Jen Horonjeff, PhD

🌍 Integrating Behavioral Health into Primary Care: A New Horizon in Healthcare 🧠 As I prepare for the Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare event, the spotlight continues on the crucial integration of behavioral health with primary care—a global health priority underscored by the UK's recent commitment of £150 million to enhance mental health services. Read about the UK's initiative here: https://lnkd.in/gnfU6GUU Why is this Integration Essential? Early intervention in mental health care within primary settings not only enhances patient outcomes but also diminishes the stigma around seeking mental health support. This holistic approach is pivotal for comprehensive healthcare. Facing the Challenges, Seizing the Opportunities Integrating mental and physical health services presents logistical and training challenges, yet it opens up innovative opportunities to improve healthcare delivery. Effective solutions require collaborative efforts and strategic planning, highlighting the vital role of management consultants. The Role of Management Consultants Management consultants play a critical role in transformative healthcare projects, such as those supported by recent UK funding. They help strategize and implement integration processes to ensure efficient and effective service delivery. For a broader perspective on how management consultants are shaping the healthcare landscape, you can explore this insightful article from Harvard Business Review. https://lnkd.in/gkuJnQVf Let’s Discuss at the Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Event Join me in Abu Dhabi to explore how global health systems can emulate successful models of behavioral health integration. Let’s discuss the advancements and share insights on implementing these practices worldwide. How can consultants facilitate these changes? What strategies have you seen succeed? 👉 Follow the event updates here. https://www.adghw.com/

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IT’S HARD TO KILL STRONG PEOPLE By Richard J. Wolff, RDN According to Dr. Miriam Nelson, Associate Chief of the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, "Muscle is the absolute centerpiece for being healthy, vital, and independent as we grow older." Experts agree that adding Strength Training to your lifestyle can reverse metabolic aging. At the 2015 REX Conference, Dr. James Fisher, Senior Lecturer on Sports Conditioning and Fitness at Solent University, presented research demonstrating an inverse relationship between muscle mass and mortality. In this case, the more muscle you have, the less likely you are to die. Dr. Fisher summarized the research by stating, "It's hard to kill strong people." If your living the Strength Training Lifestyle, keep doing what you're doing. If you're not, it's time to get strong! MEDFITNESS is a Strength Training studio. Schedule your Free Trial Workout at www.MEDFITNESS.co #resistancetraining #strengthtraining #personaltrainer #personaltraining #medfitness

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Gil Bashe shares a critical truth about the U.S. healthcare system in his latest piece on Medika.Life. Despite groundbreaking innovations, we are falling short of creating a healthcare system that truly prioritizes health over “sick care.” 💡 As Gil so aptly puts it: • Nearly 30% of Americans lack a primary care provider. • Chronic conditions like obesity, prediabetes, and heart disease continue to climb, threatening the health and wellbeing of future generations. • Primary care—a cornerstone of prevention—is on the verge of extinction, overwhelmed by systemic inefficiencies and economic pressures. Gil’s call for a shift in focus—from reactive care to prevention and long-term health outcomes—is one I stand behind. The question is, how do we make this shift a reality? 📊 Here’s where we can start: 1️⃣ Reimagine primary care: We need a system that values long-term patient-provider relationships over transactional care. Walk-in clinics may offer convenience, but they don’t provide the continuity needed to tackle chronic conditions. My thoughts? 💭 Incentivize medical students to enter primary care with loan forgiveness programs. Invest in team-based care models that integrate dietitians, mental health counselors, pharmacists, naturopaths, functional and integrative practitioners, and community health workers. Expand telehealth services to rural and underserved areas to ensure access to consistent, longitudinal care… 2️⃣ Empower prevention: As Gil highlights, obesity and prediabetes are “ticking time bombs.” A stronger emphasis on nutrition, physical activity, and early intervention is key to reversing these trends. My thoughts? 💭 Establish workplace wellness programs focusing on nutrition, physical activity, and stress management. Increase funding for public health initiatives targeting prediabetes and obesity prevention. Require health insurers to cover preventive services, including routine screenings and nutrition counseling, at no cost to patients… 3️⃣ Elevate communication: Patients need clear, actionable steps—not just information about medications but about lifestyle changes and holistic care options that address their root causes. My thoughts? 💭 Train providers in health literacy best practices to communicate more effectively with patients. Use technology like apps or text reminders to engage patients in follow-ups and lifestyle changes. Create culturally relevant, multilingual educational materials that address patients’ unique barriers and concerns. 📩 Let’s discuss: What’s the most significant barrier to shifting our healthcare system toward prevention and equity? How can science communication play a role in this transformation? 📖 If you haven’t read Gil’s powerful article yet, I encourage you to do so by following the link below. #PrimaryCare #ScienceCommunication #PatientCare #HealthcareInnovation #MedicalWriting #PublicHealth #HealthEquity

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Every “problem” has a solution, and here's a perfect example. #healthequity #healthcare #doctors #patientadvocate #solutions #disparities #minorityhealthmonth

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🧨 2025 FemTech Landscape I enjoyed my conversation with Jessica D'Amico of FirstWordPharma, where we chatted about how femtech is furthering women's health initiatives. Our conversation was influenced by a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report that highlighted how digital health technologies can improve women’s health and promote equity. 🧨 Questions we tackled for The FirstWordPharma article include: - How are digital technologies helping to reduce disparities in women’s health globally? - Where are you seeing the biggest demand for digital technologies in women’s healthcare? - How are pharmas using digital technologies to augment their women’s health therapeutic portfolios? And to what extent are they developing these in-house? - How do you see the role of AI and machine learning evolving in women’s healthcare?  - Addressing women’s health more comprehensively could unlock significant global economic and societal benefits. What are the most impactful ways digital health technologies could contribute to this? How is the industry addressing data privacy and security concerns in femtech? Please take a moment to read and share the article. #WomensHealth #Press #HealthcareInnovation #FemTech #HealthcareAI #FemTech #Innovation #Impact #HealthEquity Full Article:

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The cognitive bias in anchoring centralized federal programs is very apparent here in this Congressional Budget Office: https://lnkd.in/eKptaNFK We should consider multiple ways of framing policy in order to help find the best answer. Naomi Lopez Shealyn Robinson Brian Yagi Terra Marie Jouaneh Nolan Ahern Dominique Yelinski Niraj Gowda Janet Woodcock Gail Wilensky Jack Rowing Garrett Daniel Charles Chapman Braden Murphy Loren Adler Brian M. Fahey Nancy E. Isaac Mark Leahey Josh Makower Eric Hargan Hannah Anderson #healthpolicy #medicare #medicaid #drugpricing #innovation #budget

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I am so excited & honored to begin 2025 with a bang! I’m so grateful to receive this national training award in population health equity artificial intelligence (AI) & machine learning (ML). Because I recognize the unprecedented, though complicated, opportunity presented by AI & ML to tackle the most pressing and complex health disparities of our time, I see this award, given by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded AI/ML Consortium to Advance Health Equity And Researcher Diversity (AIM-AHEAD) & Science Collaborative for Health Disparities & AI Bias Reduction (ScHARe) as a vital step in my professional goal to merge my expertise in clinical medicine and community engaged health equity implementation research with cutting-edge AI/ML technology. This way, I can more effectively advocate for equitable healthcare systems and address the root causes of health inequities vis a vis the structural & social determinants of health. I plan to learn how to leverage AI/ML tools to analyze and understand complex population health problems, mitigate bias, and employ critical thinking in AI to develop actionable, data-driven, community-informed solutions to population health disparities.   Eventually, I hope to build AI predictive models that enable clinicians, clinical educators, researchers, public health & industry leaders, community members, and policymakers to proactively address barriers to care and leverage community *assets*, ensuring that structurally-excludedcommunities receive customized and equitable health interventions. Feel free to ask me any questions & I look forward to sharing what I learn on this very new & exciting journey. #EquityInAI #AI

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Some helpful thinking here from Chris Dadson at Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). The Accelerating Reform Fund is presenting some huge opportunities to step forward for #unpaidcarers, but that does require ambitious thinking.

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https://lnkd.in/e93ZqbZC Caregiving receives additional support with the passage of the 2024 Older Americans Act. Note the focus on peer support, which is basically support for informal caregivers. The emphasis on training and certification is critical; however, I would like to see the Area Agencies on Aging taking more of a pivotal role in coordinating community, non-profit and private sector services. Also, we could be promoting enhanced navigational tools through centralized mechanisms such as the area agency network. Newagingpartnership.org in conjunction with our resource consultants is dedicated to improving existing mechanisms; and is investigating ways in which we can encourage and enhance governmental policies that are being advanced, such as those implemented under the Older Americans Act. Jeannette Galvanek Candra Wallace, MSW #newagingpartnership #caregivingconfidential #caregivingsupport #olderamericansact #areaagenciesonaging

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For those of you who have been following our work on Pathways to Population Health Equity, one beautiful outcome of applying that framework in Rhode Island has been the recognition of the full scope of the #CHW role in building bridges between clinical and community environments to create upstream investments in population and community health. Drawn from communities closest to the challenges, these natural civic connectors, who skilled at relationships and navigation but can also be trustworthy and effective leaders of clinical-community coalitions and partnerships to address upstream community conditions like housing availability and tenant rights and root causes like racial inequities in the environment. In this week's issue of NEJM Group, we share how this led to a roadmapping process among 140 CHWs and allies about how to sustain the role with braided and blended funding and describe the process. The four roadmaps developed to sustain the role of CHWs were about: 1) Growing the role, agency, and leadership of community health workers 2) Workforce development for CHWs and their supervisors 3) Payment and sustainability 4) People and place-based coordinating infrastructure The full roadmaps can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eND39AEU A year after implementation, there remained strong engagement and support for the implementation within the state and advancement of key functions to support CHWs. More remains to be done to align funding for long-term sustainability. https://lnkd.in/eXvNvsEx Special appreciation to co-authors and co-leaders in this process, Swanette Salazar Geraldine McPhee, Deborah Garneau and many others including James Day, Linda Cabral, Kristen Rego, Michelle Mooney, Michelle Abuna, Jonathan Scaccia and our whole team at Well-being and Equity (WE) in the World who supported this roadmapping process and contributed to building CHW leadership along the way, including Hilda Ortiz, Sarai Arpero at Latino Health Access and Kevin Barnett at CACHE #equity #healthequity #populationhealth #civicmuscle #vitalconditions #P2PHE Durrell Fox

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For those of you who have been following our work on Pathways to Population Health Equity, one beautiful outcome of applying that framework in Rhode Island has been the recognition of the full scope of the #CHW role in building bridges between clinical and community environments to create upstream investments in population and community health. Drawn from communities closest to the challenges, these natural civic connectors, who skilled at relationships and navigation but can also be trustworthy and effective leaders of clinical-community coalitions and partnerships to address upstream community conditions like housing availability and tenant rights and root causes like racial inequities in the environment. In this week's issue of NEJM Group, we share how this led to a roadmapping process among 140 CHWs and allies about how to sustain the role with braided and blended funding and describe the process. The four roadmaps developed to sustain the role of CHWs were about: 1) Growing the role, agency, and leadership of community health workers 2) Workforce development for CHWs and their supervisors 3) Payment and sustainability 4) People and place-based coordinating infrastructure The full roadmaps can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eND39AEU A year after implementation, there remained strong engagement and support for the implementation within the state and advancement of key functions to support CHWs. More remains to be done to align funding for long-term sustainability. https://lnkd.in/eXvNvsEx Special appreciation to co-authors and co-leaders in this process, Swanette Salazar Geraldine McPhee, Deborah Garneau and many others including James Day, Linda Cabral, Kristen Rego, Michelle Mooney, Michelle Abuna, Jonathan Scaccia and our whole team at Well-being and Equity (WE) in the World who supported this roadmapping process and contributed to building CHW leadership along the way, including Hilda Ortiz, Sarai Arpero at Latino Health Access and Kevin Barnett at CACHE #equity #healthequity #populationhealth #civicmuscle #vitalconditions #P2PHE Durrell Fox

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Pediatric Cancers-newly published white paper:This is an important study guide about the power of collaboration between industry,academia and patient advocates to accelerate research and treatment discoveries Honored to be a co-author with other great leaders in rare and pediatric cancers. Thanks to Day One for spearheading! #pediatriccancer #rarecancers #braincancer

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From understanding to action. I am so excited to be part of an event that focuses on explaining the what, the why, and the how. This is a virtual event, so anybody interested in system change that is focused on individual empowerment. https://lnkd.in/gGz3ZKip

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We are at a pivotal moment for public health, and it is imperative that all stakeholders, including policymakers and the public, advocate for evidence-based leadership in health policy. Addressing the nation’s most pressing health challenges requires a well-informed, transparent, and collaborative approach. #APHA remains committed to supporting efforts that restore trust in science and promote health equity for all communities. Choosing a leader for the Department of Health and Human Services #HHS is a decision that will profoundly impact the health of the nation. This position requires public health expertise, strong leadership skills, and a dedication to evidence-based decision-making. The leader must prioritize building trust in science and addressing critical issues such as #vaccine_safety, #health_disparities, and #public_health_preparedness. APHA urges the administration to select a qualified, science-driven leader who can advance #health_equity and enhance the well-being of all Americans.

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Creating a Safe Space for Patient Voices: How Kidney Watch Consulting Drives Change At Kidney Watch Consulting (KWC), we know change begins with listening. Patients navigating chronic kidney disease and dialysis often feel silenced, dismissed, or afraid to speak up due to fear of retaliation. That’s why we’ve built a safe, anonymous platform where patients, care partners, and communities can share concerns freely. This isn’t just a tool—it’s the foundation of our mission to reform renal care. This platform is a critical piece of our PAR (Prevention, Access, Reform) method, which tackles the systemic flaws in renal care head-on. Patient feedback is central to everything we do, shaping our efforts to address inequities, demand accountability, and push for meaningful reform. Why a Safe Space Matters Healthcare often reduces patients to numbers, ignoring their voices and concerns. Many are hesitant to raise issues—like rushed care, poor staffing, or systemic barriers—out of fear. Our anonymous platform ensures these stories are heard without judgment or retaliation. For patients, this space is about reclaiming their voice. For KWC, it’s about gathering insights to drive targeted action. Every shared story reveals critical gaps and helps us build strategies that challenge corporate practices and prioritize patient care. Putting Patients at the Center of Change At KWC, patients aren’t an afterthought—they’re at the heart of what we fight for. Their voices guide our Precision Advocacy Approach, which tackles corporate negligence and systemic inequities with unwavering focus. While we address systemic failures, we never lose sight of the humanity behind the issues. Patients and their care partners are not just contributors to our work—they’re the reason for it. Their stories inspire us to fight harder for a fair and compassionate healthcare system. The PAR Method in Action    •   Prevention: We address the root causes of kidney disease, advocating for early intervention to reduce dependence on dialysis. Prevention saves lives and empowers patients.    •   Access: True access means equitable care for all, not just those with privilege. We fight to remove barriers and demand that care reaches the communities that need it most.    •   Reform: Reform isn’t optional—it’s essential. We push for systemic change that prioritizes people over profits, creating a renal care system that works for everyone. The Human Element Every voice matters. The stories patients share with us are more than feedback—they’re a call to action. They remind us this fight isn’t just about systems; it’s about lives. At KWC, we listen, we act, and we fight for a better future—one that values patients as people, not numbers. Together, we are building a healthcare system where speaking up is safe and celebrated, and where care reflects what truly matters: the needs of the people. #KidneyWatchConsulting #ASafePlace #TalkHealthCareReform #TransparentCommunication

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Generative AI in Action: Data-Driven Insights from a Hospital Rollout NYU Langone has been testing the capabilities of generative artificial intelligence (genAI) using a HIPAA-compliant ChatGPT (Azure GPT-3.5) and just published real-world usage and cost data. It's informative to look closely at who was most likely to use AI (clinicians and researchers), and the manager/non-manager perspectives on the tool and its implications for skill development and productivity. Here’s a quick snapshot of the findings: Adoption: Out of 40,000 staff, 2.5% signed up, and weekly active users averaged just 60 people. Interest was high, but sustained engagement was a challenge. Usage Patterns: Popular tasks included writing, editing, summarizing, data analysis, and brainstorming—most used by research, clinical, and IT teams. Costs: Over six months, the platform processed 112M tokens for just $4,200, proving cost-effective. User Feedback: Users rated their experience at 7.4/10 but highlighted challenges like crafting prompts, managing token limits, and occasional AI inaccuracies (“hallucinations”). No doubt, addressing these issues through education (e.g. prompt engineering), better user interfaces, and ongoing engagement could improve adoption rates and maximize the potential benefits of GenAI tools in healthcare settings. https://lnkd.in/gm4km7Nx #genai #healthcare

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WE (emphasis on WE!) HAVE the power to stop "decline by design" Robert Bowman in its "power over" tracks. Remove #highqualityprimarycare from the structures and processes of the US healthcare system. https://lnkd.in/gFZ-EEJX Empower neighbors and neighborhoods to create #interprofessionalprimarycare teams for their neighborhood. Use the boundaries of elementary schools to define the neighborhood. Empower neighbors to hire #interprofessionalprimarycare teams, find neighborhood office space, buy an inexpensive EHR, and then do the work to crowdsource #monthlydues for access to the high-quality practice for all neighbors (monthly dues defined by the neighborhood). FREE #highqualityprimarycare and FREE #highqualityprimarycare for all neighbors! #chambersofprimarycare like #chambersofcommerce can be created to support these efforts in towns and cities. Such #neighborhoodprimarycare would be cost-effective for organizations to provide to their employees. Neighborhood primary care accessible to all neighbors is possible! These neighborly actions are DELIGHTFULLY SUBVERSIVE to the current healthcare system. Such neighborly actions are simply outside of the current US healthcare systems power to "power over" or control. 💞 Primary Care for All Americans

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