After graduating from Indiana University School of Nursing—Indianapolis in 1997, Kelly began her professional career working as a registered nurse for Wishard Health Services. Kelly has nursing experience in several areas including pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology and home health care. Kelly worked as a registered nurse for more than seven years before going back to school and earning her J.D. from Indiana University - Indianapolis in 2005.

Kelly’s experience as a registered nurse and previous legal experience representing doctors, nurses, hospitals and other health care providers has given her a unique perspective on how law relates to the practice of medicine and the lives of seriously injured people.