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Dr. Tommy Koonce, MD, MPH, has been named Associate Chief Medical Officer for Outpatient Services for UNC Medical Center, also effective Dec.1. This promotion reflects an expansion of oversight and responsibilities for medical affairs, especially in our numerous outpatient areas, and with particular interest on quality improvement.


Dr. Koonce is originally from Fayetteville, NC and completed medical school here at UNC.  He trained in Family Medicine at East Carolina University where he served as Chief Resident (and more importantly met his wonderful wife Robin – an outstanding Nurse Practitioner on UNC’s Pediatric Surgery team).  He then returned to UNC to complete a Faculty Development Fellowship and earn his MPH.  He joined the faculty in 2005 and since that time has had multiple leadership positions including Medical Director of the Family Medicine Center and for Outpatient Services.  During his career at UNC he has acquired extensive training and experience with Quality Improvement and Lean methodology, and he has sponsored and led multiple large-scale projects, including a Lean-transformation of the Family Medicine Center, standardization of work flows and staffing across outpatient services, and enhancement of the medical center’s approach to ambulatory goals.  He has published and procured grants on quality improvement and physician education to help others learn these quality improvement skills.

Dr. Koonce remains actively engaged in patient care and medical student education.  As a clinician he is dedicated to continuity and serving patients with multiple, overlapping chronic conditions.  As an educator he focuses on the essential communication and examination skills that promote patient centered care.  He has received the UNC Health Care Award for Carolina Care Excellence for each of the past 5 years and has been recognized by the Academy of Educators for his outstanding teaching – most recently with a Distinguished Alumni Teaching Professorship.

Dr. Koonce understands the importance of a high quality, safe, and cost-effective outpatient experience that is seamless for patient and provider alike and is thrilled to tackle this new role.