Ian E. Brown, MD, PhD, FACS
Associate Professor of Surgery
Division of Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care
University of California Davis Health Systems
Friday November 6, 2026
5pm-6:30pm PST
Workshop Description:
For community college and university premedical students, this workshop offers an inspiring look at how an unconventional path can lead to a remarkable career in medicine, research, and surgery. Ian E. Brown, MD, PhD, FACS, Associate Professor of Surgery in Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care at UC Davis Health, will share his journey from the football field to becoming a physician scientist and trauma surgeon. Students will hear how discipline, resilience, curiosity, and purpose can shape a path toward the MD PhD, surgical training, academic medicine, and service to critically injured patients. This session is especially valuable for students who may question whether their background, starting point, or experiences fit the traditional image of a future physician. Come, ask your questions, and get answers from someone who has lived the journey firsthand. Hear directly from the source instead of relying on second hand information, bad advice, or people who have no clue about the process. Your path can be different, and still lead somewhere extraordinary with courage, confidence, purpose, resilience, and determination.
About the Speaker:
Ian E. Brown, MD, PhD, FACS, is an Associate Professor of Surgery in the Division of Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care at the University of California, Davis. Originally from Maywood, Illinois, Dr. Brown attended Stanford University, where he also played football under legendary coach Bill Walsh. He subsequently completed both MD and PhD at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine..
His doctoral research focused on T cell-mediated tumor immunology and contributed to the broader understanding of adoptive T cell transfer and immune checkpoint inhibition as therapeutic approaches in cancer. Dr. Brown completed his general surgery residency at the University of California, San Francisco, followed by fellowship training in trauma and surgical critical care at UC Davis. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery in both general surgery and surgical critical care.
In addition to his academic and clinical responsibilities, Dr. Brown serves as Medical Director of the UC Davis Wraparound Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program. The program works to interrupt cycles of violence through trauma-informed and culturally responsive interventions, relationship-based mentoring, individualized case management, and partnerships with families, community organizations, and other support systems. Its mission includes addressing social determinants of health, supporting recovery after violent injury, and reducing the risk of future violence involvement.
Dr. Brown has conducted award-winning research and authored 39 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters spanning tumor immunology, acute care surgery, trauma, critical care, and violence prevention and intervention. He has been invited to lecture at institutions across the United States, and his scholarship and clinical work have been featured prominently at numerous national conferences. His career reflects a distinctive integration of scientific investigation, surgical excellence, education, and community-centered violence prevention.
Register for Free:
What: From the Football Field to the Operating Room: The Journey to MD PhD and Trauma Surgery
When: Friday, November 6, 2026, 5 PM (Pacific Standard Time)
You will receive an immediate email confirmation of your registration from Zoom. PLEASE check your SPAM or JUNK folder, as the email might be directed there. Additionally, you will receive an email reminder from Zoom ONE hour before the event, sent to the same email address you used for registration.
