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About Us

KNN Tree IconIn collaboration with medical schools nationally and other stakeholders in the health ecosystem, the KNN is working to create the conditions for flourishing within the profession of medicine.

Learn about our impact so far: Latest Progress Report >>

 

Who We Are

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.

 

Vision

The KNN aspires to promote flourishing through the profession of medicine.

 

Mission

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.

 

Core Values

  • We strive to ensure that those who work, learn, care and discover in our institutions flourish
  • We seek to cultivate deep listening, open inquiry and respectful dialogue across a variety of viewpoints
  • We support principled innovation, scholarship and lifelong learning to create communities of excellence that drive future advances
  • We recognize the importance of personal responsibility and conduct our work with respect, integrity and authenticity
  • We embrace creating cultures of belonging and constructive engagement that recognize the dignity and full potential of all individuals

Framework for Flourishing

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.

Access framework

 

Progress Reporting

The KNN produces regular progress reports covering the network's governance, program office, initiative activities and other highlights. 

View latest report

KNN Program Office

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


Joëlle Worm, MPA

Administrator
Director of the Learner Network
jworm@mcw.edu
(414) 955-4152


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