Kessler Medical Center

• Origins: Kessler Medical Center (KMC) is part of Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, and was established to serve the medical needs of military personnel stationed at the base and throughout the region. • Namesake: The Center and the base are named after 2nd Lt. Samuel Reeves Keesler, Jr., a World War I aerial observer who received the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously. • Hurricane Katrina Response: KMC played a critical role during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, providing emergency medical services to both military members and local civilians in the aftermath of the disaster. • Medical Training Hub: KMC is renowned as one of the Air Force’s premier medical training facilities, hosting the second-largest medical training program in the Air Force. • Graduate Medical Education: The Center offers numerous graduate medical education programs, including residencies in internal medicine, surgery, and other specialties, training hundreds of military physicians annually. • State-of-the-Art Facilities: KMC underwent a massive $80 million reconstruction after Hurricane Katrina, reopening in 2010 with updated, hurricane-resistant infrastructure and cutting-edge medical technology. • COVID-19 Response: During the COVID-19 pandemic, KMC rapidly adapted to provide critical care, vaccination, and testing services, ensuring the health and readiness of service members. • Research Contributions: KMC has been involved in important military medical research, especially in disaster medicine, trauma care, and readiness training for deployed environments. • Joint Operations: KMC frequently collaborates with other military branches and civilian hospitals during training exercises and emergency responses, fostering interagency cooperation. • Community Engagement: The Center regularly organizes health fairs, blood drives, and outreach events for both the military and local Gulf Coast communities, strengthening civilian-military relations.