MB ChB Edin 1902, MD 1908; DPH Camb 1905.
Kerr studied medicine at the Universities of Edinburgh, Manchester and Sheffield. He was assistant house surgeon to Rotherham Hospital, and later resident medical officer for Bury and District Joint Infectious Hospital and assistant medical officer of health for Bury County Borough. Kerr later went to Newcastle where he was medical officer of health for the city and county of Newcastle, medical superintendent for the City Hospitals for Infectious Diseases and professor of hygiene at the University of Durham. Kerr was a fellow of the Royal Sanitary Institute and honorary secretary of the Northern Branch of the Society of Medical Officers of Health.