UPA Spotlights Kim Friar, CEO

Kim Friar, Chief Executive Officer, UPA

Family is first and relationships are key. It’s rare to experience those work ethics in an industry today, yet that is the case for UPA. We would never have such a culture if it were not for one individual.

Kim Friar’s reputation extends beyond a title. She is defined rather by family, respect, trust, and philanthropy. She is UPA’s Chief Executive Officer. Kim previously held the title of UPA Executive Director since 2008 after being hired as UPA Provider Relations Manager in 1998. She was an essential part of the early contract negotiations while teamed together with the UPA Board of Directors, UPA Physician Shareholders and the Executives of UHS, Inc., keeping close watch with the trends of Medicare, managed care organizations and other business matters as changes and demands were certain to impact the physician office.

As business can attest, obstacles are uncertain, and this was equally the case, many times with the future of UPA. But the leadership team were well respected and held a strong bond that regardless of risk and decision outcome, established trust within the membership’s organization and healthcare community at its earliest stage.

Kim implemented responsibilities with strength and as UPA continued to grow, her leadership advanced. As many physicians have shared over the years having worked alongside her, Kim was the right match for UPA from the beginning. None could state it better than W. David Hall, Executive Vice President at The University of Tennessee Medical Center:

“Kim has played an integral role in the UPA since it’s onset. While her journey included many obstacles, under her leadership the UPA has experienced an unimaginable level of success.”

Kim is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee and values time with her family most importantly. Her strong qualities are an attribute to the organization's unique culture-driven environment. Alongside the 18 physician-led Board of Directors and its president, Kim oversees all aspects of the various business lines within the UPA. She additionally serves on the Board of Directors of ChildHelp in Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont.

We could not celebrate UPA’s 25 Year Anniversary without recognizing Kim’s achievements and her dedication to what has become Knoxville’s leading physician organization.