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
Learner Coordinator laugusthy@mcw.edu
Nicole J. Borges, PhD
Director, Evaluation and Assessment nborges@mcw.edu
Ellie Bradish
Education Program Coordinator II ebradish@mcw.edu (414) 955-8075
Alyssa Branski
Administrative Associate abranski@mcw.edu
Elena Burke, MBA
Program Manager 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
Instructional Designer Sr. achablani@mcw.edu
Susan Cox, MD
Senior Director for Strategic Engagement sue.cox@uthct.edu
Jessica Cunningham, MEd
Grants Operations Coordinator jecunningham@mcw.edu (414) 955-0964
Alverno Devine, DDiv
Program Manager adevine@mcw.edu (414) 955-4149 Bio
Kimara Ellefson, MBA
National Director of Strategy and Partnerships kellefso@mcw.edu Bio
Tara Fikejs, BSBM
Program Coordinator III tfikejs@mcw.edu (414) 955-4745
Jeff Fritz, PhD
Associate Director jefritz@mcw.edu Bio
Briana Huntsberger
Program Manager Organizational Engagement bhuntsberger@mcw.edu
Brianna Johnson
Communications Associate briannajohnson@mcw.edu
Antonina Johnston
Program Manager KNN Projects ajohnston@mcw.edu
Marissa Kalkman, MS
Senior Manager, Learning and Engagement mkalkman@mcw.edu (414) 955-2305 Bio
Cheryl A. Maurana, PhD
MCW Eminent Scholar; Senior Vice President for Strategic Academic Partnerships Professor, Bioethics and Medical Humanities; KNN Founding Director cmaurana@mcw.edu (414) 955-8075 Bio
Kari Reynolds
Administrative Assistant Sr. kreynolds@mcw.edu
Michaela Sarenac
Program Coordinator III Partnership Development and Relations msarenac@mcw.edu (414) 955-2520
Georgina Selenica
Communications Consultant gselenica@mcw.edu
Maria Steinert, MBA
Program Coordinator III Learning and Engagement 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
Sarah Williams
Communications Manager sarwilliams@mcw.edu (414) 955-4927
Alicia Witten
Program Director awitten@mcw.edu (414) 955-7407
Administrator Director of the Learner Network jworm@mcw.edu (414) 955-4152