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

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SUMMARY

Jane W. Njeru, M.B., Ch.B., has clinical and research interests in finding ways to decrease health disparities. These inequalities affect people with unmet social needs, immigrants, refugees and individuals with limited ability to speak English. Through community-based participatory research (CBPR) and practice-based interventions, she partners with these communities in an equitable way to address specific health issues.

Focus areas

• Care for people with limited English proficiency (LEP). Compared with people who are proficient in English, those with LEP have poorer health outcomes and suboptimal healthcare use. There are multiple factors contributing to this disparity. Dr. Njeru identifies areas that healthcare systems can improve, which is critical for better outcomes for affected people and populations.
• Health disparities that affect immigrants and refugees. In the CBPR approach, researchers and community members participate equally to identify key health areas to improve. Dr. Njeru tests these areas and develops interventions.
• New interventions to address social determinants of health among those with medical and social complexity. Social determinants of health — the factors that create the context in which people live — have profound effects on the well-being of individuals and communities. Finding ways to measure and address social determinants of health, often in collaboration with community groups such as health workers, is key to helping people. Those with complex medical and social needs become healthier and have better quality of life when these determinants are understood, and disparities are addressed.

Significance to patient care

Dr. Njeru strives to decrease health disparities and promote health equity across the continuum of care. This effort includes improving access to healthcare, addressing preventive care, diagnosing disease and providing appropriate therapy for all. Dr. Njeru's research is agnostic to disease condition.

Professional highlights

• Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic:
  • Vice chair, patient health equity, 2022-present.
  • Section head, Division of Community Internal Medicine Geriatrics and Palliative Care, 2020-present.
  • Chair for research, Division of Community Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care, 2018-2022.
  • Leader, department diversity, Division of Community Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care, 2018-2023.
• Community Health Assessment and Improvement Measures Program Partnership Award, Center for Clinical Translational Science, Mayo Clinic, 2023.
• Outstanding Humanitarian, Mayo Clinic, 2022.