Stanford-trained CI MED Alum Returning to Lead Community Health, Innovation

Carle Illinois College of Medicine alumnus Dr. Aaron Brown will return to Central Illinois next year, bringing a commitment to excellence in health care and a vision for meeting the needs of medically underserved populations. Now a chief resident in Stanford Medicine’s anesthesiology department, Brown will return to CI MED and Carle Health following residency to lead new initiatives that serve the community while also helping to train the next generation of physician-innovators.

Brown’s new roles will include serving on CI MED’s clinical faculty and as an attending physician in anesthesiology at Carle Foundation Hospital. He will combine his CI MED and Stanford training to care for patients undergoing surgery, while also mentoring medical students and residents.

Leadership and Innovation in the OR

“One thing that I got when I was there [at CI MED] was the support of anesthesiologists like Dr. Warren McCauley, who took me under his wing, and Dr. Apryl Martin. I felt like I had an opportunity to go and do whatever I wanted to do. Being that for somebody else is very important.”

A member of CI MED’s inaugural class, Brown was selected for Stanford’s highly ranked residency program in 2022. He credits the problem-solving and innovation skills he learned at CI MED with propelling his development as an anesthesiologist.

“I feel like I’m the quarterback of the OR. I have to know everything that’s going on in the operating room to be the best anesthesiologist, because all those things ultimately affect my patient,” he said. “Being able to see everything allows you to pick out things that could be better. That is why anesthesia is such an attractive place for innovation.”

Brown is already thinking about how he can contribute new ideas that advance both patient care and medical education in his new roles.

“Being at an institution that’s literally at the forefront of innovation, like Carle Illinois College of Medicine, is a big treat. I think with some of the things I’m able to bring in the social aspects [of medicine] will continue to push that.”

Bridging care gaps

Brown is particularly excited about the opportunity to increase access to health care in Central Illinois as Carle’s new associate director for community health.  

“You advance health care when the individual you're trying to treat can see you in the community. It breaks that invisible barrier, so I hope to really be a face in the community that people can trust,” Brown said.

During his medical school career, Brown organized a community health fair that brought free health screenings and a wide range of social resources to Central Illinoisans who otherwise might not have access. He has contributed to Stanford’s community outreach programs in Oakland, California. When he returns to Central Illinois, Brown hopes to bring a new vision that builds on existing programs to reach people where they are.

“I think that includes really utilizing the resources that are already there, like the mobile clinic and the mobile markets, and really being present for the community meetings and kind of really tying into learning what the community needs,” Brown said, noting that part of his job will be reaching out and listening. “The main thing is kind of bridging that gap between the local community and the university, as well as the hospital,” he said.

During his second year of medical school, Aaron Brown organized the 2019 Carle Illinois Community Health and Wellness Fair, where he shared his vision for innovations in community health in the video below. 

Inspired to Excel

At both CI MED and Stanford, Brown is known for excellent and compassionate care of his patients. At CI MED, he was awarded the James C. Leonard, MD, Gold-Headed Cane Award. At Stanford, he was chosen by his peers to receive the prestigious Julian Wolfsohn Award, recognizing residents who demonstrate outstanding performance in clinical judgment, leadership, teaching, and kindness. He is also the 2025 recipient of the Dr. Miquell Miller Award for Promoting Diversity and Inclusion.

Brown says his pursuit of excellence is inspired by the memory of his mother, who died from heart failure due to complications from chemotherapy during his junior year of college.

“I think working at the top of my game is important because those individuals [under my care] rely on me to advocate for them, and that’s a big part of what I do. If my mom were looking down on me right now, she would want me to be the best I can be for others, because that’s what she would have wanted for herself.”

Editor's note: This article was written by Beth Hart, with video editing by Virgil Ward.