Karl R. Kerchief, M.D., MS, MHA, FACHE, FAAFP

Class 1995-1997

AA, Danville Junior College, IL, 1974
BA, Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale, IL, 1976
MS, Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale, IL, 1978
MD, Uniformed Srvc. Univ. Hlth. Sci., Bethesda, MD, 1982
MHA, Baylor Univ., Waco, TX, 1997

Chief, Clinical Services, & Chief of Consultants, MEDCOM, Ft. Sam Houston, TX, 2004 to present
Dep. Commander Clin. Srvc., Madigan Army Med Ctr. Fort Lewis, WA, 2003-04
Commander, Reynolds ACH, Ft. Sill, OK, 2001-03
Dep. Commander Clin. Srvc., Martin ACH, Ft. Benning, GA, 2001
Chief, Family Prac., Martin ACH, Ft. Benning, GA, 1997 to 2001
Resident, Pacificare, San Antonio, TX, 1996-97

Biography

COL Karl R. Kerchief was born in San Francisco CA., but grew up in and around Danville, Illinois. He received a Bachelors and a Masters Degree from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Accepted to the Uniformed Services University as part of only the third class matriculating there, he received his Medical Degree in 1982. Entering the Family Practice Residency at Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center, he completed this training program in 1985, and became a Family Practice staff physician at Reynolds Army Community Hospital, Fort Sill OK, and served as the Battalion Surgeon for the 1/12 (Lance) FA. Prior to his promotion to MAJ, he assumed the duties of the OIC of the Craig Road Family Practice Clinic and the duties of the Brigade Medical Officer for the 75th FA. Shortly after his promotion to MAJ, he became the Chief of Family Practice and Community Medicine at Ft Sill, the largest non-residency Family Practice Department in the Army. COL Kerchief was selected for Command and General Staff College in residence, completing this in 1990, and was chosen to be the Division Surgeon for the 4th Infantry Division (Mech) at Fort Carson. In 1992, he joined the Family Practice residency staff at Tripler Army Medical Center, as they re-established the FP Residency as part of Tripler’s graduate medical education program. He was promoted to LTC and assumed the duties of OIC of the Residency Family Practice clinic in 1993. He was accepted into the Army-Baylor Health Care Administration program in 1995, and received a Masters Degree in Health Administration in 1997. He assumed the Duties of Teaching Chief, and Chief of Family Practice and Community Medicine at Fort Benning GA in 1997. He was promoted to COL in 1999, and in June 2000, assumed the duties of Deputy Commander for Clinical Services at Martin Army Community Hospital. He was selected for command, and successfully assumed those duties at Reynolds Army Community Hospital from 2001-2003, and then was named the DCCS at Madigan Army Medical Center. He was then asked to assume the duties of the Chief of Consultants to the Surgeon General, and Chief of Clinical Services Division at MEDCOM, doing so in June 2004. He is Board Certified in Family Practice, and in Health Care Management. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, was on the Board of Directors for the Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians, and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a member of the American College of Physician Executives. His awards include: the Legion of Merit Award, the Meritorious Service Medal with 4 OLC, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.

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