02/20/2026
February's featured physician:
Dr. William “Bill” Kern, MD is board certified internal medicine physician who practices at Thirlby Clinic, PLC, in Traverse City, MI. He specializes in both preventative medicine as well as management of chronic conditions including diabetes, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and lung diseases such as asthma/COPD. Dr. Kern is also board certified in Pediatrics, and while he will not be seeing pediatric patients at Thirlby Clinic, he is passionate about caring for young adults who may be seeking a new doctor as they transition out of their own pediatrics practice.
Dr. Kern completed his undergraduate education at The University of Notre Dame. He originally hails from West Virginia, and he returned there for medical school at West Virginia University. He completed his internal medicine/pediatrics residency at The University of Louisville.
Dr. Kern practiced inpatient Medicine at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City prior to joining Thirlby clinic. He continues to maintain active privileges at the Medical Center. He has also maintained affiliation with Michigan State University teaching both residents and medical students rotating in our community.
Dr. Kern, his wife, and children are huge winter sports enthusiasts, particularly skiing. They enjoy any time out on the water during our beautiful Michigan summers.
