Dr. Ostler, moving on from Summit Pediatrics to Primary Children’s Hospital

Dr. Kathy Ostler in the lobby of Summit Pediatrics in Park City. Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke

PARK CITY, Utah — If you don’t have an appointment with Dr. Kathy Ostler before the last day in August, you’re out of luck. If you did have one, that day or any day for the last 23 years, you were lucky.

The beloved small town pediatrician is moving on from Summit Pediatrics and is excited to take on a new role at the University of Utah, not unlike many of her patients.

Pictured above, Ostler looks up to 6’1″ Root Roepke but he truly looks up to her. 18-year-old Root met his one and only doctor on his third day of life. Each and every year since, neither he nor Ostler has missed a Well Child Checkup. They both will now be graduating on to college.

It’s the same story with countless other Park City families including those with neurodiverse children, LGBTQ+ children, injured athlete-children, children experiencing mental health disruptions, children dealing with cancer, you name it, she’s treated it, and always with her trademark smile, ears wide open, professional solutions and caring advise.

New, nervous parents were put at ease with her welcoming, educational communication. A parent herself, Ostler is mom to two daughters, one of whom is never far from her side. Ostler’s medical scribe in the exam room with families, was mostly known by one name. Madonna, Beyonce, Oprah, they’ve got nothing on Olivia when it comes to Summit Pediatrics’ rock star status. The two giggling gals reveal now that the dynamic duo are more than colleagues, that Olivia has a last name and it is, spoiler alert, Ostler. A graduate of the University of Utah, Olivia is also moving on from Summit to work in “The City” as she puts it, Salt Lake City.

Ostler started at Summit Peds right out of her residency at Dartmouth. In 2001 Ostler “Came out just to see if I liked Park City and if I liked the Practice style and if I liked being in private practice, and I absolutely loved it all.” The rest is history.

Needless to say, her tenure included a global pandemic. COVID hit Park City hard however, Ostler’s expertise helped bring the community out on the other side. She told TownLift, “It definitely took a Village but we all got through it together. As I’ve started packing up this month, there have been more than a couple times when I put my hand in an older white lab coat and found face masks, still.”

She’s made this “tough decision” on her own terms to start in academic medicine where she’ll be focusing on Primary Children’s Hospital’s Gastroenterology and Weight Management clinics, “helping specialists see care from a generalists perspective” she wrote in a statement.

Ostler also looks forward to teaching medical students and residents at the University of Utah. adding, “This is a new and fulfilling chapter for me.”

Ostlers petit feet leave big shoes to fill. Park City is in good hands though as her saddened, supportive staff are managing a seamless transition welcoming Dr. Maureen Shumway.

Below are fun photos from a well-attended community going away party held earlier this week at the offices.

Ostler said of her departure, “I am grateful for the privilege of serving you all.”

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All photos: TownLift // Michele Roepke