The Faculty of Medicine is pleased to announce the following appointments:
John Kestle, Head, Department of Surgery
Dr. John Kestle started his new role as Head of the Department of Surgery on March 25, 2013. As Department Head, he provides strategic leadership in fostering excellence, innovation and scholarship in surgical education, research and care throughout the province.
Dr. Kestle comes to UBC from the University of Utah where he has been Professor and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery and served a seven year term as the Director of Resident Training in the Department of Neurosurgery.
Prior to joining the University of Utah in 1998, Dr. Kestle was an Assistant Professor in the UBC Department of Surgery, a Pediatric Neurosurgeon at BC Children’s Hospital and a Clinical Epidemiologist at the BC Research Institute for Child and Family Health.
Dr. Kestle is an international leader in clinical research in pediatric hydrocephalus and has been the Principal Investigator in a number of multi-centre trials in the field. This led to his current role as Co-Founder and Chair of the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network. This North American network was awarded funding by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and conducts clinical studies in pediatric hydrocephalus. Dr. Kestle currently serves on editorial boards for two neurosurgical journals, is a Director of the American Board of Pediatric Neurosurgery and has just completed a four year term as Scientific Chair of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery. His clinical practice is in pediatric neurosurgery, with special interests in epilepsy, tumors and craniosynostosis.
William Miller, Associate Dean, Health Professions Education
Appointed to the position of Associate Dean, Health Professions Education in March 2013, Dr. William Miller provides strategic leadership to the health professions (other than medicine) within the Faculty. He ensures that resources are optimized across the health professions and that cross-cutting education themes identified in the Strategic Plan are embedded in the Faculty’s educational programs.
Dr. Miller completed his undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy at UBC followed by graduate studies in Occupational Therapy, and Epidemiology and Biostatics at the University of Western Ontario. After completing a post-doctoral fellowship in Rehabilitation Sciences, he joined UBC’s Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy. Dr. Miller is currently a Professor in the Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy.
His research is focused on the measurement, determination and epidemiology of mobility disability and its influence on the participation in daily and social activities of adults. In addition to his research, Dr. Miller teaches students in the Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences graduate programs. He also provides continuing education to occupational therapists and other health professionals.