Dr. Kelly was born and grew up in San Diego, California, graduating from Torrey Pines High School in Del Mar.

Dr. Kelly graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Environmental Health in 1990. She then graduated from Iowa State University college of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. Dr. Kelly did an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the California Animal Hospital in West Los Angeles immediately after graduation. Dr. Kelly is a published author in the current Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. She wrote a chapter on Home Euthanasia.

Dr. Kelly enjoys internal medicine, preventative medicine, geriatric and hospice care. She also served as the president of the Westside chapter of the southern California veterinary medical association for three years.

Dr. Kelly shares her home with her daughter, Kate and orange tabby cat, Freddy. She enjoys traveling, museums, musicals, reading and writing, and participating in Girl Scouts with her daughter.