Jamaican-born health care leader Dr. Ian Lee Brown has been appointed Chief Community Health & Social Impact Officer at Duke University Health System (DUHS), one of the most prominent academic health systems in the United States. The senior role places him at the centre of system-wide efforts to improve community health outcomes, address social drivers of health, and strengthen partnerships that support long-term wellbeing.
For Brown, who was born in Clark’s Town, Trelawny, the appointment represents a significant milestone in a career that has spanned more than two decades across academic medicine, community health, and organisational leadership.
Early Foundations in Trelawny
Brown’s early life in Clark’s Town was shaped by a strong emphasis on education and community. He attended Clark’s Town Primary School and later earned admission to William Knibb Memorial High School after successfully passing the Common Entrance Examination. After two years, he migrated to the United States, where he continued his education at Oceana High School in the San Francisco Bay Area before completing his undergraduate studies at Brooklyn College in New York.
His academic preparation reflects a multidisciplinary approach to leadership and health care. He holds a Doctor of Medical & Health Humanities and a Contemplative Professional Graduate Certificate from Drew University. He also earned a Master of Science in Applied Behavioural Science/Organisational Development and a Graduate Certificate in Senior Living and Healthcare from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, along with a Master of Liberal Studies from Lake Forest College.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Caspersen School (@caspersenatdrew)
A Career at Duke
Brown joined Duke Health in 2022 as its inaugural Vice President for Employee Experience & Belonging, where he led enterprise-wide initiatives focused on workforce wellbeing, organisational culture, and inclusion. He later served as Interim Associate Vice President for Community Health at Duke University, helping to guide strategies that strengthened community engagement and institutional partnerships.
In his current role as Chief Community Health & Social Impact Officer, he leads a comprehensive, system-wide strategy aimed at improving community health and advancing long-term wellbeing. His responsibilities include overseeing the Office of Community Health and working closely with academic partners, population health teams, and community affairs leaders to address broader social and structural factors that influence health, including education, economic mobility, and community capacity. He also represents Duke Health in regional and national forums on community health and population wellbeing.
Before joining Duke, Brown held leadership roles at Howard University College of Medicine, Dimensions Healthcare System (now University of Maryland Capital Region Health), Erickson Senior Living, and Christian Church Homes, building experience across academic medical centres, community health systems, senior living, and affordable housing.
Alum of @JHUCarey, @IanLeeBrown’s leadership has transformed LGBTQ+ eldercare by creating a culture of honor & dignity for seniors at @ericksonliving. He gives back through board service at @sageusa, the oldest org dedicated to LGBTQ+ seniors. #AACSBleads
https://t.co/6KijldtHE3 pic.twitter.com/UrvDDE8dns
— AACSB (@AACSB) February 1, 2022
Recognition and Contributions
Brown’s work has earned national recognition. In 2022, he was named an Influential Leader by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and in 2025 he was recognised as a Distinguished Johns Hopkins University alumnus.
His doctoral research focused on authentic leadership in health care, exploring how lived experiences, resilience, and belonging can shape leadership and institutional change. His work centres on advancing health equity, strengthening community engagement, and creating systems that prioritise dignity and connection.
He has also maintained ties to Jamaica through community-focused initiatives. Recently, he led efforts at Duke Health that supported Hurricane Melissa relief by facilitating the donation of multiple pallets of personal protective equipment to the Western Regional Health Authority.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Johns Hopkins Alumni (@jhu_alumni)
Impact Beyond Borders
Ian Brown’s appointment to senior leadership at Duke University Health System highlights the continued impact of Jamaicans in the diaspora who are shaping change in critical sectors around the world. From his early years in Trelawny to leading community health strategy at a major U.S. institution, his journey reflects a career grounded in service, leadership, and a commitment to improving lives at scale. For more about Ian and his work at Duke, follow him on LinkedIn.