Mayo Clinic announces 2020 Kern Scholars
The Mayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery welcomed four new scholars to the Kern Health Care Delivery Scholars Program.
Jacob Jentzer, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine in the College of Medicine, and Cardiology Consultant. Photos taken for the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery external website, and additional Kern Center promotion.
Konstantinos Leventakos, M.D., Ph.D. (HEMO ’17), Medical Oncology (Rochester), Faculty Scholar
Research focus: Leventakos uses qualitative and quantitative methods to study how to identify barriers to patient enrollment in clinical trials, and he uses implementation science methods to address these barriers. He is investigating how a multifaceted approach using artificial intelligence, research nurse coordinators and patient engagement tools can optimize cancer clinical trial enrollment.
Mentors: Aaron Spaulding, Ph.D. (HSR ’16); Aaron Leppin, M.D. (ENDO ’14, CTSA ’16); Curtis Storlie, Ph.D. (HSR '19); Tufia Haddad, M.D. (I ’04, CTSA ’14); Barbara Barry, Ph.D.
Timothy Lyon, M.D. (UONC ’19), Urology (Florida), Faculty Scholar
Research focus: Lyon focuses on identifying and addressing barriers in access to high-quality bladder cancer care to ensure that all patients are given a chance at an optimal treatment outcome.
Mentors: Aaron Spaulding, Ph.D. (HSR ’16); Dorin Colibaseanu, M.D. (S ’12, CSR ’13); Stephen Boorjian, M.D. (UONC ’08); Elizabeth Habermann, Ph.D. (HSR ’12)
Ann Rusk, M.D. (THDC ’22), Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (Rochester), Fellow
Research focus: Rusk has a career interest in promoting health equity in Native Americans, specifically in addressing smoking cessation and pulmonary disease. Her research uses quantitative and qualitative methods to assess smoking patterns existing in Native Americans, and uses systematic review of existing literature to formally assess culturally tailored smoking cessation interventions. Her long-term goal is to formulate effective smoking cessation programs for Native Americans.
Mentors: Cassie Kennedy, M.D. (I ’03, CMR ’04, CI ’06, THDC ’08); Christi Patten, Ph.D. (CIM ’98); M. Hassan Murad, M.D. (PREV ’07); Alanna Chamberlain, Ph.D. (HSR ’10)
The Kern Health Care Delivery Scholars Program is available as a one-year program for clinically trained, doctoral-level Mayo Clinic fellows and a three-year program for junior faculty. The program seeks to prepare the next generation in health services research by leveraging social sciences disciplines such as epidemiology, statistics and sociology.
The Kern Scholars Program helps develop a workforce of highly motivated, exceptionally trained clinicians who have the research skills needed to assess existing health care delivery systems, to rigorously test different care models and to apply best practices — essential steps in providing evidence-informed and patient-centered health care.