Past Events

Phronesis: From Theory to Practice in the Promotion of Flourishing in Medicine

Held Monday, March 4, 2024 | Saint Kate Hotel | Milwaukee, WI
 

As part of Mission: TransformMedicine, the KNN hosted a phronesis convening in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During this one-day event, leaders, learners and scholars shared work and ideas on fostering practical wisdom in healthcare and explored challenging questions. The day concluded with a strategic action planning process, resulting in several work groups invited to continue exploring areas such as developing shared language and finding ways to move “from moral distress to moral delight.”
 

Discussion Series: Foundations for Flourishing

The KNN presents a new virtual series—Foundations for Flourishing—a four-part series aiming to increase awareness and understanding of the KNN's four fundamental framework elements: character, caring, practical wisdom and flourishing.


This series is presented by the Kern National Network for Flourishing in Medicine through an investment from the Kern Family Foundation.

 

Session 3 – Practical Wisdom

Held Monday, February 26, 2024 | 5–6:15 pm CT 
 

The third session of Foundations for Flourishing explored cultivating practical wisdom with Margaret Plews-Ogan, MD, of the University of Virginia, Kenneth E. Sharpe, PhD, of Swarthmore College and moderator Kimara Ellefson, MBA, of the Kern National Network.

 

For more information, access the event flyer or see details below.

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  Speakers
  • Opening: Kimara Ellefson, MBA, KNN
  • Margaret Plews-Ogan, MD, University of Virginia
  • Kenneth E. Sharpe, PhD, Swarthmore College
  • Moderator: Kimara Ellefson, MBA, KNN
  Event Materials

 

Session 2 – Creating Caring Systems

Held Monday, October 23, 2023 | 5–6:15 pm CT 
 

The second session of Foundations for Flourishing explored creating caring systems in medical education and practice with Joan C. Tronto, PhD, of the University of Minnesota, Sonia Chimienti, MD, FIDSA, of Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and moderator Kimara Ellefson, MBA, of the Kern National Network.

 

For more information, access the event flyer or see details below.

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  Speakers
  • Opening: Kimara Ellefson, MBA, KNN
  • Joan C. Tronto, PhD, City University of New York, University of Minnesota
  • Sonia Chimienti, MD, FIDSA, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
  • Moderator: Kimara Ellefson, MBA, KNN
  Event Materials

 

Session 1 – Building Blocks of Character

Held Monday, June 19, 2023 | 5–6:15 pm CT 
 

The first session of Foundations for Flourishing explored building blocks of character with Lauris C. Kaldjian, MD, PhD, of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and moderator Kimara Ellefson, MBA, of the Kern National Network.

 

For more information, access the event flyer or see details below.

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  Speakers
  • Opening: Alverno Devine, DDiV, KNN; Kimara Ellefson, MBA, KNN
  • Lauris C. Kaldjian, MD, PhD, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
  • Moderator: Kimara Ellefson, MBA, KNN
  Event Materials

 

Discussion Series: Human Flourishing 2030

Imagine it’s 2030 and we live in a healthier world where healthcare learners, practitioners and patients are flourishing. What does that future look like, and what will it take to get there? 

This discussion series explores the impact, challenges and opportunities that different aspects of our ecosystem pose for the future of flourishing. Four sessions will examine external influences, micro to macro, that shape and drive the vitality of healthcare students, professionals and broader society over the next decade.

This series is presented by the Kern National Network for Flourishing in Medicine through an investment from the Kern Family Trust and Kern Family Foundation.

 

Session 4 – Flourishing in the Learning Environment

Held Tuesday, October 25, 2022 | 4–5 pm CT 
 

This session featured five speakers from the University of California, San Francisco, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Medical College of Wisconsin and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth: Moderator Catherine R. Lucey, MD, MACP; Michelle Guy, MD; Stuart Slavin, MD, MEd; Saba Anwer and Isabelle Tersio. Together, this panel of faculty and students explored strategies for infusing flourishing into clinical learning environments, and ways to become agents and beneficiaries of flourishing within educational settings. 

 

Learning Objectives
  • Discuss strategies to infuse flourishing into learning experiences.

  • Explore how faculty can integrate flourishing practices into curriculum and their philosophies of education.

  • Explain how learners can be agents and beneficiaries of flourishing at their schools.

For more information, access the event flyer or see details below.

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  Speakers
  • Opening: Sarah Williams, KNN
  • Michelle Guy, MD, University of California, San Francisco
  • Stuart Slavin, MD, MEd, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
  • Saba Anwer, Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Isabelle Tersio, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
  • Moderator: Catherine R. Lucey, MD, MACP, University of California, San Francisco
  Event Materials

 

Session 3 – Flourishing in Healthcare Spaces

Held Tuesday, August 23, 2022 | 4–5 pm CT 
 

This session featured three speakers from the the Kern National Network for Flourishing in Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing: Moderator Kimara Ellefson, MBA; Danny O. Jacobs, MD, MPH, FACS and Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FNAP, FAAN. Together, they provided perspectives on ways to improve flourishing within healthcare settings, and how collaborative practice approaches can help practitioners, staff, patients and learners within care settings flourish.

 

Learning Objectives
  • Explore how factors such as hierarchies and interpersonal dynamics affect the flourishing of practitioners, staff, patients and learners in care settings.

  • Discuss how individual agency and the ability to act on one’s values influence the levels of flourishing within care settings.

  • Examine how collaborative practice approaches can help those within care settings flourish.

For more information, access the event flyer or see details below.

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  Speakers
  • Opening: Kimara Ellefson, MBA, KNN
  • Danny O. Jacobs, MD, MPH, FACS, Oregon Health & Science University
  • Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FNAP, FAAN, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing
  • Moderator: Kimara Ellefson, MBA, KNN
  Event Materials

 

Session 2 – Creating Organizational Cultures of Flourishing

Held Tuesday, April 26, 2022 | 4–5 pm CT 
 

This session featured three speakers from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic and Daughters of Charity – Province of St. Louise organizations: Moderator Melinda Buntin, PhD; Robert Brown Jr., MD, MPH; Sister Teresa George and Sister Tierney Trueman. Together, they provided insight on how their respective healthcare organizations each use its mission and values to impact flourishing amongst internal constituents.

 

Learning Objectives
  • Summarize how a healthcare organization's culture promotes flourishing among its internal constituents.

  • List strategies used by healthcare organizations that may strengthen flourishing and mitigate burnout and/or turnover.

  • Explore the impact of organizational mission, values actions on flourishing.

For more information, access the event flyer or see details below.

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  Speakers
  • Opening: Kimara Ellefson, MBA, KNN
  • Robert Brown Jr., MD, MPH, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  • Sister Teresa George, Daughters of Charity - Province of St. Louise
  • Sister Tierney Trueman, Mayo Clinic Values Council
  • Moderator: Melinda Buntin, PhD, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
  Event Materials

 

Session 1 – Flourishing in the Community

Held Tuesday, January 25, 2022 | 4–5 pm CT 
 

This session featured three speakers from the University of Texas at Austin community: Moderator Larry Speck, MArch, FAIA; Sue Cox, MD; and Zack Timmons, MD. Together, they provided inspiration for considering how human-centered spaces, curricula and engagement approaches can affect flourishing within a community. In this session, participants discovered ways to elevate flourishing among diverse community members, as well as lessons and strategies for enhancing wellness and health in that setting. 

 

Learning Objectives
  • Discuss how flourishing can provide a framework for improving community health in ways that go beyond direct patient care.

  • Identify strategies within healthcare education and practice that elevate flourishing among diverse local community members.

  • Explore how human-centered design approaches can be used to create systematic change that promotes community wellness and flourishing.

For more information, access the event flyer or see details below.

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  Speakers
  • Opening: Kimara Ellefson, MBA, KNN
  • Sue Cox, MD, Dell Medical School at UT Austin and KNN
  • Zack Timmons, MD, McGovern Emergency Medicine at UT Houston
  • Moderator: Larry Speck, MArch, FAIA, University of Texas at Austin
  Event Materials

 

Discussion Series: The Medical Profession Through the Lens of Flourishing

A national conversation where healthcare professionals can boldly ask fundamental questions about the profession of medicine, discuss its role in advancing flourishing and consider how to address factors at the individual, community or societal level that can pose barriers to flourishing.

Presented throughout 2021 by the Kern National Network for Flourishing in Medicine through an investment from the Kern Family Trust and Kern Family Foundation.

Session 4 – Civic Responsibility: Healthcare and Democracy

Held Tuesday, October 26, 2021 | 4–5 pm CT 
 

While factors outside practice do significantly affect health outcomes, knowing what role, if any, to play in civic life and policy issues can be challenging for healthcare learners and professionals. To what extent should those in healthcare get involved—and how can they balance personal, professional and organizational values?

In this discussion, speakers shared experiences, reflections and their responses to audience questions on navigating civic responsibility.

 

Learning Objectives
  • Discuss roles healthcare learners and professionals can/should have in U.S. civic life as it relates to healthcare. 
  • Consider whether health professionals should play a role in protecting rights beyond healthcare for those who reside in the U.S.
  • Explore ways in which concepts of civic character and engagement apply to healthcare learners and professionals.
     

For more information, access the event brochure or see details below.

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  Speakers
  • Opening: Kimara Ellefson, MBA, KNN
  • Abdul El-Sayed, MD, DPhil, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and FXB Center for Health & Human Rights
  • Jasmine Zapata, MD, MPH, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
  • Moderator: Gregg Margolis, PhD, National Academy of Medicine
  Event Materials

 

Session 3 – Social Justice, Health Equity and Flourishing:
Are We All Included?

Held Tuesday, August 3, 2021 | 4–5 pm CT 
 

Over the past year, the disproportionate impact of the pandemic as well as national protests surrounding racial incidents heightened attention to ongoing disparities—including those within healthcare. As such, it is important to consider: What responsibilities do healthcare professionals have to address root causes of health inequity? And what strategies can help dismantle barriers to flourishing that exist across diverse populations?

In this session, three panelists shared their lived experiences and professional journeys related to those themes.

 

Learning Objectives
  • Explore the responsibilities that all health professionals have to address the root causes of health inequity.
  • Advocate for building a strong relationship between health, health equity and the opportunity for individuals to flourish.
  • Discuss strategies aimed to dismantle barriers to flourishing that exist across diverse populations.


For more information, access the event brochure or see details below.

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  Speakers
  • Opening: Cheryl Maurana, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin & KNN
  • Pedro “Joe” Greer Jr., MD, FACP, FACG, Roseman University of Health Sciences
  • John Lowe, RN, PhD, FAAN, UT-Austin School of Nursing
  • Carla Pugh, MD, PhD, FACS, Stanford University School of Medicine
  • Moderator: Chris Stawski, PhD, Kern Family Foundation
  Event Materials

 

Session 2 – Seeking Strength in Times of Crisis 

Held Tuesday, April 27, 2021 | 4–5 pm CT 
 

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed personal and professional challenges for everyone, but particularly for those in the healthcare field. Under such circumstances, what does and can flourishing look like? To what extent is it possible and equitable in times of crisis—now and otherwise? During the second session in the series, three speakers explored these questions through presentation followed by a moderated Q&A session.

 

Learning Objectives
  • Discuss how pathways to flourishing (spirituality/religious community, work, education, family) can help health professions learners, practitioners and organizations find strength and resilience during crisis.
  • Describe the types of well-being and mental health resources necessary to sustain strength and resilience for health professions learners, practitioners and patients, during and after crisis.
  • Discuss how expectations for caring, committed and courageous individuals should be balanced with multifaceted institutional and societal support in attaining strength and resilience.
     

For more information, access the event brochure or see details below.

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  Speakers
  • Opening: Cheryl Maurana, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin & KNN
  • Krista Gregory, MDiv, BCC, Dell Children's Medical Center
  • Daniela Lamas, MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • John Tarpley, MD, FWACS, FACS, University of Botswana
  • Moderator: Chris Stawski, PhD, Kern Family Foundation
  Event Materials

 

Session 1 – Flourishing, Character, Caring and Practical wisdom in the Medical Profession:
To What End?

Held Tuesday, January 26, 2021 | 4–5 pm CT 
 

In the first session of the series, participants learned more about the interrelated concepts of character, caring and practical wisdom within medicine and engaged in a conversation with other healthcare professionals on the topic of promoting flourishing. 
 

Learning Objectives
  • Appraise one’s own professional experience as a member of the healthcare team with the intersection of caring, character and flourishing
  • Assess the state of flourishing in the health ecosystem
  • Commit to next steps in advancing flourishing in one’s professional practice


For more information, access the event brochure or see details below.

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  Speakers
  • Opening: Cheryl Maurana, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin & KNN
  • Andrea Leep Hunderfund, MD, MHPE, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
  • John Luk, MD, Dell Medical School at UT-Austin
  • Bonnie Miller, MD, MMHC, Vanderbilt University Medical Center & KNN
  • Moderator: Chris Stawski, PhD, Kern Family Foundation
  Event Materials

 

Philanthropy Roundtable

Inspiring Stories: Medical Students in Their Communities

Held Thursday, February 18, 2021 | 1–2 pm CT
Hosted by The Philanthropy Roundtable

How does civil society work? By having the strong communities that are critical for a flourishing, free society. One group that is quietly contributing to the overall flourishing of their communities is medical students. Medical students are providing many effective and essential services while they learn their profession.

This session featured stories from talented and hard-working students themselves and explored how the Kern National Network for Flourishing in Medicine works with and alongside medical school students to foster character, caring and practical wisdom in the profession of medicine—resulting in entrepreneurial contributions to flourishing even before learners receive their MDs.

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  Speakers

Host: 

  • Debi Ghate, Philanthropy Roundtable 

KNN Leaders: 

  • Cheryl Maurana, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin & KNN
  • Bonnie Miller, MD, MMHC, Vanderbilt University Medical Center & KNN
  • Kimara Ellefson, KNN Program Office

Medical Students: 

  • Evelyn Bodenschatz, Dell Medical School
  • Jonathan Horng, Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Anne Coogan, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
  • Hallen Pham, UCSF School of Medicine
  • Fiona Ng, UCSF School of Medicine
  • Anuvir Singh, UCSF School of Medicine

     

Student Bios

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