About Dr. Nilges
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s an acute care plastic surgeon hospitalist and clinician educator, I am committed to delivering high-quality patient care while mentoring the next generation of medical professionals. I treat acutely ill hospitalized patients and continuously enhance my expertise through evidence-based medicine and procedural practice.
In my educational role, I actively train medical students, residents, and community providers. I have served as a rotation tutorial leader, clerkship conference leader, and virtual clerkship presenter, guiding students in refining their presentation, physical exam, and diagnostic reasoning skills. Working alongside orthopedics, internal medicine, and family medicine residents, I provide bedside lectures and emphasize culturally competent, patient-centered care. My dedication to global and rural health drives my efforts to integrate these critical issues into medical education.
As Director of the Nicaraguan Global Health Project, I incorporate rural health challenges into academic discussions, encouraging future physicians to provide equitable care across all socioeconomic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds. Beyond education, I collaborate with Nicaragua institutions to develop medical curricula for rural village doctors. I have delivered anatomy and plastic surgery lectures to students, providers, and nurses in underserved regions. Through my dual roles as a plastic surgeon hospitalist and clinician educator, I strive to elevate patient care, inspire medical learners, and promote comprehensive, inclusive healthcare worldwide.
Dr. Jeannine Nilges
Turning skills into global health
Dr. Nilges is a Nicaraguan board-certified Plastic surgeon one of only two Plastic Surgery fellows admitted annually. She has extensive experience in reconstructive and cosmetic procedures, evidenced by a successful private practice she established in Nicaragua. She also engaged in humanitarian efforts, using a portion of her income to found a women’s clinic with a focus on breast cancer. She provided pro bono reconstructive services for women diagnosed with breast cancer awaiting bilateral mastectomy.
She showed interest in continuing professional development and decided to move to the United States in gain more experiences and exposure in the growing field of Plastic Surgery. She participated in observerships in Texas and California before settling in Kansas. She took an on new endeavor, working in the University of Kansas Medical Center in the research department. This experience shaped her as a research physician, utilizing her skills to facilitate participants’ involvements in various active clinical trials.
Dr. Nilges’ passion for global health never waned. She is actively collaborating with the Office of International Programs at the University of Kansas Medical Center to raise awareness and efforts to improve global health. She is involved in participating in round tables with medical and nursing students, providing insights into how we can improve global health and how students can get involved.