The Kern Health Care Delivery Scholars Program was established in 2010 through the generous support of Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern and their family foundation. The program educates and mentors the next generation of clinically trained doctoral-level fellows and junior faculty in health services research. It addresses the critical need for a specialized workforce at Mayo Clinic that is committed to conducting high-quality, practice-based health services research to enhance healthcare delivery.
The program aims to transform healthcare from within. It produces highly motivated, exceptionally trained clinicians with robust research skills, protected time and proven scholarly track records. It emphasizes evidence-informed, patient-centered care. And it advances such care through thorough assessment of current healthcare delivery systems and processes, rigorous testing of alternative care models, and the application of best practices to drive improvement.
Health services research harnesses the disciplines of the social sciences, including epidemiology, economics and sociology, as well as statistics, engineering and other applied sciences, to achieve these objectives. The Kern Health Care Delivery Scholars Program furthers Mayo Clinic's strategic goals by:
Kern Center Health Care Delivery Scholars not only expand their knowledge and capabilities but also advocate for the continuous improvement and transformational innovation inherent to a learning health system. Their work is instrumental in championing the mindset and innovation required for a progressive health system that continually adapts and improves.
New scholar cohorts begin every year in July. Each scholar is asked to share something about themselves and their motivations for the program. Those interviews are linked to their names below.
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Elizabeth S. Bermudez, M.D.
Consultant, Emergency Medicine
Establishes a standardized definition of medical boarders and investigates factors associated with emergency department medical boarding in Mayo Clinic Health System, evaluates its impact on patient safety and financial outcomes, and models the predicted financial benefits of implementing a telehospitalist role for managing emergency department medical boarders.
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Leslie Carranza, M.D.
Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Develops a reliable and comprehensive response for patients after adverse events and medical errors, supports staff in managing challenging patient care aspects, and equips them with proactive skills to prevent escalation.
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Victor G. Chedid, M.D., M.S.
Consultant, Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Develops a prospective inflammatory bowel disease registry of individuals of diverse sexualities and gender identities.
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Daniel M. Frendl, M.D., Ph.D.
Consultant, Urology
Develops a retrospective cohort of prostate cancer patients at Mayo Clinic using natural language processing to evaluate adherence to surveillance and treatment outcomes and implements a real-time risk classification algorithm to aid in triaging and visit scheduling based on patient stability and disease progression risk.
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Jacob R. Greenmyer, M.D.
Resident, Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Establishes a remote patient monitoring program for pediatric febrile neutropenia in three phases: feasibility, scalability and sustainability.
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Madiha Iqbal, M.B.B.S., M.D.
Consultant, Hematology/Oncology
Evaluates an innovative healthcare delivery model to improve quality of life and outcomes in patients with severe autoimmune disease undergoing autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation.
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Anushka Irani, B.M., B.Ch., Ph.D.
Senior Associate Consultant, Rheumatology
Designs and implements a remote asynchronous assessment pipeline for fibromyalgia patients and develops a digital and physiological-based assessment platform for holistic patient evaluation that is remote accessible and integrated into electronic health records for both patients and clinicians.
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Sarayna S. McGuire, M.D., M.S.
Senior Associate Consultant, Emergency Medicine
Develops an innovative process that leverages AI and automation to reduce the likelihood of workplace violence and improve the healthcare environment.
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Sarah E. Monick, M.D.
Resident, Hematology/Oncology
Develops and reviews advance care planning among adolescents and young adults' education video content, integrates it into the patient portal, and implements a scheduling system for appointments. The project also conducts pilot testing, gathers feedback and makes necessary adjustments before full-scale implementation, data collection, and final analysis for dissemination and scalability.
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Allyson K. Palmer, M.D., Ph.D.
Consultant, Hospital Internal Medicine
Utilizes electroencephalography to achieve accurate and timely detection of delirium in acute care settings.
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Tyler S. Oesterle, M.D., M.P.H.
Consultant, Psychiatry and Psychology
Focuses on the digital delivery of substance use disorder services.
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Annie M. Rusk, M.D.
Senior Associate Consultant, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Addresses respiratory health inequities in Indigenous North Americans, with a focus on chronic obstructive lung disease risk factors, and advances individualized medicine for Indigenous people.
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Mazie Tsang, M.D.
Senior Associate Consultant, Hematology/Oncology
Incorporates geriatric and supportive care principles into decision-making processes for older adults with low-grade (indolent) lymphomas.
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Hanyin Wang, M.D.
Consultant, Hospital Internal Medicine
Explores the implications of artificial intelligence — particularly large language models — on healthcare workflows. This work examines how emerging technologies can enhance clinical decision-making, streamline documentation and improve operational efficiency across care delivery systems.