Dr. Kurt Kroenke stands as an internationally respected expert in the evaluation and management of physical and psychological symptoms within clinical practice. He currently holds the prestigious position of Chancellor's Professor at Indiana University while serving as Professor of Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine and a Research Scientist at the Regenstrief Institute, Inc. His extensive career includes leadership roles as Director of Fellowship and Training Programs at the Regenstrief Institute and Director of the IU Graduate School Master of Science in Clinical Research program, which provides training for fellows and junior faculty across numerous disciplines. Dr. Kroenke also serves as a Core Investigator at the VA Health Services Research and Development Center of Excellence on Implementing Evidence-Based Practice at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, reflecting his commitment to advancing evidence-based clinical care.
Dr. Kroenke's pioneering work in developing patient-reported outcome measures has transformed clinical practice and research methodology worldwide, with his Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) becoming the most widely adopted depression screening tool in primary care settings. His development of multiple assessment instruments including the GAD-7 anxiety scale, PHQ-15 somatization scale, PEG pain scale, and P4 suicidality screener has provided clinicians with standardized, validated tools now implemented by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, VA healthcare system, and integrated into electronic health records globally. These instruments have been translated into more than 100 languages and are used extensively across research and clinical practice settings, significantly improving the identification and management of mental health conditions in medical populations. His research on the interplay between physical symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and dizziness and mental health disorders has produced more than 390 peer-reviewed publications that continue to shape evidence-based clinical guidelines and practice.
As a dedicated mentor, Dr. Kroenke has guided more than 35 fellows and junior faculty members, significantly contributing to the development of the next generation of clinical researchers in the field. His leadership extends to editorial responsibilities for prestigious journals including JAMA-Internal Medicine, General Hospital Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine, and Psychosomatics, where he helps shape the scientific discourse in his specialty. The recognition of his contributions includes the Society of General Internal Medicine's highest honor, the Robert J. Glaser award in 2018, and his distinguished educator award from the Association of Clinical Research Training in 2012. Currently focusing on chronic pain management and integrated approaches to optimize pain and mental health care effectiveness, Dr. Kroenke continues to advance innovative collaborative and telecare management approaches that promise to further enhance patient outcomes across healthcare systems.
