Population Health Science Scholars Program

Established in 2014, the Population Health Science Scholars trains scholars to translate research into real-world solutions and policies to improve population health. The program cultivates field-leading research in population health and builds an evidence base to protect and promote community health. It is grounded in the premise that healthy communities create healthy people.

There is a critical need for a specialized Mayo Clinic workforce dedicated to conducting high-quality, practice-based health services research to improve the health of individuals and communities. Such an effort requires highly motivated, exceptionally trained, practicing clinicians with robust research skills, protected time and demonstrated scholarly track records. The three-year Population Health Science Scholars Program addresses this need by providing training and mentoring for community and population health research at Mayo Clinic.

The program contributes to ongoing efforts at Mayo Clinic to:

  • Develop and identify population health indicators, including patient-reported outcomes.
  • Evaluate the quality and value of care.
  • Facilitate adoption and integration of best practices in population health in diverse clinical and community environments.

The program expands Mayo Clinic's research agenda in the area of high-impact, high-value, evidenced-based community interventions. It serves as a laboratory for developing a cohort of expertise and a program of research in population health.

Population Health Science Scholars are building the evidence base and advancing understanding in a number of areas.

Contact

Robert M. Jacobson, M.D.

Jennifer St. Sauver, Ph.D.

Alanna M. Chamberlain, Ph.D.

Kathleen J. Yost, Ph.D.

Population Health Science Scholars

  1. Mairead M. Bartley, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O., M.D.

    Consultant, Community Internal Medicine

    Improving dementia diagnosis and education for patients and caregivers; promoting early advance care planning discussions to direct care driven by patients' goals, reduce acute health care utilization where possible and improve symptom management toward the end of life

  2. Ramona S. DeJesus, M.D.

    Consultant, Community Internal Medicine

    Focusing on chronic diseases and their interface with mental health in addition to how collaborative care models treat depression and other mental health illnesses in primary care

  3. Benjamin Lai, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O.

    Consultant, Family Medicine

    Collecting and evaluating medication-assisted treatment clinic processes; tracking patient enrollment, relapse and attrition rates; recommending process improvements scalable for medication assisted treatment clinic practices

  4. Kathy L. MacLaughlin, M.D.

    Consultant, Family Medicine

    Using clinical decision support systems to improve rates of cervical cancer screening and guideline-consistent follow-up of abnormal Pap test, HPV and colposcopy biopsy results

  5. Ahmed (Shafii) A. Mohamed, M.D.

    Senior Associate Consultant, Community Internal Medicine

    Systematic review of cancer screening interventions for Somali immigrants; participatory adaptation of cancer prevention interventions with community and practice partners; pilot testing of interventions

  6. Jane W. Njeru, M.B., Ch.B.

    Consultant, Community Internal Medicine

    Development, implementation and evaluation of a model to identify populations of patients with unmet social needs and align them with available community resources