2024 Young Alumna of the Year

Brittany Mays, MD, DSHA ’09, at the age of four, had already begun playing with a stethoscope, long before she became one of only four physical medicine and rehabilitation-trained headache medicine specialists in the country.

Dr. Mays attended the Milwaukee Montessori School through eighth grade and was able to explore her love of science early. Though hesitant at first, the transition to the college-prep, all-girls environment is where she found her confidence. “When I started at DSHA, I was shy and introverted. The most important lesson I learned was how to find and utilize my voice,” she shared.

Dr. Mays still speaks highly of several of her teachers, including Social Studies Faculty Chris Kirsch Weiss, DS ’70, and Social Studies Department Chair Patrick Dawson, who inspired her to be a more active participant in class. “Being surrounded by like-minded and driven women every day further contributed to my growth in this area.” She continued, “By junior and senior year, I was confident in not only my academic skills, but also my leadership and social skills. As such, I completely bought into the DSHA vision and wanted to see other young women succeed, especially those from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. I used my voice to become an Admissions Student Recruiter.”

In the summer before her senior year, Dr. Mays was selected to participate in the Apprenticeship in Medicine (AIM) program through the Medical College of Wisconsin. The program provides Milwaukee area high school students, who are members of historically disadvantaged and underrepresented groups in the health science professions with experiences to support their interest in medicine, biomedical research, and allied health. The group participates in a six-week program and engages in clinical shadowing, various hands-on simulations, laboratory research, and more. “I was nominated by the DSHA Science Department, and this program changed my life,” she explained.

During her senior year, Dr. Mays took several DSHA science courses, including anatomy and physiology, which solidified her interest to pursue a career in medicine. She explained, “One of the most impressive attributes of DSHA is the offering of a multitude of collegiate-level courses.” Dr. Mays continued, “DSHA’s history of supporting and producing young women in STEM fields is unparalleled in Milwaukee.”

Dr. Mays obtained her bachelor’s degree in biology from Xavier University and obtained her Medical Doctorate at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She completed her residency training in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Miami, where she became the first African-American woman to serve as Chief Resident since the program’s inception. She then completed her United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS) Headache Medicine Fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, as well as Neurology, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center with a joint appointment as a staff physiatrist/headache specialist in the Headache Center of Excellence, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Tennessee Valley Health System. Her schedule consists of patient care, mentoring and teaching undergraduate and medical students, training resident physicians, and participating in clinical research. She remains involved in multiple medical associations including the American Headache Society and American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation where she serves on the Media and Digital Learning Committee. Dr. Mays is proud to use her voice to promote health equity and patient advocacy for patients struggling with debilitating headache diagnoses.

Outside of her career, Dr. Mays enjoys spending time with her husband, traveling, walking her dog, trying new foods, and learning new languages.