By Carla Carlton
For Tara McKennie, 2021 was a banner year. As vice president of Culture and Leadership Development at Radiology Partners, a practice of 2,600 radiologists in 30 states, she was named one of the Most Influential Minority Executives in Healthcare by Fierce
Healthcare and a Top 10 Influential Healthcare Executive by Fior Reports. Also in 2021, McKennie was promoted to brigadier general in the Alabama Air National Guard, making her the first woman to be a general in the state’s Air National Guard
and the first Black woman to be a general officer in either component of the Alabama National Guard. She had previously served as medical group commander for the 187 Fighter Wing in Montgomery, Alabama. A native of Kokomo, Indiana, McKennie moved
with her family to Chicago when she was 4 and lived there until she left for basic training.
Why the military?
A lot of young adults initially enlist for reasons other than patriotism. My story is not dissimilar. Upon graduation from high school, I did not have a desire to attend college, which was an expectation of my parents. I thought the military would be
a good decoy that would never materialize. I was 17 years old when I enlisted, and at that age, my parents had to grant permission to join. I never imagined that they would agree, but here I am, decades later, thriving from my military experience.
So I have to thank my parents for the opportunity.
You earned a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management from Southern Illinois University. What drew you to Bellarmine’s MBA program?
At the time I decided to pursue an Executive MBA, I was looking for a reputable program with an intimate setting where I could maximize my time, interact with peers and have real access to professors to enhance my learning experience. Bellarmine checked
all those boxes, and even those I was unaware I needed. [McKennie also has a master’s of strategic studies from Air University, Air War College.]
Has your MBA helped in your career?
My MBA has been instrumental in both my private sector and military careers. It has elevated my awareness and ability to engage in areas that my healthcare management degree did not prepare me for, such as finance and accounting. In my new role [she has
been VP of Culture and Leadership Development since July 2018], with oversight of our marketing and brand, I have been able to draw on my coursework in those areas as well.
What else does your role entail?
Before this, I was VP of Operations, which is what my training and experience prepared me to do. This role is really different, but I lean into my operations background to enhance the work that I do today. Along with my team, I am responsible for cultivating
a high-performance practice environment with high teammate engagement. I provide thought leadership and practical solutions that enable our practice mission of “Transforming Radiology.” I have oversight of the direction of executive development,
which is intended to drive performance and shape the culture. My team also shapes the brand of RP. Bottom line, we want to be the best place for radiologists and support teammates to work, and my team is a part of making that a reality.
Are there any similarities in your radiology work and your military work?
Yes. I feel strongly that by the time you are an executive, you should have developed the necessary skills to lead in any environment, and in that sense, my work is very similar. The mission and the day-to-day are very different, but the aspects that
revolve around leading myself, a team, a department and an organization are incredibly similar.
What did your recent military promotion mean to you?
It meant a lot for a lot of reasons. Being the “first” makes me proud, but not special. I know that there have been leaders before me who had the capability and capacity to serve as a general officer, and I have to acknowledge those officers who paved the way to allow me access. I am also the first medical (non-physician) officer to make general officer. That is a big deal for me because the airmen who serve as medical support need to know that this door is also open to them. They are critical to the mission of protecting and defending our nation and should have equal access to a seat at the table.
What is your personal passion?
My personal passion, at the core, is helping others. That shows up in a multitude of ways—philanthropy, mentorship, coaching and advocacy. My No. 1 objective is giving each person I have the opportunity to engage with the capability and capacity
to lead themselves. That’s where it all begins.
