Jacob R. Greenmyer, M.D.
Resident, Hospice and Palliative Medicine
What moment or experience in your life influenced your decision to be a clinician?
I have common variable immunodeficiency and was diagnosed with cancer as a teenager. My experience as a patient and my love for my doctors motivated me to become a physician. My pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship at Mayo Clinic has been a dream come true. I decided to pursue a palliative care fellowship in addition to my hematology/oncology fellowship after witnessing the transformative power of relationship building and advanced communication. The best part about being a pediatrician is the ability to form meaningful relationships with pediatric patients and their families.
What motivated you to become a Kern Health Care Delivery Scholar?
I was drawn to the Kern Health Care Delivery Scholars Program by the center's emphasis on impactful, pragmatic healthcare innovation and its scientific approach to healthcare delivery. I hold two fundamental beliefs about medical research and innovation. First, all research and innovation — regardless of form — must remain focused on the ultimate goal of improving patients' lives. Second, the burden of proof rests with investigators to objectively evaluate the impact and benefit of their work. The Mayo Clinic Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery is uniquely positioned to strengthen Mayo Clinic's role as a learning health system while upholding a steadfast commitment to evidence-based, high-quality care.
What is your focus and goal as a scholar within the Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery?
The mission of my career is to leverage innovative models of care delivery to improve supportive care for children and adolescents with cancer. My focus as a Kern Health Care Delivery Scholar is to study the implementation of a remote patient-monitoring program for pediatric febrile neutropenia. My research team's goal is to reduce hospitalization days and improve health-related quality of life for pediatric patients treated for febrile neutropenia. This project is made possible by the Mayo Clinic Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery.
Tell us about your mentoring team.
I have been well supported by mentors throughout my career at Mayo Clinic. My Kern Health Care Delivery Scholars Program mentoring team is Joshua C. Pritchett, M.D., a former Kern Health Care Delivery Scholar and expert in remote patient monitoring in adult oncology, and Jennifer L. Ridgeway, Ph.D., a renowned health-services researcher and implementation scientist with the Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery.
I have ongoing mentorship and support from leaders and researchers in Mayo Clinic Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Paul J. Galardy, M.D., and Wendy A. Allen-Rhoades, M.D., Ph.D.; Mayo Clinic Palliative Care, Deirdre R. Pachman, M.D.; and the Mayo Clinic Center for Digital Health, Angela M. Leuenberger, M.S. To my mentorship team — thank you!
How will your research improve patient care or impact public health?
Febrile neutropenia is a common and costly complication of chemotherapy that significantly impacts a patient's quality of life. Patients frequently have high rates of symptoms and medical utilization — for example, emergency department visits and hospitalizations — in the month after a febrile neutropenia diagnosis. My project leverages the resources of Mayo Clinic's Center for Digital Health and the Mayo Clinic Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery to improve symptom management, enhance health-related quality of life and reduce medical utilization after a febrile neutropenia diagnosis.
Why did you choose Mayo Clinic to pursue your career?
This question is easy — I chose Mayo Clinic because it is the best! Mayo Clinic's commitment to the needs of the patient and its three "shields" of patient care, medical research and medical education establish the milieu for clinically meaningful, patient-focused innovation.
Tell us three words that describe you.
Devoted, curious, animated.
Outside of work, what is one thing you like to do?
My time outside of work is best spent with my wife, Lauren, and daughter, Adelyn. Lauren and Adelyn — I love you!