BriJen began with one physician’s journey across three continents, a book exploring the divides in health, and a question: What becomes possible when voices separated by geography, profession, and opportunity come together?
BriJen brings those voices together—across generations, disciplines, communities, and borders—to share perspectives, build connections, and advance health equity.
Dr. Njenga holds a Doctor of Medicine (MBChB), a Master of Public Health, and a Doctor of Public Health, and completed the Global Health Care Leaders Program at Harvard Medical School. She brings more than twenty-four years of experience leading innovation, strengthening health systems, advancing health equity, and building meaningful partnerships across communities and countries.
Everywhere she worked, one question followed: Why do health disparities persist—and how can key voices, separated by geography and opportunity, come together to address them?
Across countries and communities, she saw people grappling with many of the same health challenges, yet often working in isolation. A trainee in Kampala and a policymaker in Edmonton could have valuable perspectives to share, but few opportunities to connect. The same was true for practitioners, researchers, students, and community voices whose knowledge and experiences rarely crossed geographic, professional, or institutional boundaries.
What was missing was a space to bring these voices together, across disciplines, generations, communities, and borders.
The Divide: Becoming a Global Health Physician is Dr. Njenga’s account of what it takes to build a career across borders—the training, the systems that don’t translate, the assumptions challenged along the way, and the distance between where knowledge is produced and where it is needed.
Writing it surfaced questions that extended beyond the pages: How do we learn from people whose experiences are different from our own? How do emerging voices gain access to those who have walked the path before them? And how do we create connections across countries, disciplines, and generations?
A book can only speak in one direction. The questions it raised needed a room.
“The divide isn’t only between countries. It’s between generations, disciplines, and whose voices get heard.”
Mentorship has long been part of Dr. Njenga’s work. Through her own mentoring, the experiences of colleagues who mentor across different settings, and listening to the questions and conversations of students, trainees, and early-career professionals, one thing became increasingly clear: their perspectives are too often missing from the conversations shaping health.
Her experience as CEO of Engage Global Health and as a reviewer and admissions panel member at the University of Alberta’s School of Medicine has further reinforced that observation.
BriJen brings these emerging voices into conversation with practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders. Through youth panels, guest Q&As, career conversations, and mentorship, they contribute, learn, question, and help shape what comes next.
They are not simply the leaders of tomorrow. Their perspectives matter today.
BriJen brings together generations, disciplines, experiences, and voices from around the world to exchange perspectives, share knowledge, build meaningful connections, and advance health equity.
Digital-first by design, BriJen makes geography less of a barrier—so a student in Windhoek and a health system leader in Washington can be part of the same conversation, each bringing knowledge and experience that can shape how we understand and address health challenges.
Different voices. Shared learning. Greater possibility for impact.
We advance health equity through meaningful conversations, knowledge exchange, leadership,
and collaboration—keeping the conversation going until it becomes action.
No idea that works should stay local and every voice deserves to be heard. We envision a global health community where knowledge and mentorship inspire action that transforms lives and communities.
The best answers are co-authored. We build rooms where expertise meets openly.
We believe every voice matters and every perspective strengthens the conversation.
We are guided by evidence, respect, professionalism, and a commitment to serving communities with honesty and purpose.
We embrace new ideas, technologies, and approaches that improve health and create meaningful impact.
Education, clinical practice, and health-system strengthening across five countries.
Engage Global Health – established, strengthening health systems through innovation and consulting.
Canada Homecare Group – launches in Alberta in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
BriJen – connecting students, practitioners, researchers, policymakers and community partners.
MD, MPH, DrPH — Founder & CEO, BriJen
Author of The Divide
HIV Edmonton
Canadian Public Health Association
Alberta Modernizing Primary Health Care System (MAPS) International Panel
Reviewer and admissions panel member, School of Medicine – University of Alberta
Leadership team, Global Healthcare Leaders Foundation — a Harvard Medical School alumni network
Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022) · Rosalind Smith Professional Award, National Black Coalition of Canada, Edmonton Chapter (2022) · Woman of the Year, When African Women Talk Legacy Awards (2025)
Engage Global Health — advancing the UN SDGs in primary care, Indigenous health, adolescent health, and maternal and child health
Canada Homecare Group – A mobile clinic providing in-home primary care.
Join a global network of health leaders — or bring your organization to the table.
