Dr. Kelly has been involved in global health work since her time in the Peace Corps in 2001. As a biology teacher and HIV/AIDS educator in Namibia, she realized the impact nurses had on improving health outcomes for marginalized communities.

She completed an accelerated Bachelor of Science program at Michigan State University in 2007 and her PhD in 2015 to be able to conduct global health research.

Dr. Kelly currently works at Columbia University School of Nursing as an associate professor at CUMC.

Her published research outlining the unique side effect profiles experienced by patients with drug-resistant TB has been cited in over a dozen studies conducted in high burden areas in Africa and Asia.

Her experience in HIV and TB led to requests to provide TB nursing education in South Africa, grant consultancy in Malawi, and today she mentors students doing global clinical rotations.

– Deb

Ana Maria’s story:

Dr. Kelly’s path in global health began as an HIV educator in Namibia with the Peace Corps. Seeing disparities in healthcare between high- and low-to-middle-income countries led to her doctoral work in South Africa.

She reviewed hundreds of drug-resistant TB medical charts to identify gaps in care. Findings of inconsistent reporting of side effects ultimately impacted health policy, leading to a decision by the South African Department of Health to standardize symptom reporting for all persons with TB.

Now as an associate professor, Dr. Kelly was the first faculty member at Columbia University Nursing to receive a Fulbright award. The award promoted evidence-based practice through grant and manuscript consultation, resulting in funded grants and published manuscripts for faculty in Malawi.

Current work includes development of an infectious disease educational program for prison peer educators in Malawi and mentoring students doing global clinical rotations in India, Zambia and Malawi.

Dr. Kelly has been involved in global health work since her time in the Peace Corps in 2001. As a biology teacher and HIV/AIDS educator in Namibia, she realized the impact nurses had on improving health outcomes for marginalized communities.

She completed an accelerated Bachelor of Science program at Michigan State University in 2007 and her PhD in 2015 to be able to conduct global health research.

Dr. Kelly currently works at Columbia University School of Nursing as an associate professor at CUMC.

Her published research outlining the unique side effect profiles experienced by patients with drug-resistant TB has been cited in over a dozen studies conducted in high burden areas in Africa and Asia.

Her experience in HIV and TB led to requests to provide TB nursing education in South Africa, grant consultancy in Malawi, and today she mentors students doing global clinical rotations.

Ana Maria’s story:

Dr. Kelly’s path in global health began as an HIV educator in Namibia with the Peace Corps. Seeing disparities in healthcare between high- and low-to-middle-income countries led to her doctoral work in South Africa.

She reviewed hundreds of drug-resistant TB medical charts to identify gaps in care. Findings of inconsistent reporting of side effects ultimately impacted health policy, leading to a decision by the South African Department of Health to standardize symptom reporting for all persons with TB.

Now as an associate professor, Dr. Kelly was the first faculty member at Columbia University Nursing to receive a Fulbright award. The award promoted evidence-based practice through grant and manuscript consultation, resulting in funded grants and published manuscripts for faculty in Malawi.

Current work includes development of an infectious disease educational program for prison peer educators in Malawi and mentoring students doing global clinical rotations in India, Zambia and Malawi.