Tags
Be Health Empowered!
Biography
Extended Bio
Dr. Melissa Clarke is a Harvard-educated physician who passionately believes we can all be our own best health advocates. With 20 years as a physician caring for and empowering patients, Dr. Clarke has been on the frontlines in improving the way doctors and patients work together. Her recently released book, Excuse me, Doctor. I’ve got WHAT?!” Taking Ownership of Your Health and Making Healthcare Reform Work for You, is a roadmap for how to be a smart healthcare consumer. Chosen by Essence Magazine as a 2015 top book pick, it brilliantly explains why taking control of your health and healthcare now is more important than ever.
Dr. Clarke is a health empowerment speaker and media healthcare commentator. She has served as Senior Medical Director at Aetna-owned Active Health Management, a leading provider of health improving the quality of care they provide as required by healthcare reform. She is also former Assistant Dean of Howard University College of Medicine, where was the recipient of numerous grants and awards related to improving doctor-patient communication.
A board certified Emergency physician, Dr. Clarke graduated from Harvard University, the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, and completed residency at Georgetown University. Certified in acupuncture, and with extensive knowledge of nutrition and alternative healthcare, she supports the integration of the best of western and eastern medicine. She believes that whatever medical system we use, we each play a crucial role in our own wellness and healing. You can follow her on social media where she provides valuable health commentary that empowers us to take care of our most valuable resource - our health.
Experience
Founder and Senior Consultant
BHE Group
October 2013 - present
BHE Group Consults on the ways population health can improve patient outcomes, health consumerism, and patient engagement and ensure that individual health consumers are well informed and empowered with their health and healthcare choices.
Senior Medical Director
Active Health Management/Aetna
October 2008 - September 2013
Provided clinical leadership for medical management programs ( health coaching, disease management, case management, advanced care planning, utilization management) that improved the health of empolyees of clients like Tricare and Kentucky State Employees. After the ACA passed, consulted newly formed Accountable Care organizations on how to adopt these programs for their Medicare populations and their own employees.
Senior Consultant and Co-Founder
Global Telehealth Group
January 2006 - October 2008
Used telehealth and tools like patient portals to improve health outcomes of individuals with diabetes and other chronic diseases
Assistant Dean
Howard University School of Medicine
October 2003 - January 2006
Lead the curriculum reform efforts to educate physicians and focused on improving communication between doctors and patients.
Education
Harvard College
Bachelor's Degree
University of California San Francisco
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
Other
Publications
Excuse Me Doctor! I've Got What? Taking Ownership of Your Health and Making Healthcare Reform Work for You
December 2013
Excuse me, Doctor! I’ve got WHAT?!” Taking Ownership of Your Health and Making Healthcare Reform Work for You, is a roadmap for how to be a smart healthcare consumer. Chosen by Essence Magazine as a 2015 top book pick, it brilliantly explains why taking control of your health and healthcare now is more important than ever.
Languages
English Spanish