Preventive Medicine Third Thursday Seminar – “Disaster Planning after Hurricane Helene”

Date: September 17, 2026
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Location: Doctor's Office Building, 66 North Pauline Street - Hybrid (info below)

Presenter: Dr. Kimberly Kelly

Title of talk: "Disaster Planning after Hurricane Helene"

Brief bio:
Dr. Kimberly Kelly is a Professor in the Healthy Lifestyles for Humanity: A Research Center for Community Well Being in Preventive Medicine. Three overlapping themes emerge from Dr. Kelly's research: (1) cancer risk perception/communication, (2) health behavior (e.g., cancer screening, genetic testing), and (3) elevated risk populations (e.g., Appalachians, those with a family history of cancer). Her work relies on behavioral theory from psychology (health, social, cognitive), as well as communication and information sciences. She mixes qualitative and quantitative methods, utilizing clinic-based and community-based approaches. Most of her research has focused on how risk is communicated in the context of cancer genetic counseling and how risk perceptions differ from objective estimates of risk. She also examines the role of risk perception in cancer screening. Through her research, Dr. Kelly hopes to understand how best to enhance appropriate decision-making about health behaviors in elevated risk populations to accomplish optimal health outcomes.

To join virtually by Zoom, please reach out to [email protected].