Malini Nijagal

Dr. Malini Nijagal is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She provides primarily obstetrical care at both San Francisco General Hospital and UCSF Health, with a focus on creating sustainable systems of care that address inequities in pregnancy care.

Dr. Nijagal earned her M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine in 2002, completed her residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center in 2006, and obtained her M.P.H. in Healthcare Management from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 2016.

Dr. Nijagal's research focuses on maternity care design, using human-centered design, community engagement, healthcare financing and operations, and cross-sector partnerships to tackle inequities in pregnancy care access, experience, and outcomes. Her work particularly emphasizes creating sustainable systems of care that are high quality and valuable from the perspective of pregnant people who experience inequities. She has published extensively on telemedicine implementation in safety-net settings, maternal mortality, and healthcare system redesign for improved maternal outcomes.

Analysis of Dr. Nijagal's publications reveals a strong focus on telemedicine implementation in perinatal care, particularly examining barriers and opportunities for equitable access in safety-net systems. Her recent work also addresses pregnancy-related mortality, standardized outcome measures for childbirth, and payment reform in maternity care. These publications demonstrate her commitment to improving maternal healthcare systems through innovative design and policy approaches, with particular attention to addressing disparities affecting marginalized populations.

Dr. Nijagal has received notable recognition including:

• Outstanding Teaching Award, UCSF Undergraduate Medical Education (2008-2014)
• Champion Award, Operation Access (2011)

Her academic work demonstrates a strong commitment to addressing healthcare disparities through system redesign and innovative approaches to maternal care. Dr. Nijagal's research bridges clinical practice, healthcare policy, and community engagement to create more equitable pregnancy care systems. She works at the intersection of clinical care, public health, and healthcare innovation to develop sustainable models that improve outcomes for pregnant people experiencing inequities.