CENTERSTAGE
SERVING THE COMMUNITY: DR. JANINE BERA AT WELLSPACE HEALTH by Contributing Writer, Cheryl D Howard
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n the true essence of what it means to say, “Giving back to the community”, Dr. Janine Bera, Chief Medical Officer for WellSpace Health, has undoubtedly been giving back to the Sacramento region, her home for the past 25 years. Dr. Bera was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. It was in Southern California where she met and married husband, U.S. Congressman Dr. Amerish “Ami” Bera. They added to their union a daughter, Sydra. Inspired and in love, she subsequently attended UC Irvine in preparation for medical school. “I became a doctor because I wanted to further serve my community and my husband who was a resident physician at the time was having more fun at his job than I was having at mine,” she said with amusement. The couple settled in Sacramento, California. She graduated from UC Davis Medical School in 1999. Dr. Bera began her career as a primary care physician in Internal Medicine for Kaiser Permanente. She spoke highly of her 15-year experience with Kaiser. She became an outstanding leader among her fellow physicians, initiating and heading programs for patients and colleagues. After leaving Kaiser, Dr. Bera knew she wanted to work in a greater capacity for her community. She knew she had an even greater calling as a physician when she made her transition to WellSpace Health. WellSpace offers immediate health care services in medical, dental and mental health. “At WellSpace our motto is ‘We See You’. This means that at our health centers we provide care for the underserved, people experiencing homelessness, and or for those who have problems with drugs and alcohol,” said Dr. Bera. The clinic has treated well over 100,000 patients in three counties. There are 19 health centers and 12 ancillary behavior health sites. Health care is also provided for those who have recently been incarcerated.
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The Sacramento homeless are of great concern to Dr. Bera and WellSpace Health. The clinic will attend to many of their health needs and will treat outlying mental and addictive conditions that can ultimately affect their health. WellSpace will also disperse street registered nurses to reach, treat and care for those who may not otherwise walk into a clinic. Dr. Bera is most proud of the women’s health program which is under the direction of Drs. Nathan Allen and Melissa Hill. Health care providers within the women’s health program provide prenatal care and have delivered multitudes of babies through Sutter hospital and Dignity Health. Statistically and historically in Sacramento County there has been a high infant mortality rate. Just as unfortunate are premature births and low birth rates among blacks. According to a Sacramento County First 5 Sacramento report, infants under the age of 1 have died at much higher rates compared to the overall County infant rate inclusive of all races. Astoundingly, there has been over a 45% decrease in black infant deaths in Sacramento County. Dr. Bera would attest to the efforts of WellSpace Health, their health partners and the women’s health program. “Our goal is to do our part in the community to reduce black infant mortality in the community. We have a program called A.N.K.H (Assuring Neonatal Kinship
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