Karen WeiRu Lin, MD, MS, FAAFP

Karen Wei-Ru Lin is a professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS). She also serves as the Assistant Dean of Global Health at RWJMS and the Assistant Director of Family Medicine Residency at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

Dr. Lin is the only faculty member who integrates acupuncture into family medicine practice. She is the faculty advisor for the HIPHOP-Promise Clinic, a weekly health clinic run by medical students for underserved populations in New Brunswick. Additionally, she advises the Medical Mandarin elective, Complementary and Alternative Medicine elective, Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association, International Health Interest Group, and Physicians for Human Rights.

She has served on various committees including the Executive Council, Admissions, Alternative Medicine, and Multicultural Education Committees. She also facilitated the Chinese American Medicine Initiative and the Integrative Healing Program at RWJUH.

Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from National Taiwan University, a Master of Science in Environmental Science from Rutgers University, and a Doctor of Medicine from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She completed her residency in Family Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and pursued a fellowship at the AAFP National Institute of Program Directors Development I. Dr. Lin is board-certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Family Medicine.

Selected Publications
 

• Lin, K, "Clinical Challenges with International Fellows," American Academy of Family Physicians-Global Health Workshops, Houston, TX, 2017
   
• Van Pratt Levin B, Berlant Z, Lin K, "Medical Student Interpreter Training Program in a Student-Run Free Clinic." Poster, AAFP-GHW, Houston, TX, 2017
   
• Mischell S, Frenchu K, Yegya-Raman N, Lin K, "Patient Expectations and Satisfaction when Using a Student-Run Health Clinic," Journal of Student-Run Clinics, 3(1):1-7, May 2017
   
• Lin, K, "Healthy Garden and Healthy Mind," Consortium of Universities for Global Health, poster, annual conference, San Francisco, 2016
   
• Frenchu K, Yegya-Raman, Mischell S, Lin K, "Patient Expectations and Satisfaction When Using a Student-Run Free Clinic," Society of Student-Run Free Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona, 2016
   
• Lin K, "Teach the Teachers-In Primary Care of Universal Health System in China," AAFP-Global Health, Denver, CO, 2015
   
• Lin K, "Four 'I's to Develop Global Health Program," poster, AAFP-GH, Denver, CO, 2015
   
• S. Caplan, K. Queen, J. Tsui, R. Nahar, K. Lin, "Mental Health Services in the Dominican Republic from the Perspective of Health Care Providers," America Public Health Association, Chicago, 2015
   
• Escobar J, Debbarma, Rozario C, Lin, K, "Successful Program for Global Health in A Medical School: Enhancing Cultural and Linguistic Skills," poster, Consortium of Universities of Global Health, Boston, 2015
   
• Lin, K, "Global Health beyond Family Medicine," AAFP-Global Health Workshop, San Diego, California, Sept. 2014
   
• Shadiack A, Morton K, Lin K, "Supplemental Garlic and Hypertension," FPIN-HDA, Evidence Based Practice, 2014
   
• Khalil C, Clemow L, Lin K, "White Coat Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk," FPIN-HAD, Evidence Based Practice, 2014
   
• Lin, K, "Global Health Locally: Transform Challenges into Opportunities," AAFP-Global Health Workshop, Baltimore, MD, Oct. 2013
   
• Lin, K, "The Best of Both Worlds: Traditional Chinese Medicine in Contemporary Medical Education," Traditional Chinese Medicine and Contemporary Society: Theory and Practice in the Global Age, Nov. 2013, Rutgers University
   
• Chang A, Jacobsen K, Lin K, "Enterovirus Knowledge and Handwashing Practices among Nurses in a Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan," Taiwan Epidemiology Bulletin, v.27/n.6, March 2011
   
• George S, Lin K, R-Hamm B, "Best Treatment for Actinic Keratosis," FPIN-HDA, Evidence-Based Practice, April 2010
   
• R-Hamm B, Abro M, Lin K, "Do SSRIs Increase Risk of Suicide in Adults?" FPIN-HAD Evidence-Based Practice, Oct. 2009
   
• Kotay A, Lin K, R-Hamm B, "What is the Most Effective Treatment for Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood?" FPIN-HDA, Evidence-Based Practice, Sept. 2009
   
• McGarry BJ, Lin K, "Educating the Digital Native Generation: Online Resources for Running a 21st Century Residency," Poster presentation, Workshop for Directors of Family Medicine Residencies, Overland Park, Kansas, June 7, 2009
   
• George S, Lin K, and R-Hamm B, "What Measure from a Lipid Panel is the Best Predictor of Cardiovascular Risk?" Family Physicians Inquiries Network –Helpdesk Answers (FPIN-HDA), Evidence-Based Practice: vol.12, No.6, 9-10, June 2009

Honors and Awards
 

• 2016 Clement A. Price Human Dignity Award, Rutgers University
• 2007 Family Physician of the Year, New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians
• 2009 AAFP-Family Physician of the Year, top five finalists
• Teaching Award, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Family Medicine Residency
• Faculty Merit Award, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
• Distinguished Alumni in Biological Sciences Award, Rutgers University, the Graduate School
• Leadership Award, Overseas Young Health Professional Program, Taiwan
• Outstanding Alumni Award, Fu-Hsin School, Taiwan
• NAACP Charles Drew Medical Award
• The American Cancer Society’s Leadership and Distinguished Volunteer Awards

Key Grants
 

• PI: Jimma University Strategic Team Empowerment, US. Ethiopian University Linkage Seed Grant, 2018
• Primary Investigator: Affordable Care Act: Primary Care Residency Expansion, DHHS, HRSA, CFDA No. 93.510, 2010-2015
• PI: Reciprocity: Caring for Our Past. Interventions for Improving Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunization Rates Among Seniors in New Brunswick Community, AAFP Foundation, 2014-2015
• PI: Healthy Garden and Healthy Living: Creative Engagement in Food Access and Nutrition, 2015-2016
• PI: A tool to Improve Maternal and Newborn Health in Tanzania, 2016
• PI: Medical Chinese Dissemination Project, Chinese American Medical Society, 2010
• PI: Health Passport to Healthy Living, Rutgers Global Health Institute, 2017-2018
• PI: Wellness Intervention for Life Demands, Rutgers University Community-University Research Partnership Grant for New Brunswick, 2017-2018

Community Services
 

• Member, New Jersey State Acupuncture Examining Board
• Member, RWJ University Hospital, Community Relations Committee
• Member, RWJ Wellness and Fitness Center, Medical Board
• Advisor, Piscataway Township Healthy Advisory Commission
• Member, Tzu Chi International Medical Association
• Fellow, Leadership New Jersey
• Past President, Chinese American Cultural Association