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Kennedy Poro

In this Q&A, medical student Kennedy Poro shares about her background, why she chose KU and what she hopes people take away from Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month.

Portrait of Kennedy Poro

Kennedy Poro is a Filipina medical student who is scheduled to graduate from the KU School of Medicine in 2024 and will be the first doctor in her family. She graduated from Olathe East High School, then got a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Iowa.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the Olathe/Overland Park area.

What made you want to come to KU Medical Center?
Growing up in Kansas, I've always seen how important and prestigious KU Medical Center is to the state. The clinical experiences and support system built into the medical curriculum are what set it apart for me.

What are some of your hobbies?
In the early pandemic, I picked up embroidery, which has since evolved into really any craft related to string or yarn. I am also an avid television watcher, specifically reality television. 

How does the Asian American and Pacific Islander Month theme “A Celebration and Reflection of Asian American Pacific Islander Culture and Contributions” resonate with you?
White supremacist culture has been harmful to the AAPI community by boiling all of the different ethnic groups into one entity. I'm a proud Pinoy. Filipino culture has been shaped by those native to the land, as well as all the countries who colonized us. Every country in Asia has a different history of who has lived on their land, and it shapes each one in different ways.

Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

University of Kansas Medical Center
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Mailstop 2015
3901 Rainbow Boulevard
Kansas City, KS 66160
Phone: 913-588-3319
Fax: 913-588-1412