Eugenia O'Kelly
Dr. Eugenia O’Kelly is a researcher and engineer dedicated to improving and saving lives through the better design of technology for high-risk systems. She holds a doctorate in engineering from the University of Cambridge and a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University. Her pioneering research has shaped global health policy, informing guidance from the CDC and WHO, and has been featured in leading media outlets including The Guardian, The New York Times, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal.
Dr. O’Kelly’s work spans research, advising, and product development across both civilian and military domains. She has consulted with the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Special Operations Command on military medical technology and advised private companies on the design of innovative medical tools. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led an international task force on infection control, contributing significantly to global public health efforts. Her career reflects a deep commitment to advancing safety, resilience, and innovation in the systems we rely on most.
Education & Career
- University of Oxford, Research Fellow (2023 - present)
- University of Cambridge, PhD Candidate (2018 - 2023)
- SF Consulting, Chief Executive Officer(2016 - 2018)
- Gigaverse, Chief Technical Officer(2014 - 2016)
- Stanford University, Bachelor of Arts (2010 - 2014)
Publications
- (2024). O’Kelly, E. AI Powered Threat Assessment: The Importance and Potential of Trilateral Risk Communication.
Safeguarding Australia, Canberra, Australia https://safeguardingaustraliasummit.au/summit-2024 - (2024). O’Kelly, E. National Security Risk Assessment: Failure and the Potential for AI. Emerging Threats, Oxford, UK
https://emergingthreats.co.uk/national-security-risk-assessment-failure-and-the-potential-for-ai-eugenia-okelly-phd27-05-24/
PASS: CCW2024 - (2024). O’Kelly, E. The Role of AI In Patient Engagement for Chronic Disease Research. Healthcare 2.0, Vegas, NV
- (2023). O’Kelly, E. Improving Interview and Focus-Group Protocol for the Collection of Systems Data from High-Security
Military Personnel. NDIA Human Systems Conference 2023 - (2023). O’Kelly, E. The Role of Risk Assessment Tools in Assessing Patient-Safety Risks. Doctoral dissertation
doi.org/10.17863/CAM.96939 - (2022). O’Kelly, E., Arora, A., Pirog, S., Ward, J., Clarkson, P. J. Face Mask Fit Hacks: Improving the Fit of KN95 Masks and
Surgical Masks with Fit Alteration Techniques and Devices. PLOS ONE
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0262830 - (2022) O’Kelly, E., Arora, A., Pirog, S., Ward, J., Clarkson, P. J. Experimental Measurement of the Size of Gaps Required to
Compromise Fit of an N95 Respirator. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
doi:10.1017/dmp.2022.23 - (2021). O’Kelly, E., Arora, A., Pirog, S., Ward, J., Clarkson, P. J. Comparing the fit of N95, KN95, surgical, and cloth face masks
and assessing the accuracy of fit checking. PLOS One
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0245688 - (2021). *Takenoshita, M. O’Kelly, E (2021). Quantity and Type of Distractions in Obstetric Anesthesia. Obstetic Anesthetist’
Association Annual Meeting* - (2021). Komashie, A., Ward, J., Bashford, T., Dickerson, T., Kaya, G. K., Liu, Y., . . . Clarkson, P. J.
- (2021). Systems approach to
health service design, delivery and improvement: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 11(1)
doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037667 - (2020). O’Kelly, E., Arora, A., Pearson, C., Ward, J. R., Clarkson, P. J. Performing qualitative mask fit testing without a
commercial kit: Fit testing which can be performed at home and at work. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness.
doi:10.1017/dmp.2020.352 - (2020). *Arora, A., O’Kelly, E. Evaluating Respiratory Protection Options for Civilian Use. Heathcare Leadership Academy
Conference - (2020). O’Kelly E, Pirog S, Ward J, Clarkson PJ. Ability of fabric face mask materials to filter ultrafine particles at coughing
velocity. BMJ Open.
doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039424 - (2019). O’Kelly E. Faster, Safer, and Easier: A Requirements Analysis for Covert Medical Information Access Systems. Special
Operations Command Surgeon’s Conference
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What Makes Healthcare Risk so Difficult to Manage?
In every safety critical field—from aviation to nuclear energy—managing risk is paramount. But one domain stands out in both its complexity and its challenge: healthcare. Despite decades of investment, training, and research, adverse outcomes in medicine remain alarmingly common. Why is this? What makes healthcare risk difficult to manage compared to risk in other safety-critical industries?
Why Risk Isn’t Just About Probability: Defining Risk by What We Value
The word "risk" is everywhere – but how should risk be defined? Many definitions of risk focus on probability, with the implication that risk is an absolute value. Yet, as Professor Terje Aven from the University of Stavanger, Norway, argues, risk is highly subjective. In this article, we will explore Dr Aven’s definition of risk and the role of stakeholder values in determining risk.
Emerging Trends in Risk Management
An overview of emerging trends in risk management that organizations should monitor.
Implementing Risk Management Frameworks
Guidelines for implementing effective risk management frameworks in organizations.