Sister Susanne Ashton receives prestigious Dean’s Alumni Award for Humanism in Medicine

Sister Susanne Ashton received the prestigious Dean’s Alumni Award for Humanism in Medicine from the University of Maryland School of Medicine at the school’s Celebration of Excellence in Medicine gala on Saturday, February 21.

The award honors graduates whose leadership in medical education, commitment to expanding healthcare access, and dedication to mentorship and service profoundly advance medicine and create a lasting impact on the communities they serve. Susanne’s life and vocation embody these values in extraordinary ways.

Inspired early on while accompanying her mother—a 1931 graduate of the School of Medicine—on house calls delivering babies in Baltimore, Susanne always felt called to medicine. Before entering medical school, Susanne, as a Sister of Mercy, taught at multiple schools, served as a school principal, earned an MBA from George Washington University, and worked in hospital administration.

She entered the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1974 at age 36. After graduating, she completed her training in obstetrics and gynecology and began practicing in Leonardtown, Maryland. Her ministry in medicine expanded when she was sent to Dahlonega, Georgia, where she spent eight years opening and operating a much-needed clinic serving uninsured and underserved women.

Her dedication to caring for vulnerable populations continued throughout her career. Upon returning to Leonardtown, she joined the local health department to provide care for women without insurance. She later returned to Baltimore, serving patients at Stella Maris until her retirement from clinical practice in 2022 at age 84.