The Alabama Department of Health (ADPH) takes this month to recognize the life and achievements of its very own Dr. Amber Clark-Brown.
Amber Clark-Brown, M.D., is the Medical Director for the Bureaus of Health Provider Standards, Home and Community Services, and the Office of Health Equity and Minority Health. She is the youngest of three daughters of two loving, hardworking, and supportive parents. Dr. Clark-Brown is a Louisiana native whose success stems from hard work and determination. To give insight into her success, Dr. Clark-Brown has two vision-driven parents who expected greatness for themselves as well as their children. Her father is an entrepreneur who began working at the age of 12, to later start his own janitorial business. He later met his wife, who attended Grambling State University, studying Pharmacy. Dr. Clark-Brown’s mother became the second Black pharmacist in the town of Monroe, LA.
Dr. Clark-Brown’s parents felt HBCUs were essential to foster an environment that is conducive to growth and development. Therefore, they later raised three daughters, all of whom graduated from HBCUs, to become a judge (Grambling University), Internal Medicine Physician (Xavier University), and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician (Tougaloo College). In addition to meeting and exceeding the expectations of her family, Dr. Clark-Brown has progressed to accomplish many professional goals since being at ADPH. Dr. Clark-Brown is approaching one year with ADPH, and since beginning her tenure, she still has that thrill to serve all of Alabama.
Within ADPH she is constantly working to improve health. It is also a time to address common health disparities and advocate for healthcare advances for the many minority populations in the United States.
Dr. Clark-Brown has expanded partnerships across all the bureaus she works in by leveraging her existing connections. She has participated in specialty academic conferences that demonstrated the potential for career pivots and highlighted the essential role of physicians in government. Dr. Clark-Brown also served as an alternate delegate for the American Medical Association.
Since joining the ADPH family in her respective bureaus, Dr. Clark-Brown has sought to first understand then improve systems, communications, and processes to produce the best possible outcomes for the citizens of Alabama. Dr. Clark-Brown says, “Establishing order establishes destiny.” With this motto, she is so very pleased to be working within the great mission of ADPH alongside like-minded people to continue serving the people of Alabama.
It is fitting that Dr. Clark-Brown be recognized during February, Black History Month. This month serves as a reminder of all that has been overcome and is a celebration of the accomplishments of generations of Black Americans.
By Jasmine Poole