I.M. a Health Leader: Kenneth Poole, Jr, MD, MBA, FACP, CPE

Where did you attend medical school and post grad training?

Northwestern University for Medical School, Washington University in St. Louis for MBA, Mercy Hospital in St. Louis for residency

What inspired you to choose internal medicine?

Patients Before Paperwork

Kenneth G. Poole, Jr, MD, MBA, FACP, CPE

Healthcare Executive
Chief Medical Officer, Clinician & Provider Experience, UnitedHealth Group & Supplemental
Consultant, Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic

Because I was interested in working at a health systems level, I feel like internal medicine provides the most comprehensive view of health care for physicians – primary care, hospital medicine, non-surgical specialty care. I also recall an attending I had as a 4th year medical student remarking that primary care medicine was simply a really “good job.” It should also be mentioned that internal medicine provides the opportunity for flexibility and career shifts within medicine if so desired.

Describe your internal medicine journey and how it has shaped your career.

As suggested above, I became interested in the business or administrative side of health care early on and knew that I wanted my career to focus more on systems as opposed to individual patients or populations. I thus explored specialties and career pathways that would provide me with the most comprehensive, in-depth look at medicine. I also looked at what I was good at and what I enjoyed. I had done well in all of my medicine and medicine-related clerkships and electives in medical school, and I found that I enjoyed the social aspect of office-based medicine. For me, internal medicine checked all of the boxes.

How has internal medicine training given you the skills, insight, and/or experience needed to become a leader?

I explored specialties and career pathways that would provide me with the most comprehensive, in-depth look at medicine. I also looked at what I was good at and what I enjoyed. I had done well in all of my medicine and medicine-related clerkships and electives in medical school, and I found that I enjoyed the social aspect of office-based medicine. For me, internal medicine checked all of the boxes.

What advice would you share with medical students or trainees that are interested in a leadership role?

Choose internal medicine!

What are your interests and hobbies outside of medicine and how do you balance your work and personal life? Anything you have learned along the way to pass on?

I am an avid runner and passionate about music and golf. My wife and I have 4 children, and I coach youth baseball and football.