Meet Heather Brown: Doctor, Dog Mom, Do-Gooder
From the ropes course to the hospital floor, Heather Brown has always found meaningful ways to show up for others. A Philly native turned proud Baltimorean, she’s worn many hats—AmeriCorps volunteer, camp counselor and now a doctor in palliative care.
Her Baltimore story began in 2020, when she turned to the Jewish community to build connections—what started as a search for friendship quickly grew into deep involvement and leadership within The Associated’s Young Adult Division.
Here are five things to know about Heather.
1. She’s a Philadelphia Native
Heather grew up just outside Philadelphia before venturing to the Midwest for college at Washington University in St. Louis. After completing medical school and a residency program, Baltimore became her home. When she’s not working, you can find her at home in the Fells Point neighborhood with her micro mini goldendoodle, Penny, working on a puzzle or the NY Times crossword.
2. She Served in AmeriCorps for a Year
After graduating from college, Heather returned to her hometown to serve with AmeriCorps through the City Year program.There, she was hands-on in Philadelphia public schools – teaching, tutoring, running extracurricular programs and cleaning up schools with her peers.
3. Medical School Led Her Into the Field of Palliative Care
After her year of service in AmeriCorps, Heather stayed in Philadelphia to attend medical school at Thomas Jefferson University. She went on to complete a combined Internal Medicine and Pediatrics residency (“Med-Peds”) in Delaware before matching with Johns Hopkins for a fellowship in palliative care. Today, she splits her time between Johns Hopkins and Kennedy Krieger Institute.
4. Summer Camp is in Heather’s DNA
When Heather heard The Associated was heading back to Camp Nai this summer, she didn’t hesitate to join. Earlier this month, she returned for her third year in a row, rekindling her lifelong love for the magic of camp.
Since the age of eight through her senior year of high school, she spent every summer at one of three overnight camps — Pine Forest, Timber Tops and Ramah.
Over the years, she grew from camper to counselor, eventually taking on the role of ropes counselor. Her favorite camp memories? Singing around the bonfire with friends.
Fun fact: Heather is also known as the fastest knot tyer at Camp Nai!
5. She’s a Young Leadership Council Graduate
Heather recently graduated from the latest Young Leadership Council cohort in May. Her biggest takeaway? Gaining an in-depth understanding of The Associated network. As someone not originally from Baltimore, the program helped her learn about the impact of The Associated’s work happening across agencies.
Following YLC, Heather was eager to stay engaged. She has since taken on a new leadership role as Vice Chair of Engage365, the committee of The Associated’s Young Adult Division that provides programming and engagement opportunities for young adults, as she continues to build on her commitment to Jewish Baltimore.
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