Spotlights
National Public Health Week Spotlight: Ashley Perryman
The American Public Health Association’s theme for National Public Health Week (April 6th -12th) is Ready. Set. Action! Each day, public health professionals work alongside communities to assess needs and improve their quality of life.
We chatted with recent Master of Public Health (MPH) alumna Ashley Perryman ('25), whose community work during her internship grew into a career and a mindset she will carry into clinical practice.
During her internship at the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute, Ashley was tasked with developing resources concerning patient rights and self-advocacy. Ashley became passionate about this topic after having her own difficulties navigating the health system, despite working in clinical roles during her undergraduate degree.
She explains, “When faced with my own difficult health journey, my prior experience with the health system and the resources that I had were not enough to prevent me from facing barriers in receiving timely care. Seeing how the complexities of the healthcare system were a barrier for me, I realized how much harder it may be for others, who may not have the resources, support, or knowledge of the system that I have.”
Ashley noted that after creating the resources and sharing them in an educational session, the community response overwhelmingly supported more substantial, continued programming. She expanded the work into Be Empowered, a 4-week health literacy program to help participants navigate the healthcare system with autonomy.
She reflected on that process, noting, “I am overwhelmed with gratitude to have the opportunity to bring this program to life and put it in the hands of the community. To see something that I am so passionate about turn into something that can help others is more than I could ask for. I am grateful for the mission of GRAAHI, and that being a part of the work they do allows me to be of service to the community in this way.”
What began as an internship became an integrated program and a role for Ashley at GRAAHI. Ashley is now preparing to enter a Physician Assistant program in May, bringing her holistic, public health lens into clinical care. “I hope to be a clinician who not only is a part of equipping the community but also provides space for my patients to feel heard and empowered in their care,“ she said.
The College of Health Professions is proud to support students like Ashley as they transform classroom and hands-on experiences into tangible impact. We are grateful that public health professionals like her continue to show up for their communities to drive better outcomes, policies, and practices.
Learn more about the MPH program here.
Interest Area(s)
Public Health, Physician Assistant Studies
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