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FMX presenter has a passion for teaching peers
Aug. 13, 2025, David Mitchell — As a pediatric cancer survivor, Ashley Wilk, DO, DipABLM, got an early and in-depth introduction to health care.
“I grew up in a medical setting,” said Wilk, clinical associate professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit. “I felt that the more that I learned about medicine and the body, the more I learned about myself and what I had been through. This intrigue was what drew me to medicine as my career path, and it inspired me to help others like those who had helped me when I was ill.”
The surgery, chemotherapy and radiation Wilk endured due to a renal tumor predate her earliest memories. But she well remembers the regular follow-up appointments with her pediatric oncologist and monitoring tests that continued for years.
She initially thought her interest in health would lead her to a career in genetics.
“I was fascinated by the underlying causes for things like cancer because it’s usually a genetic mutation of some sort,” said Wilk, who also is faculty at Wayne State University’s Family Medicine Residency in Rochester, Michigan.
However, Wilk said she was drawn to family medicine during her clinical rotations.
“That made me pivot into primary care,” she said. “I loved creating meaningful doctor-patient relationships and having the opportunity to actively treat and change the course of what somebody was going through.”
Wilk graduated from the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her family medicine residency training at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township, Michigan. She spent six years in Florida as a founding faculty physician, medical director and associate program director at the Florida State University College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency at BayCare Health System (Winter Haven) before returning to her native Michigan last year.
Florida State program director, Nate Falk, MD, MBA, CPE, CAQSM, FAAFP, inspired her to teach beyond the walls of clinics and classrooms.
“Dr. Falk was very involved in both the Florida AFP and the AAFP,” said Wilk, who was first-time FMX faculty during the 2024 Family Medicine Experience in Phoenix. “I saw the incredible work he was doing, and I wanted to see if this was something I could do. I got my feet wet by being his co-presenter for a virtual CME session during COVID. It was amazing. I really like that idea of teaching to a broader audience. I was sparked by that experience and decided to try to do something independently. I was fortunate enough to have my proposals for multiple sessions be selected to present at FMX this year.”
During the 2025 FMX, which will be held Oct. 5-9 in Anaheim, California, Wilk will present a session on vaccine recommendations as well as related problem-based learning sessions with her Wayne State colleague Tess McCready, DO, FAAFP.
“My passion and strongest academic interests are immunizations and preventive care,” Wilk said. “In family medicine, one of our most significant responsibilities is to help prevent disease and to counsel patients to make the most educated medical decisions for themselves to lead the healthiest and happiest lifestyle that they can. Providing factual, evidence-based information is so crucial and such a bread-and-butter part of family medicine. That’s why I’m passionate about it. I teach it to our residents, and I want to share this knowledge with my colleagues so that they can share it with their patients and it can have an even broader impact.”
It will be a busy week in Anaheim for Wilk, who also is presenting workshops on long-acting reversible contraceptives with FSU Winter Haven colleague, Ashley Falk, MD, FAAFP and a session on plant-based nutrition with Wayne State resident, Sandy Phuengsomboonying, MD.
“I hope to attend some of the other FMX sessions this year because I was able to attend some sessions last year in Phoenix, and I really got a lot out of it,” she said. “That was what inspired me to submit proposals this year. I’d love to continue to be inspired, and continue to learn from, my peers.”
Learn more about the education available at FMX.
