Asha Isable MD, MPH: Urban History & Health Explorer
Digital Historian – Health Equity and Urban History – Digital Collections and Data Specialist
Isable [IZ-uh-buhl]
unique surname
1. the name is a Southern Black Creole variation, shaped by regional dialect and oral tradition.
2. Pronounced like visible; distinct in spelling, rooted in oral history and place-based identity.
Introduction
Before turning to history, I built a dedicated career in medicine. I was intrigued by a fuzzy concept of integrative, regenerative neurology, a field focused on restoring function in those impacted by stroke, MS, and nerve injuries, with a particular interest in addressing disparities in underserved communities. At the time, the science and opportunities in this specialty were limited, so I pursued Primary Care. I was blessed to provide care to diverse clients across various communities and settings.
Today, that same commitment to restoration and equity continues to shape my work in history and preservation.
Memory, Maps, and Making Space
As a graduate student in my final semester of the MA History program at George Mason University (concentration: applied history), my work centers on digital preservation, archival research, and storytelling, with a focus on 20th-century African American and urban history.
I work at the intersection of digital preservation, spatial history, and health equity. My focus is on restoring community and institutional memory by illuminating and reclaiming past spaces of care, resilience, and identity. Some of my research focuses on places shaped by racialized urban policy, utilizing digital tools to uncover how communities have resisted, reimagined, and reclaimed their space, power, and belonging. Whether through digitizing collections, archival interpretation, or narrative mapping, my work is grounded in the recovery of memory, identity, and place.
Roots and Routes
I’m a proud New York City native; my accent tends to introduce me before I do. I’ve had a front-row seat to the distinct spatial identities, styles, and cultural histories that give each borough its own vibe. Though my family roots stretch from the South and the islands, Harlem became the heart of our story through four generations, shaping my focus on community, history, and place.
Now based in the DC /Maryland, I’m taking advantage of access to both national libraries, archives, and vibrant local collections. From Charm City to Historic U Street to Loudoun County, the area offers a layered historical landscape that fuels my research and deepens my commitment to uncovering and preserving place-based histories.
Yet to Be Mapped
My passion lies in using digital tools to uncover these stories and share them through compelling online experiences and accessible resources. This blog is an evolving space where I will share my exciting journey and share insights from my research, work, and studies with the general public. The views and opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect those of any institution.
Contact me :
Education Highlights
- George Mason University – M.A. History Candidate
- Johns Hopkins School of Public Health – M.P.H. focus Urban / Social Policy and Health Disparities
- SUNY Upstate Medical School- Medical Degree
- City College of New York – B.A., focus Community Health and Social Medicine
- The Center for Oral History at the Science History Institute
- University of Arizona Integrative Medicine Fellowship
- Stanford Medicine EthnoMedicine/ Cultural Medicine Mini-Fellowship
- NIH Health Disparities Research Institute Scholar