Dr. Kerst is a graduate of the LSU School of Dentistry in New Orleans, LA. He is originally from Hot Springs, Arkansas, and graduated with honors from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. After dental school, Dr. Kerst moved to Houston, TX, while his wife, Dr. Allison Haynie Kerst, a Shreveport native, completed her orthodontic residency at the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston. The Drs. Kerst are parents to two wonderful boys, Robert and Truman.

While living in Houston, his professional life took a unique turn, practicing as a rover, or traveling, dentist. He worked in over 50 different practices, learning from dozens of talented dentists and gaining the knowledge to treat patients with a variety of dental health needs.

Dr. Kerst is dedicated to remaining up-to-date on all things dentistry and, in 2023, completed the prestigious Pankey Institute Essentials Curriculum. In 2024, Dr. Kerst was nominated for Fellowship in the American College of Dentists.

While at LSUSD, Dr. Kerst dedicated much of his time to a variety of leadership roles. He is also devoted to making improvements to the field of dentistry as a proud member of the American Dental Association and Academy of General Dentistry. In 2017, he was elected the national Vice President of the American Student Dental Association. From 2020-2024, Dr. Kerst served on the Executive Committee for the Northwest Louisiana Dental Association, and is a director of the Louisiana Dental Association. Dr. Kerst is a firm believer in education and service, co-founding a nonprofit organization in 2015 that has provided dental supplies and a dental health education to tens of thousands of schoolchildren all over the world. He enjoys mission work and has twice led Christian dental missions in the Dominican Republic.

In his spare time, Dr. Kerst enjoys family time with his wife and sons. He spends his personal time dabbling in photography, playing music, and watching sports, especially football (Geaux Saints!). As a proud Christian and Eagle Scout, he firmly believes in giving back to the community and leaving the world better than he found it.