Ashlyn B. Burns, PhD, MPH

Bio

As a health services researcher, Dr. Burns brings expertise in health policy, health care management, and implementation science research. Her work applies interdisciplinary methods to examine three types of institutions that impact community health and their intersections: mental health treatment facilities, nonprofit hospitals, and public health departments. She is specifically interested in understanding the implementation and effectiveness of behavioral health crisis care services for mental health emergencies. 

Dr. Burns earned her doctorate in Health Policy and Management from the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, where she teaches Financial Management for Public Health Organizations. She also holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from Purdue University. While completing her MPH, she simultaneously completed training in emergency medical services and became a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician. These experiences influenced her specific interest in the intersection between emergency medicine and mental health treatment.

Dr. Burns has won national, local, and university-level awards, including the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health Most Outstanding Student Award (2024), IU Indianapolis Sherry Queener Excellence Award (2024), and the AcademyHealth Health Equity Scholars Program Scholarship (2025). She serves as an Ambassador and Merit Reviewer for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and has received a PCORI Ambassador scholarship (2023).