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Leadership

KU Medical Center Strategic Plan

Mission

"To educate leaders, build healthy communities and make discoveries that change the world."

Vision

"To improve lives and communities in Kansas and beyond through partnership and innovation in education, research and health care."

Values

The acronym "IRISE" spells out the first letter of each of the university's five values:

  • Integrity
  • Respect
  • Innovation
  • Stewardship
  • Excellence

Pillars

Medical students stand in hallway, smiling and talking

Pillar 1: Education

The Education pillar has been designed to enrich the educational experience across KU Medical Center's schools of Health Professions, Medicine and Nursing. Each school should feel empowered to operate within its unique context to execute on the goals outlined in this plan with support from central KU Medical Center where possible.

Goals:

KU Medical Center has identified four goals that are educational priorities across the schools of Health Professions, Medicine and Nursing.

  1. Attract and retain diverse and exceptional health sciences learners and leaders.
  2. Deliver high-quality, innovative curriculum that promotes post-graduate readiness for all learners.
  3. Foster a supportive culture of belonging and collaboration across KU Medical Center.
  4. Empower KU Medical Center learners to drive impact across the state during their education and beyond.
Medical resident performs skin cancer check on older gentleman

Pillar 2: Healthy Communities

The Healthy Communities pillar is designed to enhance KU Medical Center’s engagement with the broader Kansas community, inclusive of state agencies, community groups, local health care providers and underserved populations. Effective execution of this pillar will require coordination across KU Medical Center and with partners, and reciprocal communications between the medical center and the surrounding communities.

Goals:

KU Medical Center has identified three goals to build healthy communities.

  1. Engage and sustain a community network that expands KU Medical Center’s reach and impact, building trust across the state.
  2. Improve accessibility to health care to promote health equity for all Kansans, emphasizing underserved populations.
  3. Streamline and fortify community engagement activities within KU Medical Center and with clinical partners, including The University of Kansas Health System, to serve communities more effectively.
Research assistant in white lab coat holds a specimen up and examines it closely

Pillar 3: Research and Discovery

KU Medical Center has experienced significant growth over the last five years in research awards and increases in national research rankings, such as Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research. KU Medical Center has also made significant investments in new, modernized and streamlined research infrastructure. The goals, strategies and tactics for Pillar 3 of the strategic plan will build on our recent growth, existing strengths and advances in research infrastructure to leverage this momentum and position KU Medical Center as the leading research institution in the region.

Goals:

KU Medical Center’s research enterprise identified three goals for the research enterprise.

  1. Be the leading basic, translational and implementation research institution in the Heartland.
  2. Increase the national prominence of KU Medical Center schools by fostering growth and excellence in research endeavors.
  3. Attract and retain exceptional researchers across every career stage, from student to postdoctoral scholar to faculty.
Two employees greet each other with a fist bump

Pillar 4: Employees

The Employees pillar focuses on creating a valued and respected workforce on all three of the KU Medical Center campuses. KU Medical Center has made important strides with market-based compensation, strengthening the foundation of a culture that prioritizes the employee experience. The goals, strategieis and tactics of this pillar will continue to improve the workplace environment and make KU Medical Center a destination employer.

Goals:

KU Medical Center has identified three goals to improve the employee experience.

  1. Improve well-being and reduce burnout for employees.
  2. Improve satisfaction and engagement for employees.
  3. Continuously improve campus climate for all employees.
Aerial view of KU's Lawrence campus

University of Kansas Strategic Plan

Launched in fall 2022, the KU strategic plan created alignment between the Lawrence campus and KU Medical Center and established a university-wide vision, values and metrics.
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