Ronald C. Kessler

Ronald C. Kessler
Born (1947-04-26) April 26, 1947
EducationNew York University (Ph.D. Sociology 1975), Temple University (B.A. Sociology 1970)
Alma materNew York University
Known forpsychiatric epidemiology
Scientific career
Fieldspsychiatric epidemiology
InstitutionsSyracuse University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Hawaii, Lehigh University, University of California, Irvine
Websitescholar.harvard.edu/rckessler/faculty-and-staff

Ronald C. Kessler (born April 26, 1947) is an American professor at Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on the precision treatment of mental illness to determine the appropriate intervention for specific patients. He ranks among the most highly cited researchers in the world, with an h-index of 349 as of June 2025. He developed the Kessler psychological distress scale, which is designed to measure non-specific psychological distress.