Dr. Kierstin Kennedy

Kierstin Cates Kennedy, MD, MSHA is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a career grounded in advancing quality, safety, and leadership in healthcare. She previously served as Chief of Hospital Medicine at UAB (2018–2021) and Director of Quality for Hospital Medicine (2014–2018). Across these roles, she has contributed to institutional improvements through process redesign, enhanced care delivery, and strengthened operational efficiency.

Dr. Kennedy has held numerous leadership positions focused on elevating clinical performance and supporting teams through evidence-based strategies. Her work has consistently emphasized sustainable improvement and the development of healthy, effective organizational cultures.

In addition to her academic and leadership experience, Dr. Kennedy serves as course director and faculty for the Society of Hospital Medicine’s Leadership Academy, where she teaches leadership principles to clinicians and professionals nationwide. She speaks nationally on topics such as conflict resolution for leaders, emotional intelligence, building high-performing teams, and leveraging positive psychology to drive improvement.

She currently serves as the Chief Medical & Quality Officer for UAB Hospital, a 1,247-bed quaternary care hospital and academic medical center and the 8th largest hospital in the United States. In this role, she oversees clinical quality, patient safety, and organizational performance.

She is recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP) and a Senior Fellow of the Society of Hospital Medicine (SFHM).