Kelly A. O'Malley, PhD, Advanced Fellow in Geriatrics
Educational level: Early Career Psychologist
Current affiliation:
- New England Geriatric Research and Education Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System
- Health and Aging Policy Fellow, American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship Program
Educational path:
- University of Louisville, BA Psychology
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs, PhD Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Geropsychology
- Puget Sound VA Healthcare System, American Lake Division (predoctoral clinical psychology internship)
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Clinical postdoctoral fellowship in Geropsychology
Why is aging important or meaningful to you?
Aging is important to me for many reasons. The first, I think, goes back to childhood. I was the youngest in my family and an only child, and all family gatherings were with older aunts, uncles, and grandparents. As family members got older, I grew more familiar with the healthcare system and medical concerns. So, for me, working with an aging population seemed to be a natural, and logical, extension of my life. Second, we're all doing it! Every day, every year, we are getting older. We're all in it together, and we should all be invested in the best outcomes and environments for older adults.
In what areas of aging work are you involved (research, teaching, clinical, leadership etc.) and how much time/effort do you devote to each?
Currently I devote my time 25% to clinical work, 25% to federal policy work, and 50% to research. In my clinical work, I am an interventionist in a Department of Defense (DoD) funded research project comparing the efficacy of two caregiver interventions. I also supervise predoctoral clinical psychology students in the VHA Community Living Center (CLC). My policy work centers around the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Community Living's (ACL) implementation of Congressional legislation of two acts to support family caregivers. Current efforts include the development of national advisory councils under the acts. My research has focused on family caregiving, fidelity of intervention delivery, and validation of a comprehensive measure of the caregiving experience. I am in the early stages of expanding this work to older adult caregivers of Veterans with PTSD and comorbid PTSD and dementia. Lastly, I will be starting a brief psychoeducation skill-building intervention for older veterans in a CLC who are experiencing a re-emergence or exacerbation of PTSD symptoms as a result of functional and health changes.
What resources have been the most useful in developing your career, and why?
My mentors, personal relationships, and volunteer service positions in national aging organizations have been most useful in developing my career. My mentors supported my growth, and me, when I was faced with challenges, and helped me successfully navigate those challenges. My mentors offered me new professional opportunities and encouraged me when I wanted to explore opportunities outside the traditional training and career path of clinical psychologists. None of what I have accomplished thus far would have been possible without the strong, collaborative, and trusting personal relationships with my mentors. Lastly, having the chance to be a part of the Society of Clinical Geropsychology (SCG) and the Council of Professional Geropsychology Training Programs (CoPGTP) helped me learn more about the practice of geropsychology at a macrolevel and geropsychology training programs. One of the most influential books I read was Atul Gawande's "Being Mortal".
What has been a challenge (academic, clinical or research-based) you faced and how did you overcome it?
I think the biggest challenge I faced was around my desired career trajectory, which is not the usual career path for a clinical psychologist. Finding opportunities to get experience in aging policy work at the national level while in graduate school are relatively infrequent compared to the usual training experiences. I worked closely with my mentors and was able to be transparent and open about my interests. Together, we were able to find, and sometimes create, opportunities for me to get involved in these areas.
What is one bit of advice you would give to students entering the field?
Be open to any and all experiences! You never know what opportunities are around the corner or what doors will open as a result. As much as I had “planned” out my career path, opportunities presented to me took me on an expected journey which shaped my current position into my ideal job.
What's next for you?
I am looking forward to continuing my work with the Veteran's Health Administration and hope to find a policy and implementation focused position at VA Central Office that will allow me to continue to support aging veterans across the country.