Kelly Smith received her diploma in nursing from Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing, her BSN from the University of Missouri and her MSN in Nursing of Children from St. Louis University where her master's focus was on the clinical specialist role. Following completion of her diploma she was employed at St. Louis Children's Hospital, working with children with cancer, renal disease, liver disease and endocrine disorders. After moving to Iowa City area in 1994, she was a clinical instructor at Coe College in Cedar Rapids for one year, then worked three years for a home infusion company before joining the College of Nursing faculty in 1998.