The Kern National Network for Flourishing in Medicine (KNN) is a national movement whose work is focused on the integration of four foundational elements within the profession of medicine: character, caring, practical wisdom and flourishing. We advance this work in the following ways: connecting and convening stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem, catalyzing transformative initiatives, and influencing policy and systems change.
When clinical learning environments, practice settings and health systems cultivate wholeness of being and purpose—along with competence and continuous improvement—then those within can truly flourish. That’s the aspirational goal of the KNN: Advancing character, caring and practical wisdom in medicine to ignite a positive culture change that helps individuals, community and society flourish.
The KNN partners with medical schools and other stakeholders nationwide to transform healthcare’s educational and practice settings and create the conditions of possibility for flourishing.
The KNN aspires to promote flourishing through the profession of medicine.
The KNN will foster character, caring and practical wisdom in the profession of medicine through efforts with health professions education, healthcare systems, network partners and society.
The KNN's framework is the north star for all we do and shows how character, caring and practical wisdom offer a potential path to flourishing.
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The KNN produces regular progress reports covering the network's governance, program office, initiative activities and other highlights.
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Lamya Augusthy, MA
Program Coordinator KNN Learner Network laugusthy@mcw.edu
Desirae Bartos, MPH
Program Coordinator Organizational Engagement dbartos@mcw.edu
Nicole J. Borges, PhD
Director, Evaluation and Assessment nborges@mcw.edu
Ellie Bradish
Education Program Coordinator ebradish@mcw.edu (414) 955-8075
Alyssa Branski
Administrative Associate abranski@mcw.edu
Jerica Broeckling, MA
Program Director MCW Flourishing jbroeckling@mcw.edu
Program Coordinator Partnership Development and Relations eburke@mcw.edu
Heather Carroll, PhD
Academic Writer hcarroll@mcw.edu
Christine K. Cassel, MD
Professor of Medicine Senior Advisor for Strategy and Policy University of California, San Francisco christine.cassel@ucsf.edu
Amanda Chablani, MA
Instructional Designer Sr. achablani@mcw.edu
Alverno Devine, DDiv
Program Manager Bridging adevine@mcw.edu (414) 955-4149 Bio
Kimara Ellefson, MBA, EdD
National Director of Strategy and Partnerships kellefso@mcw.edu Bio
Justine Espisito, MS
Grants Operations Coordinator jespisito@mcw.edu
Tara Fikejs, BSBM
Program Coordinator tfikejs@mcw.edu (414) 955-4745
Jeff Fritz, PhD
Associate Director jefritz@mcw.edu Bio
Ciara Hartzog
Program Manager Projects Community of Practice MCW Flourishing chartzog@mcw.edu
Anna Hassell
Administrative Assistant Sr. ahassell@mcw.edu
Ryan Hollis
Administrative Associate rhollis@mcw.edu
Briana Huntsberger, MPAff, PMP
Program Manager Organizational Engagement bhuntsberger@mcw.edu
Brianna Johnson
Communications Associate briannajohnson@mcw.edu
Antonina Johnston, MMEd
Program Manager KNN Projects ajohnston@mcw.edu
Marissa Kalkman, MS
Senior Manager Learning Consortium and Bridging mkalkman@mcw.edu (414) 955-2305 Bio
Abby Konopasky, PhD
Research Design and Evaluation – Qualitative abigail.w.konopasky@dartmouth.edu
Cheryl A. Maurana, PhD
Interim Provost Stephen and Shelagh Roell Endowed Chair Professor and KNN Founding Director SVP, Strategic Academic Partnerships Medical College of Wisconsin cmaurana@mcw.edu (414) 955-8075 Bio
Krystal Meisel
Program Manager MCW Flourishing kmeisel@mcw.edu
Brandy Mize
Financial Assistant bmize@mcw.edu
Sarah Ozurumba
Program Manager KNN Learner Network sozurumba@mcw.edu
Michaela Sarenac
Program Coordinator Partnership Development and Relations msarenac@mcw.edu (414) 955-2520
Georgina Selenica
Communications Consultant gselenica@mcw.edu
Maria Steinert, MBA
Program Coordinator Learning Consortium msteinert@mcw.edu
Suzette Svoboda-Newman, MS
Program Director snewman@mcw.edu (414) 955-4952
Christine Van Hulle
Business Operations Coordinator cvanhulle@mcw.edu (414) 955-4997
Guillermo Vazquez-Toro, PhD, MBA, PMP
Program Director Partnership Development and Relations gvazqueztoro@mcw.edu
Sarah Williams
Communications Manager sarwilliams@mcw.edu (414) 955-4927
Alicia Witten
Program Director awitten@mcw.edu (414) 955-7407
Administrator Director of KNN Learner Network jworm@mcw.edu (414) 955-4152 Bio