Motivated by a desire to address health disparities present in minority populations,
the blend of medicine and hands-on holistic care made osteopathic medicine the perfect career path for Ashley Otto, DO ’23. She is now ready to help close the
gap by distributing care to everyone in need.
“Quality of life is critical to a robust existence,” she said. “Being able to directly impact, change, and assist in a person’s health journey is extremely rewarding.”
An active member of the PCOM community, Otto’s involvement included holding the position of Vice President of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), working as a member of the Student Admissions Committee, and operating as the Director of the Cultural Competency Program (CCP).
After graduation, Otto’s journey will continue at the Thomas Jefferson Magee Rehabilitation Hospital where she has matched into the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency program.
Utilizing all of the tools gathered at PCOM, she plans to give optimal care to her future patients by focusing on the hidden secret she learned about medicine. Care is not a one-way street, and “involving people in their own health care can provide the unique opportunity to work with patients and the community to achieve health goals,” she said.
All of these incredible opportunities come to Otto as a direct result of her outlook on succeeding in medical school and in life—staying the course and standing in your own truth. She says she will continue her pursuit of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in healthcare throughout her career by “asking questions, staying humble, being accountable, being kind, and being grateful.”
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