Member of the Month – August: Jeremy Kessler
Practice: As of January 13th, 2025 I opened up a private practice focused on Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine. I am the current medical director of Advanced Wound Care & Hyperbaric specialists serving the community of Layton, Utah.
Residency: University of Wyoming – Cheyenne, where I completed my Rural Family Medicine residency
Any additional fellowships or training? After my time in Cheyenne, Wyoming, I completed a fellowship in Wilderness medicine through the Wilderness Medical Society at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. I maintain an adjunct assistant professorship through VTCSOM and actively participate as faculty through the fellowship program. During my training, I developed a passion for high altitude medicine and volunteered with the Himalayan Rescue Association. In 2015, I set up Everest ER at basecamp. I am passionate about scuba dive medicine and volunteered at a dive clinic in Roatan, Honduras. Treating true dive related injuries of the indiginous Miskito Indians sparked my next career move. I subsequently completed a fellowship in Undersea, Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Care at Advocate Aurora Health in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I am board-certified in Preventive medicine through the American Academy of Preventive Medicine.
A bit about Dr. Kessler: I am originally from Flushing Queens, New York. Growing up in a culturally diverse city, I always felt as if I was culturally aware and prepared to care for all those in need. Upon acceptance to medical school, I chose to start my medical studies at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, in Jalisco, Mexico. I was submerged in the culture, classes were taught in Spanish and I quickly learned the language. I was immediately humbled and my mindset was reset on how I could make an impact. This guided my focus upon my return to the states, when I completed my training at New York Medical College in Valhalla, NY. I chose to work in the underserved areas of the city with low resources of the smaller community hospitals, putting all efforts towards improving my Spanish speaking abilities. I enjoyed working with my hands and began my residency training in General Surgery at the University of Florida – Gainesville. Missing my connection with the community, I subsequently transferred to the University of Wyoming – Cheyenne, where I completed my Rural Family Medicine residency. I practiced rural family medicine and obstetrics for my 8 years that I spent in Cheyenne. Rural care throughout Wyoming and traveling to peoples homes was exciting and impactful. I even was able to be the rodeo physician for Cheyenne Frontier Days. I’m sure you can all picture this city slicker with a cowboy hat and boots on. I am board-certified in family medicine through the American Academy of Family Practitioners and then completed a faculty development fellowship. In my free time, I enjoy volunteering on medical and surgical brigades. I have trekked across Latin America, giving back to the underserved Latino population and enjoy the opportunity to speak Spanish with my patients. I am an outdoor enthusiast and world traveler. I attempt to combine my love of mountain biking, climbing, mountaineering, surfing, and diving, while immersing myself in new cultures during global exploration.
What do you wish you’d known when you graduated from medical school? How to navigate the healthcare system to allow all my efforts to be focused towards patient-centric needs.
What keeps you passionate about family medicine? The connections one makes with those seeking help. The opportunity to be present, in the moment, when caring for my patients. I try to focus my attention on every encounter, be compassionate about their concerns and make the difference that might allow them to get back to whatever baseline of life they desire.
Where will we find you on your day off? Outside! I am on the eternal hike to see the next sunrise / sunsets. I enjoy rolling around in the mud, exploring what’s over that next peak, and decompressing with life’s next adventures accompanied by my wife Camille.
What are you…
reading right now: How To Win Friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie
watching right now: I absolutely love music – I am always watching a clips of live concerts and new artists.
listening to right now: Big classic rock fan. Currently going through a folk rock / bluegrass phase – Open to suggestions!