Kierstin Kennedy, M.D., M.S.H.A., Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, has been named Chief of Hospital Medicine effective March 31, 2018. Kennedy’s credentials, experience, leadership style and ability to inspire the faculty and staff make her well suited to be the inaugural holder of this leadership position and to lead the transformation of the Hospital Medicine program. She has a reputation as an unwavering and enthusiastic physician who is dedicated to the practice of Internal Medicine as well as professional development and mentorship.
Kennedy is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine (2012). She obtained a Doctor of Medicine degree from the UAB School of Medicine in 2007. She then completed an internship in Internal Medicine‐Pediatrics (2008) followed by a residency in Internal Medicine (2011)—each at UAB. During this time, she also completed a Master of Science in Health Administration degree. Following residency, she joined the faculty of Hospital Medicine during which time she completed the National Quality Scholars Fellowship at the Birmingham Veterans Administration Medical Center.
She has had a distinguished career since joining the faculty of the Hospital Medicine program in 2011—excelling in clinical service, quality and patient safety, and leadership. She served as the Medical Director of the Compliant Documentation Management Program (2013-2016) where she collaborated with the Compliant Documentation Management Professional (CDMP) nurses to streamline the medical documentation query process.
Kennedy has also served as the inaugural Director of Quality for the Hospital Medicine program since 2014. During her tenure, she established a robust quality reporting and care delivery process to reduce 30-day readmissions and mortality. As part of this role, she also established the Clinical Improvement Conferences for hospital medicine providers where cases are presented to generate ideas for systems-level improvements, or education and academic opportunities.
Finally, because of her prowess for operational effectiveness, Kennedy created the UAB Procedure Service and later helped develop the Comprehensive Vascular Access Team (CVAT), of which she served as the inaugural Medical Director. This first-of-its-kind team offers a comprehensive menu of vascular access from one coordinated team of registered nurses, Advanced Practice Providers, and physician staff. Kennedy will transition these leadership positions early in her tenure as the Chief.