Age: 39
Company: The Village for Families & Children
Title: Medical Director
No. of years with current company: 6
Town where I live: West Hartford
Town where I work: Hartford
College: Northwestern University
Highest Degree: Doctor of medicine
Dr. Ashley Dorin is the medical director of The Village for Families & Children, a nonprofit agency providing a full range of behavioral-health, youth-development and substance-abuse treatment for children, families and adults in the Greater Hartford region.
She received a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Brown University, completed her medical degree at Northwestern University, and completed residency and fellowship in psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry at UCLA.
A West Hartford native, she then returned to the Hartford area and assumed the directorship at The Village, where she focuses on providing comprehensive mental-health services to underserved communities.
What’s been your biggest professional accomplishment?
As medical director, I led the development of new policies related to high safety standards and quality psychiatric care and oversaw their implementation across my organization’s multiple sites. This resulted in our first-ever accreditation for behavioral health care by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations in 2015.
How are you involved in the community?
I am on the board of the Mandell Jewish Community Center, primarily because I wanted to give back to its Early Childhood Center, which has been important in the lives of my children. I am involved with multiple philanthropic efforts for social services and social justice.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I like to read, travel and spend time with my husband and two children, and our poorly behaved but loveable dog. Whenever I am able to, I volunteer in my children’s elementary and preschool classrooms.
Give an example of a people-skills habit you adhere to in your work and daily life that you feel has helped you succeed.
I feel it is important to convey respect and empathy for those I work with and treat in all aspects of communication. I strive to model this style of interaction in my day-to-day work and in times of crisis.
What do you hope Greater Hartford will be like in 10 years?
In 10 years, I hope that Greater Hartford will have a robust downtown with engaged local corporations whose missions center on giving back to the local community.
Four reasons why you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty:
• Named youngest medical director of The Village for Families & Children at age 36.
• Have overseen the growth of the psychiatry department at The Village to ensure quality psychiatric care and to incorporate services for adults.
• Active in the leadership of community organizations.
• Involved in philanthropy dedicated toward the advancement of education and social services.
Fun Fact:
I played the harp for 10 years.