Michael Karpf, MD

Dr. Karpf received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania. After completing an internship in medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital, he served as a research associate in the Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, at the National Institutes of Health until 1974. He returned to the Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania to complete his medical residency. During that time, Karpf completed a fellowship in hematology/oncology and from 1976 to 1977 served as chief medical resident at the Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania and Veterans Administration Hospital.

From 1976 to 1978, Karpf was an assistant professor of medicine (hematology/oncology department) in the Internal Medicine Department at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1978, Karpf went to the University of Miami School of Medicine where he served as an assistant professor of medicine.

In 1979, he was recruited to the University of Pittsburgh to develop a Division of General Internal Medicine. From 1979 to 1994, Karpf served in many capacities from assistant professor of medicine to the Falk Professor of General Internal Medicine and vice chairman of the Department of Medicine. He also held a joint appointment as professor of diagnostic services, dental medicine, Department of Diagnostic Services. At the University of Pittsburgh, Karpf was instrumental in restructuring the educational programs for medical students and housestaff as well as the clinical programs of the Department of Medicine.

From 1994 to 1995, Karpf served as senior vice president for clinical affairs at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, and professor of medicine at the Medical College of Pennsylvania-Hahnemann University.

In 1995, Karpf was recruited to the University of California, Los Angles. During his tenure, he integrated three hospitals into one corporate entity. He was responsible for the planning and rebuilding of two replacement hospitals and was instrumental in developing a primary care network for UCLA. In addition, as a member of the senior leadership team of the UCLA Medical Enterprise, Karpf was instrumental in forging a working partnership between the practice plans and the hospital system. This partnership inspired the development of UCLA Healthcare as an integrated health delivery system. He is a member of the Executive Committee of California Hospital Association and the University Health System Consortium.

Karpf’s academic interests have been in developing and evaluating innovative educational and clinical programs. He also developed a strong presence in health services focusing on the evaluation and management of common medical problems at the University of Pittsburgh. At UCLA, Karpf was instrumental in establishing a Center for Medical Ethics and a Center for Patient Quality and Safety. He has received many honors and awards, published extensively, and has reviewed numerous journals. In addition, he has been involved in a wide range of civic and professional organizations.

Responsibilities at UK include the clinical and administrative leadership of the clinical enterprise at the UK Chandler Medical Center, including UK Hospital, UK Children’s Hospital, Kentucky Clinics, and associated health programs and entities owned and operated by the University of Kentucky to support the clinical enterprise. The dean of the College of Medicine reports to Karpf for all clinical operations. Karpf has joint oversight with UK’s Provost of the clinical activities in the colleges of Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy and Health Sciences.