Kelly graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2005 and after 18 months in small animal general practice, completed a rotating internship at the Royal Veterinary College and a three-year ECVS approved residency programme in Small Animal Surgery at the University of Bristol. Kelly joined the Animal Health Trust in 2011 and completed a PhD on the genetics of canine cancer metastasis in collaboration with the University of Liverpool. She joined the University of Edinburgh as a senior lecturer in soft tissue surgery in 2019 and is currently researching into canine oral melanoma and its translational applications. She is a member of the Association of Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgeons (AVSTS), and an EBVS and RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery. Her particular interests include minimally invasive surgery, trauma management and reconstructive/oncological surgery.