John Njenga ’21 DMSc, MPH, PA, was serving as a medical attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Brazil when he enrolled in the DMSc program.
“As a foreign service medical provider, we spend approximately 30-45% [of our time] in medical practice and the remaining time in management and medical diplomacy,” he said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Njenga has met with local ministries of health in Brazil, ensuring that local hospitals are well-equipped. He is also responsible for ensuring that American diplomats assigned to Brazil can get back to the U.S, should they experience a crisis of health not manageable in Brazil.
“Getting U.S diplomats back to the U.S. due to medical necessity is part of my job — which has been complicated by COVID-19 this year,” he said.
Njenga became a PA because “I love the flexibility of this profession. You can make a linear jump from one type of medical practice to another as a PA.” Njenga joined the Air Force in 2011 and also worked in rural medicine, treating underserved patients, and communities.
“I enjoy the increased access to healthcare that PAs provide,” he said.”We are able to treat a wide variety of medical situations. In the foreign service, PAs practice independently. PAs and NPs are known as medical providers (MP). We are collectively referred to simply as foreign service medical specialists when you add doctors, psychiatrists, and medical laboratory scientists. I saw the DMSc as a natural step in my development professionally.”
So far in his foreign service career, Njenga has served or toured over 30 countries.
“My job is a dream. I was born and raised in Kenya, and never thought I would be able to work as a diplomat for the United States,” he said.
