Ashley Ritter

Dr. Ritter, you are the Director of Clinical Care Research at NewCourtland, a non-profit organization that provides thousands of low-income seniors with affordable housing, healthcare, and supportive services. Could you tell us about your path to this role and what your day-to-day looks like?  

My clinical practice as a nurse has always focused on care coordination for older people across systems of care. In the best of circumstances, navigating health, social, and housing needs during critical illness is daunting. The experience is extremely challenging for older people lacking social support and stable housing. NewCourtland is dedicated to implementing and evaluating new ways of delivering housing, health, and social services to high-risk adults. During my fellowship in the National Clinician Scholars Program, I had the opportunity to work with NewCourtland on a new housing initiative serving people experiencing homelessness in addition to complex medical and social needs. I spent four months at NewCourtland working on program evaluation and health care coordination for the participants. This experience combined my research, clinical, and policy skill sets in a way I had not experienced before, and I loved it. I transitioned into the Director of Clinical Care Research position following my fellowship. Since that time we have expanded the research department, published findings from our work, and received extramural funding. I enjoy applying my research training in a community setting. I work closely with participants, health professionals, and academics to measure the success of programs, learn from the success of others, and share best practices with various stakeholders. I spend a great deal of my time as a science translator getting factual information in the right package to the right people. I lean heavily on my skills as a nurse listening to the needs of others to understand a problem and working collaboratively with others on solutions.  

Congratulations on your recent induction to The College of Physicians this past November! What first interested you about becoming a Fellow at the College?  

I was born and raised in the Philadelphia area, completed my schooling at the University of Pennsylvania, and have worked at multiple health institutions in the area. Philadelphia has always been my home and I care deeply about its history and future. The College of Physicians of Philadelphia has a rich history and tradition of excellence. I received a copy of the Bicentennial History of the College for my high school graduation. I am honored to join in the mission of the College to advance knowledge to improve the health of the public locally and nationally. 

In addition to your role at NewCourtland, you are a Founding Member and CEO of Those Nerdy Girls (creators of Dear Pandemic), an interdisciplinary, all-volunteer team of women scientists and clinicians.  Your website hosts an incredible archive of over 2,000 posts that began in March 2020 and does a wonderful job addressing the general public in plain language about healthcare issues and questions. What has it been like to get this initiative off the ground, see it come so far, and where do you hope it goes? 

I am so grateful for the opportunity to lead Those Nerdy Girls. Most of us did not know each other prior to this adventure. We were motivated to act in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when so little was known about this new virus. New information as well as evolving challenges continue to impact people’s daily lives. I am so proud of our work to better educate the public in a time of extreme uncertainty. Those Nerdy Girls recently completed an engagement survey with our followers. We received an incredible response rate. Findings from the survey illustrate the diverse impacts of our Dear Pandemic work. We helped people make really difficult decisions in their day-to-day life based on science. Equally important, people felt equipped to share our science-based messages within their social networks – religious institutions, schools, neighborhood groups, family, and friends. The work of Those Nerdy Girls further clarifies for me the importance of trust in science communication. We were able to build that trust during the COVID-19 public health crisis. We will continue to provide factual and practical health information on social media on COVID-19 and other health topics including mental health, infectious diseases, and reproductive health.  

Tell us about one of your favorite items in the Library or Museum, or your favorite aspect of the College.

I absolutely love the Benjamin Rush Medicinal Plant Garden. It’s a new experience every time I visit.

What motivates you and how do you motivate others?  

I am motivated by talking with other people. I believe that everyone has knowledge to share. I rarely leave an encounter with a person where I do not learn something. I motivate others by standing behind my words and actions. I do my best to follow through on what I say. I try not to ask others to do something I would not be willing to do myself.  

As an alum of Penn Nursing and the University of Pennsylvania, what is your favorite thing to do in Philadelphia? 

I love leaving the house with no particular destination and wandering through different neighborhoods. I love walking through Clark Park in West Philadelphia followed by a pizza at Clarkville. I enjoy picnic lunches in Rittenhouse Square with a turkey sandwich. My family loves visiting the Bio Pond on Penn’s Campus and looking for frogs and turtles. Sister Cities Park off the Parkway is a favorite destination and we have spent many afternoons on a blanket under the big trees. Philadelphia is full of gems!  

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you have given yourself when you were first starting out?

I encourage people entering health professions to challenge the status quo. We can do better in serving the health and social needs of people where we live. When you have the energy and the spark to try something differently, speak up! Be persistent and maintain your passion for what is needed to advance health for all. Progress is often slow, but it’s impossible if you do not try. Second, find people who support you! There is nothing better than a fantastic mentor or colleague. Keep the good ones close and keep your mind open.