Williams named to Modern Healthcare 40 Under 40 Class of 2026

By Michelle Ryan-Day
[email protected]

Modern Healthcare recently announced its latest national 40 Under 40 class, which includes Ashley Williams, M.D., a trauma, acute care and burn surgeon at USA Health, the academic health system for the University of South Alabama. 

The Modern Healthcare 40 Under 40 program recognizes emerging leaders under the age of 40 who are making meaningful contributions to their organizations and influencing healthcare through innovation, leadership, and measurable impact. Honorees were selected following a national nomination and review process evaluating leadership accomplishments, organizational outcomes, and contributions to the healthcare industry.  

“This award is so well-deserved and speaks to her vision and leadership. She has a rare ability to see upstream solutions to complex problems like violence and health inequity, and then build programs that truly change lives,” said Jon Simmons, M.D., FACS, chief of trauma, acute care surgery and burns at USA Health University Hospital, and trauma medical director. “I am incredibly proud of her and grateful for the impact she continues to make in our community and beyond.”   

Williams serves as director of the USA Health Center for Healthy Communities, where she leads initiatives focused on violence prevention, community engagement, and health equity. Her work reflects USA Health’s mission as the region’s only academic health system to integrate patient care, education, research, and community partnerships to improve health outcomes.  

“I am blessed to be at an institution that not only supports me professionally, but also believes that our impact should go beyond our hospitals and campuses to intentionally, positively impact our neighbors, surrounding communities, and the entire Gulf Coast region,” Williams said.  

Under her leadership, the Center for Healthy Communities secured $1 million in funding to launch a hospital-based gun-violence prevention initiative that engages victims of violence during their hospital care to help break cycles of retaliation and re-injury. She also co-founded Project Inspire, a hospital-based youth mentorship program that provides trauma-informed training, CPR and Stop the Bleed certification, professional development, and mentorship for justice-involved teens. Since 2018, Project Inspire has graduated eight classes and helped reduce gun-violence recidivism among participants.  

“By investing deeply on the front end, we have seen lives saved and major reductions in gun-related crimes and incarceration,” Williams said. “Over time, I have applied these principles to an expanded scope of public health practice including pressing health-related issues such as access to care, service delivery, environmental health impacts, and health policy and advocacy. I believe this is the future of health care — innovative, preventive strategies to address the challenges we face.”  

Her research and advocacy have earned national recognition. In 2023, she won the Cox-Templeton Injury Prevention Paper Competition for her work analyzing the impact of Project Inspire on juvenile delinquency. She was also named a Future Trauma Leader by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, one of only five surgeons selected nationwide.  

On a national policy level, Williams represented the healthcare community at the White House meeting on gun violence prevention in 2024, bringing her frontline experience as a trauma surgeon to inform federal strategies.  

“To be honored for doing what I love brings about an overwhelming sense of gratitude,” Williams said. “This award is confirmation to me that I'm truly walking in my purpose, and that's invaluable.”

In addition to her clinical role, she serves as an associate professor of surgery at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama. She was also recently included on Alabama’s “Women Who Shape the State” list, a statewide award that honors women across all facets of leadership and community involvement for sparking change to make a difference.  

“Dr. Williams is an extraordinary physician leader and someone I deeply admire both professionally and personally who leads with fierce compassion, courage, and an unwavering commitment to the communities she serves,” said Natalie Fox, DNP, CEO of USA Health. “She challenges all of us to think bigger about what academic medicine can do and to show up more boldly for the people who need us most. This recognition reflects the remarkable impact she is making, and we are incredibly proud to have her as part of the USA Health family.”