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Doctor connects community roots with passion for education

June 09, 2026

There’s no place like home, and for Dr. Kiersten Amos, Stratford is not only where she works, but is the community that has become home over the past few years.

After completing her Pediatrics residency in the summer of 2023 and working in various communities for a time after that, she chose to work at Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance’s (HPHA) Stratford General Hospital site because she wanted to put down roots and grow her practice in a community setting. For Dr. Amos, practicing in a smaller community was always a goal, as it offers many benefits, both personal and professional. One of the greatest draws to Stratford for her and her husband was the tight-knit medical community, where colleagues have become friends, and there is always something to get involved in. Although it is a small community, Dr. Amos and her husband have greatly enjoyed the local amenities, such as the Stratford Festival and several fantastic restaurants.

“I always knew I wanted to live and work in a community setting,” she said.

Practicing as a pediatrician in Stratford gives her a full scope of practice. As a general pediatrician, she uses her acute care skills to treat neonates and children of all ages in the hospital setting, where a typical day might involve resuscitating newborn infants, and caring for sick children requiring hospital admission. In the outpatient setting, she provides consult-based care for a variety of children ranging from newborns to 18 years of age, often following children longitudinally, and collaborating with local family doctors, nurse practitioners and midwives around the care of their patients.

“We’re also relatively close to the tertiary pediatric centre where I trained as a resident, so it’s always nice to pick up the phone and hear the kind and familiar voice of one of the wonderful pediatric specialists at the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) when we need their support,” she said.

Dr. Amos, completed her undergraduate studies at the University of New Brunswick and obtained her medical degree at Dalhousie University’s New Brunswick campus before moving to London, Ontario, to complete her residency in paediatrics at Western University. Even before starting residency, she knew she wanted to work in a small to mid-size community setting, and her very first residency rotation taking place in a local community further solidified that goal.

Preparing the next generation

Joining HPHA along with her husband, Dr. Alexander Tigert, they’ve made themselves available outside their clinical work to participate in several educational events. Dr. Amos has always been passionate about medical education, and this continues now with her leadership in the coordination of undergraduate and postgraduate medical learners within her department. Additionally, she remains connected to the Paediatric Residency Program in London as a member of the Competence Committee, as well as the Rural Paediatrics Committee. She has been an active member of the annual HPHA Paediatric Day Planning Committee, and recently, the Paediatric/Emergency Medicine Simulation Day, which is a partnership with LHSC.

What’s more, Dr. Amos recently participated in Discovery Week, mentoring four first-year medical students from Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University through the course of the week.

Discovery Week gives new medical students the chance to gain hands-on experience in real health care settings across Southwestern Ontario. During the week, students met patients and worked alongside doctors and nurses to see what health care is like in smaller communities. Students also explored the area and learned more about the teamwork that goes into providing local care.

“I love education and it’s important to me,” said Dr. Amos. “Teaching allows me to strengthen my own clinical skills, and to share my passion and love of medicine (and pediatrics in particular!) with these students.”

She added that part of the joy in working with medical students is their keenness to learn and gain experience in clinical settings, and that it’s fun to bring them along throughout her day and share what she does. She hopes that students could see HPHA as a wonderful and supportive place to work, while understanding that working in a community setting can be exciting and rewarding.

“They were a lovely group of learners and it was inspiring to see them learn. Some of these students got to practice their very first newborn exam of their career with me – what an honor!” she said. “It was a pleasure to be able to speak with them about what life in the community is like, and to discuss all of the possibilities that lie ahead for them. I hope their experience has shown them some of the many wonderful parts about working in a community setting like Stratford.”