Kelly O'Brien

Kelly O’Brien is a leading strategist and advocate in the field of brain health, serving as Executive Director of Brain Health. Previously, she was Vice President of Prevention at UsAgainstAlzheimer’s’ Brain Health Partnership. In these roles, she has provided strategic leadership for initiatives designed to advance cognitive well-being, promote healthy aging, and improve early intervention to reduce risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s and other forms of cognitive decline. She builds partnerships across sectors, develops programs that strengthen brain health in communities and workplaces, and champions policies that position cognitive well-being as a vital component of public health and economic resilience.

Before her current work, O'Brien brought a broad range of leadership experience from the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. She was the founding Executive Director of The Kennedy Forum Illinois, a state mental health initiative guided by former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, and she has held leadership positions including CEO of the social impact consultancy Ideaction Corps, public health advisor for U.S. Senator Richard Durbin, and Senior Legislative Aide to Congressman Jerry Kleczka. She also served in roles with the American Public Health Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and United Way of Metro Chicago.

Her career reflects a deep commitment to integrating brain health with broader conversations about wellness, prevention, and community engagement. Her work emphasizes collaboration across healthcare, policy, and business communities to elevate the importance of cognitive health across the lifespan and to translate evidence-based strategies into real-world impact.

Across her varied roles, she has been recognized as a change catalyst whose strategic vision and ability to build coalitions have helped raise the profile and impact of brain health initiatives nationally. O'Brien’s leadership continues to shape how organizations and policymakers view and address the challenges and opportunities of maintaining brain health throughout life.