Dr. Darren W. Jackson II is a physician-leader, public health scholar, and community advocate whose career bridges clinical psychiatry, youth development, and transformative wellness programming. He holds a Doctor of Medicine from Georgetown University School of Medicine and a Master of Public Health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, building on a foundation established during his undergraduate studies at Morgan State University.

In his role as Senior Director, Physician Professional Development and Wellness for Ascension Medical Educators (AME), Dr. Jackson spearheads initiatives that redefine the medical pipeline. He advises Black pre-medical students across the country, guiding them through medical school admissions, clinical skills development, and emotional intelligence training. His leadership within AME is centered on "architecting resilience," ensuring that the next generation of medical leaders is equipped with the mental and emotional strength necessary for high-stakes professional mastery.

Dr. Jackson completed two years of psychiatry residency at The George Washington University Hospital, with a strong clinical focus on child and adolescent, forensic, and community psychiatry. His training is deeply informed by his own lived experience navigating the educational pipeline as a Black male student with ADHD and anxiety, which fuels his commitment to neurodiverse advocacy, mental health access, and academic resilience for underrepresented learners.

Blending medical expertise with global and public health frameworks, Dr. Jackson honed his neuropsychiatric research acumen at prestigious institutions including Johns Hopkins, the Kennedy Krieger Institute, the Neurological Institute of New York, and MedStar Georgetown. His work has led to multiple presentations and publications at the intersection of epidemiology, psychiatry, and community health disparities.

Beyond the clinic and lab, Dr. Jackson has spent over a decade cultivating the potential of youth in marginalized communities. He has served as an educator in the D.C. Public Charter School system, Baltimore City Public Schools, and Prince George’s County Public Schools. He also led national youth development initiatives through organizations like the Harlem Children's Zone and the Envision National Youth Leadership Forum.

A visionary in wellness-centered community building, Dr. Jackson is the founder of Project ROLL, a public health initiative that uses roller skating as a tool for violence prevention, youth mentorship, and emotional healing in Washington, D.C. He also co-founded THE LINK UP DC, an Emmy-winning cultural movement that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, mobilizing thousands through skate-centered community gatherings and mental health outreach.

Dr. Jackson’s interdisciplinary impact reflects a career committed to equity, innovation, and healing. Whether through academic mentorship, community-based programming, or national speaking engagements, he continues to transform systems—and lives—by centering compassion, cultural relevance, and accessible wellness strategies.