in 2021, Brown joined a private practice, then moved to Brown Dermatology, before taking her newest post a few months ago at South County Dermatology.
“Dermatology is what I love to do,” said Brown, inspired perhaps by her undergraduate thesis work in the field. “There are lots of avenues: surgery, cosmetic, pediatrics, geriatrics…so many conditions to treat.” On a daily basis, Brown says she practices general dermatology and performs biopsies and basic surgeries, for example, basal cell carcinoma removal and suturing. “Physician assistants can work fairly independently, under the guidance of a supervising physician,” she explained.
From a broad perspective, Brown remains happy with her career choice. “I like the flexibility of a PA career. I can switch specialties at any time, and there are fewer administrative tasks, so I have a better work/life balance,” she said, noting that she still finds time to visit Newport with her old Salve friends.
As the PA field continues to grow, what would Brown advise a young person considering a career in the field? “Keep your grades up; it’s competitive. Take notes. I still reference my study guides. Take the appropriate undergrad courses that will align with your grad school requirements. And volunteer in the community.”
Good advice from a young woman who still keeps the Salve mission close to her heart. Brown shared, “I’m trying to help people live their best and keep them healthy every day.”