Kimberly Leake Pate, MD – Faculty; Medical Director

Kimberly Leake Pate, MD is an Associate Professor in the Division of Palliative Medicine at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, where she also serves as the Associate Program Director of the Palliative Medicine Fellowship. Board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Dr. Pate brings a deep commitment to compassionate, interdisciplinary care for seriously ill patients. She completed her medical degree at the University of Louisville, where she graduated magna cum laude, followed by residency and fellowship training in Internal Medicine and Palliative Care at the same institution. She serves on the inpatient consult service at U of L hospital on an interdisciplinary team.

Dr. Pate has held numerous leadership roles, including Program Director for the Palliative Medicine Fellowship from 2019 to 2024, and currently serves as the Medical Director of Palliative Care at the University of Louisville Hospital. Her work focuses on clinical care, ethics, interprofessional education, and mentorship, with contributions to the development of national training programs in oncology palliative care. She is a frequent presenter at local and national conferences and has published research on teamwork in palliative education and barriers to advance care planning. Dr. Pate has been recognized with several honors, including the University of Louisville Faculty Favorite Teaching Award and The DAISY Award for exceptional clinical care.