David Kessler
MD
CA, USNationally recognized expert in grief and loss, and author of "Life Lessons"
David Kessler passionately believes everyone has important needs to be attended to at the end of life: the need for hope, the need to express emotions, the need to participate in care; the need for honesty, the need for spirituality, and the need to be free of physical pain. He is the author of "Life Lessons," a combined effort to bring two experts on death and dying together to teach us about the mysteries of life and living. The book is co-authored by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, M.D. Kessler has also authored "The Needs of the Dying," a guide for bringing hope, comfort and love to life's final chapter. Examining the physical and emotional experiences of life challenging illnesses, Kessler provides a vocabulary for communication with doctors, with hospital staff, with each other, and, at a time when the right words are exceedingly difficult to find, he helps readers find a way to say goodbye. Using comforting and touching stories about Michael Landon and Anthony Perkins, he provides information to help us meet the needs of a loved one or ourselves at this important time in our lives. Kessler has helped hundreds of men, women and children face death with peace, dignity and courage. His experiences with end of life care and death have taken him from Auschwitz concentration camps to Mother Teresa's Home for the Dying Destitute in Calcutta, India. His services have been used by Elizabeth Taylor, Carrie Fisher and Marianne Williamson when their loved ones faced death. He has taught therapists at Phillips Graduate Institute in Los Angeles and leads a support group for people with cancer called The Bogeyman in the Closet. He also lectures nationally and internationally as well as leads many community forums. Kessler's volunteerism includes serving as a Specialist Reserve Police Officer and also serving as a member of on the Red Cross Aviation Disaster Team. Kessler, one of the founders of Project Angel Food, is well-known for his work with the very successful, non-profit, charitable organization which delivers hot meals every day, free of charge, to over 1200 men, women and children with life challenging illnesses. He also was a founding member of the national organization Compassion in Action. It is a non-profit organization made up of all volunteers, which provides a loving presence and counseling for those facing end of life issues. He has served on a National Education and Health Care Advisory Committee. Kessler is the director of Palliative care for Citrus Valley Health Partners and Hospice. His work has been discussed in "The Los Angeles Times," "The New York Times," "Business Week" and "Life" magazine, and has been featured on CNN, NBC, MSNBC, PBS, "Entertainment Tonight" and "Sally Jessy Raphael". He has recently written articles for the "San Francisco Chronicle" and "The Boston Globe." He is now working on a third book. MOST REQUESTED PROGRAMS Life Lessons Compassion Fatigue The Needs of the Dying How To Tell the Patient the Worst News in the Best Way
David Kessler passionately believes everyone has important needs to be attended to at the end of life: the need for hope, the need to express emotions, the need to participate in care; the need for honesty, the need for spirituality, and the need to be free of physical pain. He is the author of "Life Lessons," a combined effort to bring two experts on death and dying together to teach us about the mysteries of life and living. The book is co-authored by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, M.D. Kessler has also authored "The Needs of the Dying," a guide for bringing hope, comfort and love to life's final chapter. Examining the physical and emotional experiences of life challenging illnesses, Kessler provides a vocabulary for communication with doctors, with hospital staff, with each other, and, at a time when the right words are exceedingly difficult to find, he helps readers find a way to say goodbye. Using comforting and touching stories about Michael Landon and Anthony Perkins, he provides information to help us meet the needs of a loved one or ourselves at this important time in our lives. Kessler has helped hundreds of men, women and children face death with peace, dignity and courage. His experiences with end of life care and death have taken him from Auschwitz concentration camps to Mother Teresa's Home for the Dying Destitute in Calcutta, India. His services have been used by Elizabeth Taylor, Carrie Fisher and Marianne Williamson when their loved ones faced death. He has taught therapists at Phillips Graduate Institute in Los Angeles and leads a support group for people with cancer called The Bogeyman in the Closet. He also lectures nationally and internationally as well as leads many community forums. Kessler's volunteerism includes serving as a Specialist Reserve Police Officer and also serving as a member of on the Red Cross Aviation Disaster Team. Kessler, one of the founders of Project Angel Food, is well-known for his work with the very successful, non-profit, charitable organization which delivers hot meals every day, free of charge, to over 1200 men, women and children with life challenging illnesses. He also was a founding member of the national organization Compassion in Action. It is a non-profit organization made up of all volunteers, which provides a loving presence and counseling for those facing end of life issues. He has served on a National Education and Health Care Advisory Committee. Kessler is the director of Palliative care for Citrus Valley Health Partners and Hospice. His work has been discussed in "The Los Angeles Times," "The New York Times," "Business Week" and "Life" magazine, and has been featured on CNN, NBC, MSNBC, PBS, "Entertainment Tonight" and "Sally Jessy Raphael". He has recently written articles for the "San Francisco Chronicle" and "The Boston Globe." He is now working on a third book. MOST REQUESTED PROGRAMS Life Lessons Compassion Fatigue The Needs of the Dying How To Tell the Patient the Worst News in the Best Way
2010