Mentor Spotlight: Dr. Charlene Ong, MD, MPHS
Dr. Charlene Ong, Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery
Dr. Charlene Ong joined Boston University/Boston Medical Center in 2018 as a clinical Neurointensivist and physician-scientist. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and a lecturer at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Ong’s research focuses on developing and validating data-driven tools to guide clinical decision-making in patients with acute and catastrophic neurologic injuries, including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, traumatic brain injury, and anoxic brain injury. Using machine learning, physiologic biomarkers, and multimodal risk prediction methods, her goal is to reduce morbidity and improve treatment outcomes in the neurocritical care setting. Her work is supported by the NIH, the American Heart Association, and other institutional and foundational awards. She recently received the award for the 2025 Excellence in Research Mentorship, MD Program.
Dr. Ong on Mentorship:
I believe that at nearly every level, there’s an opportunity to positively shape your immediate environment. For me, mentorship is one of the most meaningful ways to create that impact. I feel I can make an outsized difference in the lives of others by equipping them not just with support, but with the skills and confidence they need to navigate their own paths forward. I recognize that I would not have reached my current level without the investment of individuals who took the time to offer feedback, guidance, and advocacy on my behalf. Mentorship, then, serves two deeply personal purposes: it is both an expression of gratitude for the support I’ve received and a tangible way to shape the culture around me for the better.
My advice to mentees is to document your progress, challenges, and next steps. Taking time to reflect in writing helps clarify your thinking. I’ve found that this simple practice often leads me to answer many of my own questions and allows me to better identify the areas where I truly need guidance to keep moving forward.
For Dr. Ong, mentorship is not just about providing guidance—it’s about fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration in academic medicine. Through the Ong Lab, she has supported numerous students in making meaningful research contributions, which have led to multiple peer-reviewed publications and national presentations. Cameron Hill, Jonathon Song, and Charles Chen have co-authored peer-reviewed publications and presented at both national and departmental conferences. Additional students, including Aiman Altaf, Brian Tao, and Asritha Sure, are actively engaged in ongoing research projects. To learn more about student research and publications, visit Dr. Ong’s BUprofile.