Kern Institute

The Kern Institute Culture & Systems Pillar offers partnership with MCW departments to problem-solve, investigate possible solutions and advance programs and projects using Human-Centered Design Methodology. Our team is currently partnering on the following projects:

GME Well-Being
Using Human-Centered Design to determine the value for residents in well-being initiatives currently offered by the residency programs sponsored by Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals. Project Lead: Alicia Pilarski, DO, Emergency Medicine, Culture & Systems Pillar.

URM
Using Human-Centered Design to assist diverse students in defining the value of inclusion efforts and initiatives on campus. Project Lead: Malika Siker, MD, Radiation Oncology, Student Pillar.

Student Well-Being
Using Human-Centered Design to understand and define how M1 and M2 medical students at MCW might learn the skills and behaviors that lead to improved well-being. Project Lead: Cassie Ferguson, MD, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Director–Student Pillar.

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety (QuIPS) Pathway Partnership
Using design thinking to re-imagine how faculty might teach QuIPS scholarly pathway students the key behaviors and attitudes that are necessary to succeed in the fields of quality improvement and patient safety. Partnering with faculty from the Kern Institute and UWM Lubar Entrepreneurship Center to introduce QuIPS students to design thinking abilities and methods.