About
Karen Jooste, MD, MPH
Executive and Physician Coach | Personal Development Coach | Wellness Consultant | Physician | Educator | Facilitator | Speaker
I was born and raised in South Africa during the Apartheid era, a time that deeply shaped me in terms of resilience, creativity, and transformation. I was inspired by the courage and adaptability of so many people around me who were navigating adversity. I embrace the South African philosophy of Ubuntu: “I am because we are.” This belief in interconnectedness is at the center of my mission to help others achieve their highest potential through meaningful relationships.
As a palliative care physician, I work with patients facing serious illnesses. During these vulnerable times, I help them discern what matters to them, so that they can live to the fullest in the moment, even with their challenges.
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I am honored to teach at the Duke School of Medicine, where my teaching focuses on advanced communication skills, the physician-patient relationship, and navigating serious illness. I have been invited to speak, facilitate workshops and share my expertise at numerous conferences and educational events.
My passion extends beyond medicine to coaching and consulting, where I help individuals, leaders and teams to navigate transitions, develop their confidence, embrace new opportunities and have the impact they want to have. I love strategic thinking and use my talent to recognize patterns and connect concepts, helping others align their values with their decisions to find clarity. My goal is that my coaching will empower clients to lead with influence, plan transformative new chapters, and live with purpose and vitality.
I have lived and worked in South Africa, the UK, Canada, India, and the United States. I specialize in helping leaders and teams adapt to new roles, promote collaboration, and achieve their goals with energy and focus, and find renewed joy in their work. My niche area is in working with leaders in healthcare.
I hold a medical degree from the University of Pretoria in South Africa, completed my residency at Columbia University Medical Center’s Children’s Hospital of New York and earned a Master of Public Health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. I hold a Global Health Certificate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and completed a fellowship in Palliative Medicine at Duke University.
I am a certified Executive and Leadership Coach through the Hudson Institute of Coaching in Santa Barbara, California, and a credentialed Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). My coaching journey began with training as an Integrative Health Coach at Duke Integrative Medicine and I fell in love with coaching, continuing on with further training to work with people in personal development and executive coaching. I am a senior faculty trainer in advanced communication skills with “VitalTalk”, and a certified Expressive Writing Facilitator.
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At the core of my work is my love of people and my dedication to helping them thrive. This truly gives me purpose and joy and makes me feel alive. Whether guiding patients, teaching students, or coaching individuals or leaders, I am driven by a commitment to helping others live fully and succeed beyond their own expectations.
I live in the United States in the beautiful college town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with my husband. We feel very lucky to have four adventurous children. When I’m not working, I love cooking, traveling with my family and exploring new cultures, foods and beautiful places.
