Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis: health-care leader applies patient-doctor lessons.

• Author: Taylor, Judith B.
• Position: ATHENA AWARD FINALIST

From her earliest memories of childhood, Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis knew she would be involved in medicine. At first she thought it might be a nursing career. That was how young girls were guided when Allen-Davis was a small child.

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Then came the women's movement and the Civil Rights movement. At a career day when Allen-Davis was in her teens, she saw the possibilities and opportunities available for what she really wanted to be: a doctor.

Growing up in a military family with two parents who worked, Allen-Davis helped with her three younger siblings. From homework to cooking, Allen-Davis became a "point person" at an early age. Then during her junior year in high school, Allen-Davis lost her father. There were more responsibilities.

"You can go on," she said, looking back on that time.

Indeed, Allen-Davis did move forward and fulfilled her dream of becoming a doctor, graduating from Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Medical School. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Today, Dr. Allen-Davis serves as vice president of Government and External relations for Kaiser Permanente Colorado. In this role she oversees Kaiser Permanente Colorado's community investment benefit, local and national relations and internal and external communications plus brand management.

Allen-Davis' career has included the role of assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. She spent four years in the Indian Health Service in Tuba City, Ariz.

For 25 years, Dr. Allen Davis was a physician. She remembers the tremendous joy and perspective of dealing with patients one on one. Being so present with each patient was an important part of her career path.

"We are in the moment," Allen-Davis said of her work with patients. "These were wonderful relationships. I was there to make lives better and in turn, they made mine better."

She now uses these powerful patient-doctor lessons to shape health care at many levels.

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