Q&A with Tajah Tubbs, MD, MPH (she/her), assistant professor of emergency medicine
Hometown: Moorpark, California
Educational background: I obtained my bachelor’s degree in human biology from Stanford University, Master’s of Public Health in health care management from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and MD from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. I completed my emergency medicine residency and administrative fellowship at the University of California San Francisco, serving as chief resident in my final year of residency.
Do you have an area of clinical interest, and how did you get into it? I have enjoyed administration and addressing health care disparities since medical school, partly from my personal background and partly from my enjoyment of efficiency, operations and management. Emergency department administration encompasses quality improvement, patient safety, finance, billing and reimbursement, health policy, risk management, process optimization, leadership, operations, staffing, resource utilization, patient experience, research and more. Getting to combine these things in my clinical interests has been a blast!
What attracted you to UW–Madison? UW–Madison came across to me as a place that really cares about its people — from the greater Wisconsin community and patients, to the staff and students. I am excited to work at a place that values every individual regardless of their background and wants to see them thrive.
What do you hope trainees will learn from you and your work? I hope trainees leave each shift holding a bit more balance, whether that’s something small like staying hydrated and fed, or something larger like an efficiency tip or celebrating life updates outside of work.
Do you feel your work relates to the Wisconsin Idea — that our efforts should influence people’s health and well-being beyond the care they receive in our emergency departments? If so, please describe how. Absolutely! I care about making systems more efficient and safe for patients to receive the best care and thrive at home, and I believe that social determinants of health cannot be ignored in the emergency department because they influence everything we do.
My first job: Tutor at Kumon Learning Center
My most unusual job: Beverage cart driver on a golf course
What are your favorite things to do in the Greater Madison area? I’m new to the area, but have been enjoying trying new restaurants and exploring small towns. I’m excited to do some hiking and camping in the Driftless region, visit Door County, and hunt for the best cheese curds!
My hobbies and other interests outside of work: Hiking, yoga, trying new recipes, baking
If you could have dinner with one person (passed, alive or fictional), who and at where would you make reservations? Barack Obama — I would cook a meal at home and have a casual conversation (would learn so much!)