Most people wait until after college to pursue greatness; this however has not been the case for Ashlea Braun. At 23 years old, Ashlea has taken it upon herself to change the world of Medical Dietetics one step at a time.
Diagnosed with epilepsy in the 9th grade, she takes great pride in knowing that she lets her condition affect her life in as few ways as possible. “I try to make it a part of my life and work around it,” she says.
Ashlea is a senior at The Ohio State University enrolled in the Medical Dietetics program. When her internship at The Ohio State University Medical Center is in rotation, she juggles her 60 hour workweek (including a weekend job at Così) with a full course load. Often sacrificing her social life to study and volunteer, she is dedicated to squeezing as much out of each day as she can.
School work is only one aspect of Ashlea’s continuing desire to make a difference. She has a laundry list of experience volunteering for organizations such as the Central Ohio Diabetes Association, the Epilepsy Foundation and the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. Along with her volunteer work, Ashlea is the Vice President of the Student Dietetic Organization, Public Relations Chairperson for her Student Council and a School of Allied Medical Professions Student Ambassador.
The continuous support of her parents inspired Ashlea at an early age to become a perfect combination of both her mother and her father. Growing up, she watched both of her parents work hard and apply themselves toward their dreams and goals, all while raising a loving family. It is Ashlea’s dream to one day show that same love and affection to a family of her own.
Her inspiration stems from her aspirations to one day become a professional dietician, and her desire to help others is paramount to getting to where she wants to be. Knowing that she is so close to graduation is what drives Ashlea to succeed day in and day out.
If she could leave a lasting mark on the world there would be nothing that Ashlea would like more than to help others achieve better nutrition. “By adjusting what people eat, we can decrease the prevalence of obesity, diabetes and other nutritional related diseases,” Ashlea notes. The United States continually tops the charts in being the most obese country in the developed world. Ashlea hopes that by helping others understand how adjusting their diets can affect changes in their health, people will make an effort to lead healthier lives.
Being one of the 20 Outstanding Women You Should Know is not something that Ashlea takes lightly. She is devoted to continuing her hard work and ensuring that she can be the best person she can be. She hopes that by the final ceremony she will one step closer to achieving her dreams.