Kenneth Kern, MD, MPH, MS

Dr. Kern brings over 20 years of pharmaceutical industry experience to his teaching, having retired from Pfizer Oncology as Executive Medical Director and KRAS Program Lead. His career spans the complete drug development lifecycle, from first-in-human studies through regulatory approval, providing students with real-world insights that bridge classroom theory and industry practice.

He earned his MD from Harvard Medical School and holds degrees in public health, regulatory affairs, and business enterprise. He is an Honors Graduate in Biochemistry from UC Berkeley and completed a research year in cancer metabolism and nutrition at the University of Cincinnati. He completed his General Surgery residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital and his fellowship in Surgical Oncology at the Surgery Branch of the National Cancer Institute. He served as Clinical Professor of Surgical Oncology at the University of Connecticut/Hartford Hospital before moving into pharmaceutical drug development.

Industry Expertise

During his pharmaceutical career at AstraZeneca and Pfizer, Dr. Kern designed and executed Phase 1-3 clinical trials across multiple therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, biologics, antibody-drug conjugates, and immunotherapies. He has filed numerous INDs with the FDA and led global development programs in breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and other solid and liquid tumors. His publications include seminal work on breakthrough therapy designation criteria (Journal of Oncology Practice, 2016). Through his consulting practice, Dr. Kern continues advising early-stage biotech companies, ensuring his teaching reflects current industry challenges and innovations