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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: Gallery >> | 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 conduct our work with respect, integrity and authenticity
  • We embrace inclusion and diversity to advance equity
  • We support innovation, scholarship and life-long learning
  • We invest in our partners, collaborators and learners
  • We strive to ensure that those who work, learn, care and discover in our institutions flourish

 

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

Our History

Kern National Network members attending a lecture.

In partnership, and with support from the Kern Family Foundation, seven medical schools from across the United States formed the KNN in 2017 to build on shared strengths, speed innovation and collaboration, and drive national impact. Faculty, students, leadership, and staff at KNN founding partner schools work to advance character, caring and practical wisdom in medicine.

The Kern National Network founding members are:

  • Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
  • Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
  • MCW Medical School
  • University of California San Francisco School of Medicine
  • Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin
  • University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
  • Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

 

Through its initial years, the KNN identified innovations that could be beta-tested and then integrated into educational practice.

In 2018, the KNN Board decided to expand the focus of the Network from medical education to the profession of medicine, with the ultimate goal to advance flourishing.

Today, the KNN continues its work in advancing innovations in medical education while beginning to shift focus more broadly from the role of training future physicians to re-examining the profession of medicine to emphasize character, caring and practical wisdom, as well as cultivating healthy, flourishing communities.

The Kern Family Foundation

KNN Program Office

Lamya Augusthy

Digital Community Coordinator
laugusthy@mcw.edu


Nicole J. Borges, PhD

Director, Evaulation and Assessment
nborges@mcw.edu


Ellie Bradish

Administrative Associate
ebradish@mcw.edu
(414) 955-8075


Christine K. Cassel, MD

Professor of Medicine, Senior Advisor for Strategy and Policy, UCSF
christine.cassel@ucsf.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


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


Brianna Johnson

Communications Associate
briannajohnson@mcw.edu


Marissa Kalkman, MS

Program Manager, Learning Consortium
mkalkman@mcw.edu
(414) 955-2305


Cheryl A. Maurana, PhD

MCW Eminent Scholar
Senior Vice President for Strategic Academic Partnerships
Professor of Population Health and Founding Director
cmaurana@mcw.edu
(414) 955-8075
Bio


Jean Moreland

Program Director
jmoreland@mcw.edu
(414) 955-4907


Kari Reynolds

Administrative Assistant Sr.
kreynolds@mcw.edu
 


Georgina Selenica

Communications Consultant
gselenica@mcw.edu


Suzette Svoboda-Newman, MS

Program Director
snewman@mcw.edu
(414) 955-4952


Christine Van Hulle

Project Coordinator
cvanhulle@mcw.edu
(414) 955-4997


Sarah Williams

Senior Communications Consultant
sarwilliams@mcw.edu
(414) 955-4927


Alicia Witten

Program Director
awitten@mcw.edu
(414) 955-7407


Joëlle Worm, MPA

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


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  • Dell Logo
  • Mayo Clinic Logo
  • MCW Kern Institute
  • UCSF Logo
  • UW Madison Logo
  • Vanderbilt Logo
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