Richard Kessel

Richard Kessel is an emeritus senior lecturer of Communication Studies. He taught at Metropolitan State University of Denver for more than 20 years.

Kessel received his doctorate in human communication studies from the University of Denver, where his dissertation was on physician-patient decision-making. He developed the physician communication skills assessment and feedback program for the Center for Personalized Education for Physicians — where he became the senior communication consultant — which was subsequently licensed to the National Board of Medical Examiners and is now part of the United States Medical Licensing Examination that all medical students must pass before becoming licensed to practice.

Prior to becoming a full-time faculty member at MSU Denver, Kessel was an associate clinical professor in the Internal Medicine Department at the University of Colorado’s School of Medicine, where he taught clinical interviewing skills. He was instrumental in implementing the School of Medicine’s teaching and assessment programs utilizing simulated patients and was recognized for excellence by the Foundations of Doctoring program. Kessel also previously worked as an enrolled agent at the University of Denver’s Law School, where he helped establish its new student orientation program on financial planning (as it related to budgeting and student loans).

Kessel has spoken at academic and professional development conferences on topics ranging from the effective use of PowerPoint, the science of teaching and learning, clinical communication skills and financial planning.

He has been a nationally-recognized expert in physician assessment, education and behavior modification.