Boyle Heights native Ashley Contreras has utilized her upbringing as the foundation for her two core passions: education and medicine. During her time in undergrad at UCLA, Ashley distributed her time between the two fields, working in leadership as a training coordinator for the Cope Health Scholars Program at Glendale Adventist Hospital and a team leader with Bruincorps, a tutoring program serving under-resourced schools in the LA area. After graduating from UCLA with a BS in biology and minor in chicanx study, Ashley continued her work in education with the DCAC program at UCLA, serving as a college adviser at Benjamin Franklin High School.
Dedicated to diversifying healthcare through education, Ashley joined the AltaMed HCOP scholars’ program, deepening her understanding of health equity, SDOH, and research in medically underserved communities, where her passion to serve grew greater! Continuing her desire for leadership, Ashley became the senior medical assistant at Spalding Multi-Specialty Center to gain more hands-on patient experience, while training future MAs on crucial clinical skills.
Ashley is currently enrolled at the Primary Care Physician Assistant Program Keck School of Medicine of USC and a recent recipient of the National Health Service Corps scholarship. As a future PA, Ashley hopes to serve medically under-resourced communities, like Boyle Heights, through preventative medicine and education for both youth and community members.