After a national search, we are pleased to announce that Jeannie Kelly, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, has been appointed as Chief of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, effective March 1, 2025. She stepped into the role of interim chief in September 2024, and with her strong leadership and expertise, she has positioned herself as the best candidate for this role.
Dr. Kelly earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Duke University in 2005 and her medical degree from Columbia University in 2009. She completed both her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and her fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Tufts Medical Center, where she also obtained a Master’s degree in Clinical and Translational Science.
Dr. Kelly is well-known among colleagues, staff, and hospital leadership as a superb clinician who shows exceptional compassion for patients and their families. She has expertise in the care of women with opiate use disorders (OUD) in pregnancy. She created an innovative concept for care and now leads The Clinic for Acceptance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE). She has received multiple awards for caring for mothers and newborns affected by opioids and for providing superior patient experiences. Her expertise also drives her clinical research, and she has received extramural and intramural funding to support outcomes research related to opioid use.
She has previously served as Medical Director of Obstetrical Inpatient Services and Medical Director for Perinatal Transport. Dr. Kelly led our COVID-19 efforts for obstetrical services during the height of the pandemic. She developed adaptive algorithms for the management of COVID-19 in pregnancy and helped lead the COVID-19 obstetric response across all BJC facilities as the Obstetrics representative on the BJC COVID Command Center. Her expertise has driven her clinical research in the areas of opiate use disorder and COVID-19 in pregnancy, leading to substantive changes in clinical care both locally and nationally. Dr. Kelly has also held the role of Associate Director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
Dr. Kelly is committed to medical education. She mentors students, residents, fellows, and faculty, and she consistently receives local and national teaching awards. Students and trainees strive to emulate her skills and compassion.
Her research interests include the impact of opioid use during pregnancy, and she currently leads several NIH-funded projects in this area. Dr. Kelly has been recognized for her contributions to medicine and research, receiving the Washington University Dean’s Impact Award in 2023. She is also a member of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s Practice Advisory Board and the Committee for Reproductive Health. Dr. Kelly continues to make significant contributions locally and nationally through her leadership skills, clinical expertise, research focus, and desire to educate.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Kelly. We are excited about the future of our Maternal-Fetal Medicine division and look forward to further advancing its success.