“I kind of always had that picture in my head.”

For Ashley Kyalwazi ’14, that picture has only gotten clearer with time. Have one conversation with her, and you’ll also see that she looks at the bigger picture in just about every aspect of life.

“I’ve been interested in medicine since I was a young kid,” Ashley said. The now 27 year old is one of four siblings, the daughter of Michael and Winnie Kyalwazi- both Ugandan immigrants, and the granddaughter of one of the first East African surgeons.

“My dad used to always talk about the work his dad did, the compassion he showed his patients, his clinical expertise, and acumen,” Ashley shared. “I wanted to be like my grandfather.”

Ashley is well on her way to fulfilling that goal. She’s in her last year at Harvard Medical School, having also completed a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. The intertwining of both medicine and public policy was very intentional for Ashley, who has already gained a lot of experience working with local governments on healthcare-related policies. In her first year of medical school, she also started The MV3 Foundation, a national non-profit that guides, inspires, and invests in the development of Black college students pursuing careers in health sciences. 

“MV3 is a community that I wish I had throughout college, particularly as a first-generation, low-income Black student,” Ashley explained.

Looking back, Ashley has a profound appreciation for her parents’ hard work and relentlessness despite their financial struggles early on. When Ashley’s father didn’t have the money to complete a Business degree, he pivoted to working in the food service industry to provide for his family. He and Ashley’s mother started a small café, where Ashley and all her siblings worked.

University of Notre Dame, BS in Neuroscience and Behavior, 2018

Harvard Medical School, MD, 2024

Harvard Kennedy School of Government, MPP, 2024

“My parents literally built the cafe from the ground up. I just remember nights where we would take sleeping bags to the café,” Ashley remembered. “Seeing that process as a young kid and then growing up, I now have a greater understanding of the why behind what they were doing. They gave up a lot in their own personal lives to give my siblings and me the opportunity to pursue an education in the US.”

Ashley and her sisters graduated from St. Francis High School a year apart. Her brothers are Jesuit alums. Ashley was a very involved Troubie, playing two sports (basketball and soccer), serving as SBO President, and volunteering with Therapeutic Recreational Services. Not only did she manage it all, but she also graduated at the top of her class and got into the University of Notre Dame.

“My parents work hard. That’s always the model,” Ashley said. “I had to figure out how I can use these opportunities, knowing the investment that my parents have put to get me here.”

Ashley was always busy, but she also really enjoyed her time.

“What didn’t I love? The SF environment, how there was this energy and camaraderie, how the campus culture embraced and embedded in the teachings of Christ as a Catholic institution,” Ashley said. “But also we’re going to go all out for the traditions that we have, like homecoming week and the other crazy events. Homecoming brings out a side of people that is so chaotic and so beautiful.”

Fun fact: you can thank Ashley and her fellow SBO officers for the beloved ‘SFHS Zoo.’ The idea started at Ashley’s house during an SBO meeting; the name for St. Francis, patron of animals.

“That was a special part of my time there. I loved being in student government, and I’m glad the Zoo is still living on,” Ashley said.

Even though Ashley was involved in student government and had some interest in public policy, it wasn’t until grad school that she fully realized she would pursue it in her mission of medicine. Through her work, she intends to continue amplifying the voices of marginalized communities impacted by healthcare inequalities.

“I think that the issues our communities face can’t be solved within the medical field alone,” Ashley explained. “Issues of affordable housing and homelessness, education, and access to affordable health… all of these challenges are intertwined. Policy is a powerful lever that can catalyze meaningful change at a federal, state, and local level.”

Ashley will begin residency this summer, having fallen in love with Internal Medicine over the course of her training at Harvard Medical School. Over the course of her career, she looks forward to integrating clinical practice, public policy, and entrepreneurship to continue advocating for marginalized community. 

If Ashley could go back in time and give her St. Francis self some words of advice, what would she say?

“I think we all have a responsibility to put in the work, but at the end of the day, God has a plan for each of us. Trust in that and don’t sweat the small stuff. Continue to work hard and leave the rest in God’s hand.”

Written by Frances Wang ‘10