A graduate of Brooklyn College, Dr. Brown received a combined M.D. from New York University and a master’s in public health from Columbia University. He completed an internal medicine residency at Harlem Hospital and a neuroendocrinology fellowship at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Brown is the former Chief Executive Officer at START Treatment & Recovery Centers, treating nearly 3000 patients with substance use disorders and nearly 100 adolescents with mental health disorders.

Dr. Brown served as Board Chair of the United States Anti-Doping Agency and as a member of the Boards of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) and the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS. As former American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) President, he served on committees of the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the Drug Testing Advisory Board of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. A former member of New York State’s Public Health and Health Planning Council and the Behavioral Health Services Advisory Council, he has made scientific contributions that focused on improving treatment of substance use disorders, resulting in over 200 publications that reflect research sponsored by government and private industry.

Presently, Dr Brown serves on the NYS Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board, on the Advisory Council of the Partnership for Integrated Care, and on the Policy Committee of the Statewide Health Information Network of New York. Finally, Dr. Brown is Chair of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, advising the Treasury Secretary on designs of US circulating and commemorative coins.

The American College of Physicians, New York Academy of Medicine, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, and CPDD bestowed the distinction of Fellow on Dr. Brown, and ASAM bestowed the recognition of Distinguished Fellow. He is Medical Advisor to the National Football League, and was honorably discharged by the U.S. Army, having received a Bronze Star for meritorious service in the Republic of Vietnam.