Dr. Jane L. Schwabe, MD, MBA, is a nationally recognized cardiothoracic surgeon and the Medical Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, Missouri. With more than 35 years of experience, she is known for her exceptional surgical skills, compassionate patient care, and deep commitment to community health.
Dr. Schwabe knew she wanted to be a doctor since she was a child, known to frequently tend to sick and injured animals. She hails from Spokane, Washington where she graduated from Shadle Park High School in 1980. She then ventured cross-state that same year to attend Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Washington where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology.
Her journey into medicine did not begin with aspirations to become a heart surgeon. Instead, Dr. Schwabe’s career goals were to deliver babies as an OB-GYN. She discovered that her dexterity as an accomplished pianist translated into surgical skill during clinicals at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha. She completed her medical degree in 1989. Along with an induction into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha medical society, she completed her general surgery residency at Creighton before advancing her training with a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle. In addition to her medical credentials, she holds a Master of Business Administration from Brandeis University in Boston.
Dr. Schwabe’s clinical work includes complex heart and lung surgeries, with her practice divided into roughly 80% cardiac and 20% thoracic cases. She is board-certified in both thoracic and general surgery and has spent nearly 25 years saving lives at Mosaic Life Care, formerly Heartland Health, and multiple affiliated hospitals.
Beyond her clinical role, Dr. Schwabe has served in leadership positions such as President of the Medical Staff and as a member of the Board of Governors for Heartland Clinic. Her dedication to public health extends well outside the hospital, where she has led impactful initiatives such as the Pound Plunge, a community wide weight loss program which led to the development of wellness programming for children. In 2008, she founded and served as physician sponsor of the 4th Grade Challenge, an 8-week wellness program geared towards educating children about health, exercise, and nutrition. This was a featured project that led to Heartland Health winning the Foster G. McGaw Award in 2010.
Smoke Free St. Joe was a major triumph in Dr. Schwabe’s mission to curate a healthier community. Several years of advocacy and collaboration paid off in 2014 with the passing of a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance in St. Joseph. The ordinance was put in place to prohibit indoor smoking in the workplace, particularly bars and restaurants. Dr. Schwabe helped spearhead the campaign as co-chair and secretary and additionally co-chaired Clean Air St. Joseph, a grassroots effort to eliminate secondhand smoke for all employees in St. Joseph.
Dr. Schwabe’s other community contributions include the Women’s Wellness Initiatives, Mission to Move, and serving as Co-Chair for Live Well St. Joe—all designed to promote wellness and preventive care in the community and even bringing in celebrity health icons such as Richard Simmons and Bob Greene. Her passion for community education and healthcare literacy has been reinforced by the support and partnership of Heartland Health and Mosaic Life Care.
Dr. Schwabe has received numerous awards for her leadership and service, including the Robert Stuber Physician Recognition Award in 2010, Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2015, and the 2015 University of Missouri Medical School Teacher of the Year Award. In 2024, she was named one of the “Extraordinary Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery” by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and Women in Thoracic Surgery, a testament to her influence in the field and her dedication to mentoring others.
Despite the demands of her profession, Dr. Schwabe has balanced a rich family life, raising four children during her residency and becoming a stepmother to two daughters with her husband, Daniel. Together, they have eight grandchildren who are the light of their lives. Inspired by her example, Dr. Schwabe’s son, Michael, is currently a surgery resident and preparing to start a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Dr. Schwabe attributes her success to the support of her family and a lifelong passion for learning, leadership, and service. Her illustrious career has paved a path for other women in the medical field to break barriers and eliminate gender stereotypes. She has quoted, “working as a non-academic surgeon has been extremely rewarding and I would encourage any woman interested to jump in head first! I hear now of many physicians saying they would not go down this career path again, but I love what I do and would do it all again.”
Noted by others as compassionate, steadfast, and down-to-earth, she continues to shape the future of healthcare through her work as a surgeon, educator, and community advocate.
