Kristen L. Thornton, M.D.

Kristen Thornton, MD
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine & Medicine
Kristen grew up in New Hampshire and loves all things New England. After graduating from Providence College with a major in biology and minor in public and community service studies, she completed a year of service with the Redeemer Ministry Corps in their hospice and elder outreach programs. This was followed by a year as an Americorps VISTA volunteer in Rhode Island. She attended medical school at Dartmouth, completed her internship at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, and went on to finish her family medicine residency at the University of Rochester. She also served a year as chief resident, receiving the Jacob Holler M.D. Annual Resident Award for inspired teaching and dedication to resident education. Kristen completed a two year fellowship in geriatric medicine and is board certified in Geriatric Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She is also a board certified wound care physician (CWSP). She is a fellow of both the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Geriatrics Society. She is very active in the American Geriatrics Society in the Clinical Practice and Medical Guidelines Committee, as well as in the Teachers Section. She is co-director of the Aging Theme at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, and advisor for the Area of Concentration in Geriatric Medicine for the family medicine residency. In 2015, she received the Resident Teaching Award from the Department of Family Medicine and the Educator of the Year Award from the Division of Geriatrics & Aging. Her research interest focuses on quality of life issues in the nursing home. She is currently working towards earning a M.S. in Teaching and Curriculum with a focus on health professions education through the Warner School of Education. She enjoys spending time with her husband, young son, and three cats. She is a history buff and prolific gardener who loves to travel, cook, and craft. She splits her time between serving as faculty for the Department of Family Medicine where she cares for patients of all ages, and the Division of Geriatrics/Aging where she provides patient care and medical student, resident, and fellow education in the long-term care setting.

Research