Kathy L. MacLaughlin

Kathy L. MacLaughlin, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science and serves as a Consultant in the Department of Family Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She is actively engaged in research and clinical practice with a focus on women's health and preventive care.

Dr. MacLaughlin's educational background includes a BA in Philosophy from Luther College (Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1991), an MD from the University of Minnesota Medical School (Alpha Omega Alpha, 1995), and residency training at Methodist Hospital, Healthsystem Minnesota, University of Minnesota (1998).

Her primary research interests focus on improving cervical cancer screening rates and guideline-consistent follow-up of abnormal test results through clinical decision support systems. She also investigates HPV vaccination rates, patient beliefs about preventive health guidelines, and healthcare disparities, particularly racial disparities in cervical cancer screening. Her work aims to simplify complex screening guidelines to improve clinician adherence and patient outcomes.

Dr. MacLaughlin has received numerous awards including multiple Family Medicine Teacher of the Year Awards (2023, 2025), Gold and Silver Research Awards, the MAFP Innovation and Research Award, and the Distinguished Service Award from Luther College. She holds certifications as a Menopause Practitioner from the North American Menopause Society and has completed advanced training in Clinical and Translational Science.

As a Population Health Science Scholar at the Mayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Dr. MacLaughlin leads research projects funded by the National Cancer Institute and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. She serves on multiple advisory committees including the American Cancer Society National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer Steering Committee and the Thesis Advisory Committee for the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, demonstrating her commitment to mentoring the next generation of researchers.