The Kern National Network for Flourishing in Health (KNN) is a movement dedicated to advancing flourishing across the health ecosystem.
Through research-based strategies that promote character, caring, and practical wisdom, the KNN partners with organizations to unlock their potential and build cultures that elevate everyone.
Our strengths-based methods combine a robust guiding framework, scholar-practitioner approaches, deep subject matter expertise, and national peer collaboration to solve complex culture and workforce challenges.
The KNN aspires to advance flourishing in health for all.
The KNN will foster character, caring and practical wisdom across the health ecosystem through efforts with health professions education, healthcare systems, 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.
Access framework
The KNN produces regular progress reports covering the KNN's governance, program office, initiative activities and other highlights.
View latest report
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
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
Rachel Hackbarth
Executive Assistant rhackbarth@mcw.edu (414) 955-8075
Ciara Hartzog
Program Manager MCW Flourishing chartzog@mcw.edu
Anna Hassell, MA
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, MS
Program Manager KNN Projects ajohnston@mcw.edu
Marissa Kalkman, MS
Program Director, Learning 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
Brandy Mize
Financial Assistant bmize@mcw.edu
Rahma Omar, MPH
Program Manager Learning Consortium raomar@mcw.edu
Sarah Ozurumba
Program Manager KNN Learner Network sozurumba@mcw.edu
Carletta M. Rhodes, MBA
Grants Operations Coordinator MCW Flourishing crhodes@mcw.edu
Rachael Sanford, MA
Communications Manager rasanford@mcw.edu
Michaela Sarenac
Program Coordinator Partnership Development and Relations msarenac@mcw.edu (414) 955-2520
Kelly Saunders
Program Manager MCW Flourishing kesaunders@mcw.edu
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
Director of Communications sarwilliams@mcw.edu (414) 955-4927
Alicia Witten
Program Director awitten@mcw.edu (414) 955-7407
Joëlle Worm, MPA
Administrator Director of KNN Learner Network jworm@mcw.edu (414) 955-4152 Bio