Rebecca Klege, Ph.D, M.Phil
Dr. Klege is an esteemed health and environmental researcher and economist with over a decade of global experience in research. She specializes in designing and conducting a wide array of studies, from interventional randomized trials to secondary data analysis of population-level data. Her expertise underscores the importance of effective communication, realistic research planning, and meticulous budget management. Throughout her career, she has secured various research grants and actively participated in international conferences as a panelist, discussant, and speaker. Her work is widely published in peer-reviewed journals, and she also serves as a reviewer for various academic journals.
Previously, Dr. Klege served as the Director of Research at Henry J. Austin Health Center (HJAHC), where she established and developed the first Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) research department in New Jersey, directly addressing significant health disparities. Her initiatives were pivotal in including underrepresented communities in biomedical research, thereby enhancing evidence-based practices. Dr. Klege streamlined HJAHC’s institutional review board processes and policies to comply with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Human Research Protections, by maintaining its Federalwide Assurance (FWA). She led various health research projects and served as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on various federally funded and international grants, focusing on health disparities, chronic diseases, and the environment. Her flagship project, “Project HOPE - Hypertension Optimization through Pharmacist Engagement,” has received positive patient feedback and community engagement since its inception in 2023. Her expertise in project administration encompasses staffing, research protections, and budgeting.
Beyond her research contributions, Dr. Klege is dedicated to capacity building. As the Director of Research at HJAHC, she established a comprehensive internship program for graduate students pursuing public health at Rutgers University, providing mentorship and fostering research interests while contributing to the scientific literature. She has also served on doctoral research committees in health administration.
Dr. Klege's commitment extends to her roles as a member of the Research Accelerator Cohort (RAC) for the Children’s Health Fund (CHF), a member of the Collaborative Family Health Care Association (CFHA), and a Board member for the OKB Hope Foundation.
Dr. Klege earned her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, with additional specializations from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. She also holds an MPhil in Economics.