Kari Bates grew up in Billings, Montana. She attended Montana State University Bozeman as an honors student and earned her undergraduate degree in cell biology and neuroscience with concentration in biomedical sciences. She left for training with a heavy heart and never kept Montana far from her thoughts. She earned a medical degree at Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria. After completing her residency, Dr. Bates was motivated to return home to Billings and serve her community. Dr. Bates joined Billings OBGYN Associates in September 2021.
Dr. Bates met her husband, Nathan Bates, in medical school. Nathan is a physician here in Billings and is trained in Family medicine, specializing in Palliative Care and Hospice. They have two sons, Leroy and Dylan, and a dog named Norman. She enjoys spending time with her family, skiing, hiking, music, running, and baking. She loves the crackling sound of a campfire and a good joke.
Dr. Bates is humbled to have the opportunity to provide care to women at all stages of life. With so much information available with a click of a button, Dr. Bates strives to be an approachable source of medical information centered around quality and evidence, while taking the opportunity to learn from her patients. Her goal with each patient is to build a relationship of trust and honesty. As a new mother, Dr. Bates hopes to bring a relatable new perspective to her obstetric practice to navigate the challenges and joys of pregnancy and motherhood with her patients. Dr. Bates hopes to help women feel empowered and to be their advocate throughout the seasons of life. Dr. Bates provides the full spectrum of OB/GYN care including high and low risk pregnancies, family planning, gynecological problems such as, polycystic ovarian syndrome, abnormal bleeding or painful menstrual cycles. Dr. Bates also performs a wide range of surgical procedures including robotic and laparoscopic surgery, complex hysterectomies, and endometriosis.