JRF/United Healthcare Foundation Scholar Kayla Brown ‘26 is showing the way for her peers and creating career pathways to follow

Entering her junior year at Spellman College in Atlanta, Geogia, JRF Scholar and 2024 Spike Lee Youth Motivation Award winner Kayla Brown, majoring in Biology and Pre-Medicine, is already an established leader and mentor.

As co-chairperson of the Youth Division for the Association of Black Cardiologists, Kayla helped launch a Pre-College and Undergraduate Life Science Engagement platform focusing on youth in Atlanta.

While enrolled at Farmington High School in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Kayla collaborated with the University of Michigan Office of Health, Equity, and Inclusion to assist in creating workshops for students interested in pursuing health industry careers. A Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) regional healthcare project finalist in 9th and 11th grades, in her sophomore year Kayla founded a club designed to create a safe space for immigrant students and those from immigrant households, holding bi-weekly meetings and discussion groups and helping to create a social media presence celebrating members’ cultural backgrounds.

The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) recommended Kayla for JRF’s Spike Lee Youth Motivation Award, which is given to the JRF Scholar who has performed outstanding community service during the preceding calendar year . Representatives of ABC wrote:

[Kayla’s] “innate compassion and unwavering dedication to serving underrepresented communities have profoundly resonated with our mission…Her hands-on involvement in community outreach, health promotion activities, and professional shadowing experiences underscore her passionate pursuit of a medical career aimed at making a tangible difference.”

At ABC Kayla served as Co-Chair of the 2023 PULSE (Pre-College and Undergraduate Life Science Engagement) Retreat, providing invaluable exposure to STEM careers for students from underrepresented communities, showcasing pathways in medicine, medtech, and bioengineering. She was at the forefront of the rebranding of ABC’s Annual Student Retreat to ABC PULSE, and according to ABC, her inspirational tagline “Igniting Curiosity, Cultivating Leaders,” contributed to increased outreach and impact.

Serving as Co-Chair of ABC’s Youth Committee (2023-2025) Kayla couples with experienced and early career cardiologists to develop strategic initiatives for addressing the critical issue of early-onset cardiovascular disease among youth.

Presenting the Spike Lee Award Motivation Award JRF Board Member and alumna, Sobani Warner ‘89 described why Kayla was a model recipient:

“This Scholar seeks to eliminate health disparities that plague our society. In pursuit of that goal, this Scholar is working to create a virtuous platform that merges science, data, and daily lifestyle choices,” adding “As you can tell, she is a winner of this award in part because of what she has already done and in part because of what we believe this award will inspire her to do in the future.”