Debra Lynch Kelly, PhD, RN, OCN, CNE, FAAN was appointed as the University of Florida College of Nursing’s associate dean for academic affairs – undergraduate education, effective Nov. 1, by Dean Anna M. McDaniel, PhD, RN, FAAN.
Kelly has been with the college for six years and is a tenured associate professor in the BNS department with significant pedagogical expertise, having earned recognition from the National League for Nursing as a Certified Nurse Educator. She has had multiple leadership roles in undergraduate curriculum and course development and has served as chair of the Academic Affairs Committee at the college.
Kelly is an Oncology Certified Nurse whose program of research focuses on elucidating the biological mechanisms underlying symptoms of Chronic Illness with a population focus in Oncology. She currently conducts research with a team of multi-disciplinary scientists from Nursing, Medicine, Psychology, Statistics, Microbiology, Metabolomics and Genetics. She has recently received NIH funding to examine the interplay among diet, inflammation and the gut microbiota on cognitive function and other psychoneurological symptoms of patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transportation (R21NR017749). Dr. Lynch Kelly’s research efforts focus on improving health outcomes for individuals living with chronic conditions to obtain and maintain optimal quality of life.
Kelly is active in several nursing organizations at all levels including the Southern Nursing Research Society, American Nurses Association, Oncology Nursing Society and Sigma Theta Tau. She is also a member of the Center for International Bone Marrow Transplant (CIBMTR) Late Effect Working Committee and the American Society of Transplant and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT). She additionally serves on the Steering Committee of the ASTCT Survivorship Special Interest Group and Biobehavioral Special Interest Group and is a member of the ASTCT Palliative Care Special Interest Group. Other service areas at the CON include the PhD Program Evaluation Task Force, Innovation Task Force and the BSN Cirriculum Task Farce. Kelly has additionally been recognized as a leader in Nursing Education and has been the recipient of several nurse educator awards including RN Excellence in Professional Development, Education and Leadership
Kelly received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and PhD in Nursing, both from Virginia Commonwealth University.