Kirby von Kessler, MD, former chief of orthopedics of Greater Baltimore Medical Center, died of a heart attack at his Wellesley, Mass., home March 12 at age 88, according to The Baltimore Sun.
Dr. von Kessler's career in orthopedics spanned four decades. He served as the chief of orthopedics from the 1990s until his retirement in 2000. He also served as an associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Hospital from 1971 to 2000 and the Baltimore-based University of Maryland Medical Center from 1992 to 2000.
Before then, he worked as the medical director and vice president of patient services at Baltimore-based Four East Madison Orthopedic Associates.
Dr. von Kessler earned his bachelor's degree from Cambridge, Mass.-based Harvard University in 1954 and his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1958. He served in the Army Medical Corps from 1960 to 62 and completed his orthopedic training at the Children’s Hospital in Boston and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Dr. von Kessler was an avid fox hunter and horseman. He served as the longtime attending physician for the Maryland Hunt Cup steeplechase horse race.