Jehni Robinson, MD said she is honored to have been named the new chair of the Keck School of Medicine of USC Department of Family Medicine. Her mission is to improve outcomes among local underserved communities. She knows it is a big job, but it’s a big job, she told the Sentinel in a recent interview, but she’s up for it. Family medicine has been her passion for a long time.
“It is a great pleasure to lead the Department of Family Medicine and continue its important mission of providing quality care to patients,” Robinson said.
“I am excited to work with the department’s exceptionally talented clinicians, staff and students to provide patient-centered, team-based health and wellness to all patients touched by Keck Medicine of USC, particularly those in the local underserved communities surrounding our health sciences campus.”
Robinson studied medicine at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, and went on to complete her internship and residency at Harbor-UCLA in the Family Medicine Residency Program, as well as a fourth-year chief residency and faculty development fellowship. During that time, she said she began to see the importance of developing a more patient-centered model of care.
The curriculum she developed during the fellowship helped other family medicine fellows better understand the model and put it into practice. This research shows that patients who have an ongoing relationship with a primary care physician have better outcomes and lower costs. Additionally, when care is managed effectively by primary care physicians, patients with chronic diseases have fewer complications, which leads to fewer, often avoidable future hospitalizations.
The Keck School’s Department of Family Medicine has a number of programs that support its mission of providing quality care to surrounding communities. Addressing homelessness in Los Angeles is one priority. With more than 52,000 people who are homeless in Los Angeles county alone, the Keck School of Medicine of USC Street Medicine program aims to provide direct care on the streets to the unsheltered and hardest-to-reach populations. All care is provided free of charge and delivered onsite, including dispensing medications and drawing blood for testing. Robinson has worked very hard with her team to get this innovative program up and seeing patients, she told the Sentinel.
Working to create a new family medicine residency program is another core component of Robinson’s goals as chair. The residency will teach physicians to lead the way in personalized medicine, including traditional face-to-face visits, technology assisted home visits, on the streets, and in nursing homes. Robinson is “excited for the opportunity to bring together high touch and high tech,” as medical students will participate in team-based training alongside other health professional programs.
Robinson’s colleagues have expressed full confidence in her abilities to bring about these practices and changes within the community.
“In her year as interim chair, Dr. Robinson rose to every challenge,” said Laura Mosqueda, MD, dean of the Keck School and professor of family medicine. “Dr. Robinson has my trust and respect, and I look forward to working with her.”
Robinson previously served as chief medical officer at the Saban Community Clinic, formerly Los Angeles Free Clinic, as well as interim clinical director at Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County.
