In Part Two of my conversation with Dr. Ana Kelly, associate professor of nursing at Columbia University, we explore the transformative power of immersing oneself in different cultures and communities. Dr. Kelly has been instrumental in encouraging nursing students to study abroad, highlighting how these experiences not only broaden their understanding of diverse healthcare systems but also foster deep personal growth.

We continue our discussion on grit and resilience in healthcare professionals, focusing on the emotional toll of working in high-stakes, trauma-exposed environments. Dr. Kelly emphasizes the importance of building rapport with patients to establish trust while balancing the technical and humanistic aspects of patient care. This balance is best captured in the idea that healthcare providers must be both artists and scientists, mastering both the science of medicine and the art of compassionate care.

As an educator, Dr. Kelly shares the challenges of training future healthcare providers, particularly in honoring student diversity while ensuring that each practitioner embodies the qualities of excellent patient.

In this episode of Headroom, I sit down with Dr. Ana Kelly, an associate professor of nursing at Columbia University, to discuss her remarkable journey in healthcare and academia.

Dr. Kelly shares how her time in the Peace Corps—teaching biology in Namibia and working in health clinics—sparked her passion for nursing. Upon returning to Michigan, she pursued a nursing degree and discovered her love for teaching while working as a Supplemental Instructor at LCC, ultimately leading her to earn a doctorate in nursing.

We explore healthcare stigmas and how they prevent individuals from seeking care or receiving proper diagnoses. Drawing from her experience at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Kelly highlights the profound impact healthcare providers have—not just on patients, but also on their families. She emphasizes the importance of teamwork in high-stress environments, explaining how collaboration fosters both resilience and joy in a challenging field.

Dr. Kelly also discusses her research in South Africa, her five-year PhD journey, and her postdoctoral work at Columbia. One of her major findings revealed that anxiety and depression were almost never documented in patient records, despite their clear presence. She advocates for routine mental health screenings in primary care and discusses the financial and technological barriers that hinder advancements in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions.

We wrap up this part of the conversation by examining the preparation of future nurse practitioners, emphasizing the need for grit, resilience, and personal growth alongside technical expertise. Dr. Kelly’s insights offer a compelling look at the evolving landscape of healthcare and the critical role mental health plays in patient care.

In part two of my conversation with Mark Vroman—former Battalion Chief of Meridian Township and current professor of online learning and prison education at Siena Heights University—we explore the critical importance of self-care for those in high-stress, service-oriented careers. Mark shares insights on preventing and managing vicarious trauma, also known as compassion fatigue, secondary stress, and burnout.

We also discuss the role of gratitude in sustaining resilience while working with people in some of their most difficult moments. Mark reflects on his work in prison education, highlighting the transformative power of learning—not just for incarcerated individuals but for the broader community. Through education, lives can be reshaped, offering hope and meaningful change where it’s needed most.