Dr. Ashley Guadalupe-Padgett, Associate Medical Director at Ryan Health | West 97th Street, is a proud native New Yorker who has dedicated her career to serving the diverse communities of New York City.
She was raised in both the Bronx and Queens and remains deeply connected to these communities, where her family still resides. She attended Stony Brook University, earning her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and received her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
During her medical training, she gravitated toward Family Medicine because of the incredible opportunity to care for entire family units; children, prenatal and geriatric patients. Being a Family Physician has given her the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with her patients while providing comprehensive care.
“I like the community health center environment,” she says. “I get to be the kind of doctor I wish I had growing up.”
When describing her experience at Ryan Health thus far, she says, “There’s an amazing sense of community that I love. People are dedicated to the work, and it shows in everything we do. People go above and beyond what is expected of them. Seeing people taking that extra step really matters.”
As Associate Medical Director, Dr. Guadalupe-Padgett balances her time between patient care and administrative responsibilities. In these roles, she is also a strong advocate for changing the narrative around medical care.
“People used to be afraid to go to the doctor because they didn’t want to be reprimanded. But that’s the medical approach of the past. I give my patients my recommendations, just like I would tell a family member or a friend. It takes the burden off them. Everyone can do better, and it’s not always their fault.
“For instance, people feel like diabetes is in their control, but so much of it isn’t,” she says. “We can talk about better diets and exercise, but if you don’t have access to good food options or childcare when you want to work out, it doesn’t matter. If we don’t talk about that during our visit, we miss our opportunity to help patients figure that out.”
Outside of her professional life, Dr. Guadalupe-Padgett enjoys many hobbies, including singing karaoke with friends, trying new cuisines, dancing, cardio gym classes, and traveling. She recently visited the Colorado Rocky Mountains and even attended a Taylor Swift concert in Amsterdam! But her favorite activity is going on local adventures around the city she loves with her husband and son.
