Cynthia J. Brown, MD, MSPH

Dr. Cynthia J. Brown, MD, MSPH, is Chair of the Department of Medicine at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, where she holds the Charles V. Sanders, MD Endowed Chair in Medicine. Appointed in May 2021, she leads with a vision of advancing medical education, faculty development, and national distinction in academic internal medicine. A dedicated clinician-educator, Dr. Brown remains active on the inpatient medicine wards at University Medical Center New Orleans, teaching medical students and residents at the bedside while fostering a culture of leadership and professional growth across the department.
Dr. Brown’s path to medicine is both distinctive and inspiring. After earning her bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from East Carolina University, she practiced as a physical therapist for ten years before pursuing her medical degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She completed her internal medicine residency at Yale University, including a Chief Resident year, followed by a three-year fellowship in Geriatric Medicine. She then joined the faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where she served from 2003 to 2021, ultimately becoming Director of the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, Vice Chair for Faculty and Staff Development, and Executive Vice Chair.
A nationally recognized geriatrician, Dr. Brown’s research focuses on hospital mobility and fall prevention among older adults in both hospital and community settings. She has published more than 130 peer-reviewed articles and is an active national and international speaker. Her work has been honored with prestigious awards, including the American Geriatrics Society Outstanding Scientific Achievement for Clinical Investigation Award and the Gerontological Society of America’s Joseph T. Freeman Award. A member of leading professional organizations including the American Geriatrics Society, Gerontological Society of America, American College of Physicians, and the Association of Professors of Medicine, Dr. Brown is driven by a deep commitment to lifelong learning, mentorship, and improving the lives of older adults through excellence in clinical care, research, and education.

• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Medicine
• East Carolina University - Bachelor's Degree, Physical Therapy/Therapist
• Yale University School of Medicine - Internal Medicine Resident
• Yale University School of Medicine - Geriatric Medicine Fellow

• American Geriatric Society
• Gerontologic Society of America
• American College of Physicians
• Association of Professors of Medicine

Dr. Brown has published over 130 peer-reviewed articles throughout her career.