Dr. Amy Kelley named chief of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine

Amy Kelley, MD, MSHS, a nationally recognized geriatrician, palliative care physician and aging researcher, has joined Michigan Medicine as chief of the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine and director of the Geriatrics Center and Institute of Geriatrics.

Dr. Kelley brings more than 15 years of experience in academic medicine, research and health policy to the role. She comes to Michigan from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), where she served as deputy director beginning in 2022. In that role, she helped advance the NIA’s scientific strategy and led complex, multidisciplinary programs spanning aging research.

Before joining the NIA, she spent more than a decade at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she developed an internationally recognized research program focused on serious illness among older adults. She served as the Merkin Professor of Palliative Medicine and Geriatrics and held several leadership positions, including vice chair for health policy and faculty development and senior associate dean for gender equity in research affairs.

Throughout her career, Dr. Kelley has focused on improving care for older adults and people living with serious illnesses, while supporting patients, families and caregivers. Her work has also emphasized mentorship, faculty development and advancing diversity and health equity in medicine and research.

At Michigan Medicine, Dr. Kelley will lead a division that brings together clinical care, research and education focused on the health and well-being of older adults and people with serious illnesses.

Dr. Kelley succeeds Lona Mody, who has served as interim division chief since February 2023, and began her new role October 1.