Kathleen Pridgen is originally from Kingsport, Tennessee, and completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee. She completed her medical degree at the University of Virginia and stayed in Charlottesville at UVA for Family Medicine Residency. Beginning in medical school, she enjoyed the variety, breadth and depth of primary care, as well as longitudinal relationships with patients, and this is what led her to the field of Family Medicine. During her third year of residency, she served as a chief resident, which served as an introduction to the world of leadership and administration within medicine. At that time she also did a month long rotation with UVA Student Health, and found working with college-aged students to be energizing and rewarding. When her husband, a biology professor, joined the faculty at Samford University in 2015, Dr Pridgen found an opportunity with UAB Student Health Services. Although initially in a clinical position, her responsibilities have grown since 2015 and now she is also the Associate Medical Director in addition to serving the students' health needs directly. Clinically, Dr Pridgen enjoys reproductive and women's healthcare, office gynecology, office procedures, life transitions, and mental health, and Student Health has been the perfect fit for these interests. Administratively, she enjoys practice and quality improvement, data collection and analysis, and teaching evidence-based practice. Outside of medicine, Dr Pridgen stays busy raising three children alongside her husband, and enjoys sewing, gardening, home design and cooking.
