Dr. Katherine Kessler is a family physician in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. She has served as the deputy territorial medical director and area medical director for Stanton Territorial Hospital and Yellowknife Region, and she has been a part of the physician leadership team of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority since its inception in 2016. In addition to local health system leadership and clinical practice, Dr. Kessler has previously been a corresponding member for the CMA’s Committee on Ethics and the College of Family Physicians of Canada’s Advisory Committee on Family Practice.
Dr. Kessler completed undergraduate medical training at the University of Alberta and residency training at Dalhousie University, completing family medicine training in 2009. She is a graduate of the Advanced Health Leadership Program at the Rotman School of Management and continues to participate in leadership development opportunities at the local and national levels. Originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Dr. Kessler has lived and worked in the Northwest Territories since 2009. Serving a majority Indigenous and culturally diverse population, she is committed to personal growth in providing and advocating for culturally safe and equitable care, and to ensuring that the unique challenges of providing and receiving health care in rural and geographically remote locations are considered in national discussions.