Dr. Kari Bernard Director of Doctor of Medical Science Program

Dr. Kari Bernard has practiced medicine as a physician assistant/associate (PA) since 2004 in the areas of cardiology, emergency medicine, and psychiatry.  In 2020, she completed a doctoral program in Industrial and Organizational Psychology with a focus on the professional well-being of the healthcare workforce.  Between 2022 and 2023, she developed a staff wellness program for 2,000 clinical and nonclinical staff members at the Alaska Native Medical Center.  Dr. Bernard is an award-winning author and has published on the topic of healthcare worker and student well-being.  She regularly presents at national, regional, and state conferences.  She is currently the founding program director for the Doctor of Medical Science program for PAs at The College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho.  Dr. Bernard lives in Anchorage, Alaska, with her husband and two energetic dogs.