Heather Rissler, Ph.D., Ed.D.

Professional Background

Heather Rissler, PhD, EdD, is an Education Assistant Professor in Emergency Medicine and Director for Faculty Development at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Her work focuses on effective practices in faculty development, humanities-based approaches to medical education, strengths-based coaching, and fostering flourishing among faculty and learners. A certified CliftonStrengths coach, she is passionate about engaging students as partners in curriculum design. Dr. Rissler earned her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Australian National University, where she studied the regulation of pigment biosynthesis and photoprotection in plants, followed by postdoctoral work on the evolution of photosynthetic proteins in algae and a research fellowship in science education. She has taught biology for 20 years at four-year institutions and community colleges, received the Excellence in Teaching Award in 2016, and continues to teach as an adjunct. Her EdD in Educational Leadership examined the role of faculty development in mitigating opportunity gaps for students.

• BS, Biology, Arizona State University
• PhD, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , The Australian National University
• EdD, Organizational Leadership, University of Dayton
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of New Brunswick - Fredericton
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Science Education, Carleton College

• Academy of Medical Educators, Academy of Medical Educators, Member, 2026 - Present
• Women in Medicine and Science, SoM PhD Representative, 2026 - Present

• Maria Alonso Luaces, Mabachi Natabhona, Amy Caruso Brown, Rissler Heather, Francis Carrie. 2025. A Faculty Development Series to Recognize, Mitigate, and Manage Bias and Racism in the Medical School Curriculum. Journal of Faculty Development. https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/magna/jfd/2025/00000039/00000003/art00008#
• Smyth DavidaS., Donovan Sam, Lenahan Melanie, DeFeo Dayna, Fuller Karla, Goulet TamarL., Hamerlinck Gabriela, Harrison Elizabeth, Reeves-Pepin Jaclyn, Rissler Heather, Uno Gordon, Marshall PamelaA.. 2026. From BioSkills to LifeSkills—a framework for developing life skills for non-science majors in introductory life science courses. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education. https://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.00002-26
• Jackson Laura, Gray Amanda, Krase Kelli, Rissler Heather. 2026. Building together. International Journal for Students as Partners, 10 (2). https://doi.org/10.15173/ijsap.v10i2.6950