Curtis Tyrone Society Head

Curtis Tyrone Medical Society Head:

Kathy Jo (KJ) Carstarphen, MD, MPH, MA
Assistant Clinical Professor
Clerkship Director, Medicine in Society
Staff Physician Internal Medicine

Background

Dr. Kathy Jo Carstarphen was born in Selma, Alabama, a landmark location for the Civil Rights Movement. For a change in scenery she headed up to “The Lou” for college at Washington University in St Louis, then the Big Apple for Columbia University to do graduate school. Along the way on her journey towards becoming a doctor she worked in research funding in both the federal and private sectors and taught students in Harlem who were at-risk of not completing high school. She returned to sweet home Alabama for medical school, then came the Big Easy for residency. After a year doing geriatric population health work, she came to Ochsner to start the MedVantage Clinics which focus on caring for geriatric and complex populations. She has special interest in changing healthcare delivery to overcome barriers to care and support vulnerable populations.

Credentials & Qualifications

• Washington University in St Louis​
  • Bachelor of Arts in Biology, 1995
  • Bachelor of Arts in African-American Studies, 1995
    • Dean’s List, Ralph Bunche Award
• Columbia University
  • Master of Biotechnology, 2005
• University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Doctor of Medicine, 2012
    • Presidential Scholarship, National Medical Fellowship
    • AOA Research Award, Minority Health International Research Training
  • Master of Public Health, 2012
    • HIV Vaccines Trials Network Research and Mentorship Program
• Tulane Hospital
  • Postgraduate Residency Training in Internal Medicine, June 2012 – June 2015
    • Professionalism Award
• JenCare Senior Medical Center​
  • Primary Care Physician: 2015– 2016
• Ochsner Health
  • Lead Physician, NOMC MedVantage: 2016 – present
• Ochsner Clinical School​
  • Assistant Clerkship Director Medicine in Society: 2020 – present
• The University of Queensland, School of Medicine
  • Assistant Clinical Professor: 2018 –present
• ​AMSA Women Leaders in Medicine award recipient, 2020

Research Interests

Dr. Carstarphen is interested in agile implementation research on complex care delivery for geriatric and vulnerable populations.

Best Part of My Job

Building the MedVantage Clinics and training our medical students to grow in empathy and competence as they cross that finish line!