Ashanda M. Saint Jean, M.D. ’98, Shaping the Future of Inclusive Women’s Wellness
Dr. Saint Jean Pursued Career in Medicine, Continuing Her Mother’s Legacy by Achieving Professional Success
Ashanda M. Saint Jean, M.D. ’98, clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York Medical College (NYMC), is one of six children born into a family who embodies a strong work ethic and giving back. Her mother, who was a phlebotomist and aspired to be a nurse, unfortunately was unable to complete her schooling after having children. Dr. Saint Jean, and her oldest brother, both of whom pursued careers in medicine, have continued their mother’s legacy by achieving professional success in their respective fields, while helping others.
Dr. Saint Jean’s medical education started at the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education Program at CUNY. The program was initially created to produce Black and Hispanic physicians to work in medically under-resourced areas in New York State. Students obtained a B.S. and M.D. degree in seven years with the stipulation of working as a primary care physician in a medically under-resourced area. Dr. Saint Jean completed her first five years at City College and was matched at NYMC, one of the seven participating medical schools at the time. She completed an internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Danbury Hospital in Danbury, Connecticut.
“I always give gratitude to my teachers, my attendings, my professors, and NYMC because they all made my pathway in residency quite easy. NYMC truly is number one,” she says. “They have esteemed clinicians who light a flame in their students. They really nourish it, so that it can grow.” It was on her last day of rotations at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan when Dr. Saint Jean was overcome with emotion and knew she wanted to become an OB/GYN. She loved childbirth and serving her patients. She was confident that she was going to pursue this career path. “I can proudly say that for 25 years, I’ve had the esteemed pleasure of being a part of the best day of someone’s life.”
Today, Dr. Saint Jean finds herself as chair and associate physician at Health Alliance Hospital in Kingson, New York, which is part of the WMCHealth Network and a clinical affiliate of NYMC, teaching alongside her former professors, like Jonathan Mays, M.D., clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and Yvonne Thornton, M.D., M.P.H., professor emeritus of obstetrics and gynecology. “I think one of my own full circle moments is now being back at NYMC and being a part of the students’ lives. I wanted to come back to teach medical students because the only way you can make things better for the next generation of people is rooted in the education of our future clinicians.”
Dr. Saint Jean was instrumental in the start of WMCHealth Network’s Center to Advance Women’s Health Equity, which aims to reduce cesarean delivery rates associated with health complications, enhance access to mental health, and provide comprehensive prenatal care. The Center is available to all women, particularly those at the highest risk for pregnancy complications. “Pregnancy and motherhood are journeys that should be surrounded by joy, love, laughter, and excitement. And that’s not what’s happening,” she says. “We are going to bend the curve towards humanity and put patient-centered care first. We are also going to develop strategies that address the whole biopsychological and social picture of a patient and evaluate how that plays into one’s journey.” Dr. Saint Jean is also one of the only physicians appointed to the Maternal Mortality Review Committee for both New York City and New York State.
Students continue to be surprised when they find out that 25 years ago their professor was once an NYMC student practicing sutures and phlebotomy, just like them. Dr. Saint Jean uses the same advice from her professors and experiences to shape how she teaches her students. “I always tell my students that the way I became the best provider was when I was a patient,” she says. “I want them to deliver health care with humility and not to get that lost in the science of it all.”
