Dr. Kellie O’Dare is a dedicated researcher, educator, and advocate with expertise in first responder health and wellness, health policy, and organizational resilience. As the Founder and Director of the 2nd Alarm Project and Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management with the Institute of Public Health at Florida A&M University, Dr. O’Dare has led innovative initiatives to support the mental health and resilience of first responders and their families.
With a Ph.D. in Social Work and a passion for community-driven solutions, her work bridges academic research and practical applications, fostering transformative changes in behavioral health access and support systems. She has significant experience conceptualizing, designing, implementing, and evaluating large-scale quantitative, geospatial, and mixed-method research projects in both academic and applied settings.
Dr. O’Dare’s impactful efforts have garnered $8 million in external funding and contributed to significant advancements in public health and social work practice.
Dr. O’Dare has meaningful personal linkages to the first responder community. She is the niece of Shawn T. O’Dare, firefighter/paramedic killed in the Line of Duty in Miami-Dade County, and the spouse of a current Florida professional firefighter/paramedic.
2nd Alarm Project Website: Click Here
UCF Restores Website: Click Here
Struggle Well Website: Click Here
Interview Transcript: Click Here