Sara (Warfield) Kelly PhD, MPH | Directory

Biographical Info

Sara (Warfield) Kelly received a B.A. and M.P.H. from East Tennessee State University (ETSU). She went on to earn a Ph.D. in Epidemiology at West Virginia University (WVU), located at the epicenter of the overdose crisis. At WVU she worked on various local, state, and national projects focused on risky substance use. Dr. Kelly has extensive experience using epidemiologic methods with large population-based and health services datasets. Over the past several years, she has utilized national electronic medical records to examine the intersection of substance use, suicide risk, and rehabilitation among highly vulnerable populations. She has analyzed complex datasets (e.g. prescription drug monitoring databases) to elucidate overdose indicators as part of her work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She has also analyzed data from population-based surveys, clinical trials, and published on the effects of population health interventions on behavior change (e.g., treatment seeking). In June 2021, she began working as a Research Assistant Professor for the Department of Pediatrics and the Office of Research Services at UICOMP.