Dr. Kelly L. Matson
Director of Clinical Evaluation and Youth Advocacy
Kelly Matson, PharmD, is a Clinical Professor and Board-Certified Pediatric Pharmacy Specialist. Her work focuses on the intersection of adolescent health and the implementation of high-integrity clinical assessment. She serves as a national authority on the management of high-risk medication therapies in youth populations, specifically regarding opioid stewardship and metabolic health. Her focus is on ensuring that clinical programs are supported by both evidence-based outreach strategies and precise digital evaluation frameworks.
Throughout her career, Dr. Matson has led grant-funded initiatives to address adolescent substance misuse and has directed international medical missions to provide pharmaceutical care in low-resource environments. She manages the implementation of computer-based testing and assessment protocols, providing the quantitative data needed to verify clinical competency. Her work bridges the gap between community-based youth advocacy and the systematic evaluation of healthcare education.
Academic & Institutional Leadership
Clinical Professor, University of Rhode Island; directing advanced pediatric and infectious diseases pharmacotherapy curricula.
Lead for Technology-Enabled Assessment; overseeing the transition and maintenance of computer-based testing (ExamSoft) for professional degree programs.
Founder and Director, "Jamaican A Difference" Pharmacy Mission; leading international clinical outreach and service-learning initiatives.
Clinical & Operational Expertise
Principal Investigator, RAMS-PEER Program; managing state-funded initiatives for adolescent opioid misuse prevention and community education.
Infectious Disease Clinical Specialist; providing expertise in antimicrobial stewardship and pediatric pathogen defense.
Specialist in Adolescent Metabolic Health; managing the clinical complexities of childhood obesity and Type 1 Diabetes.
National Service & Advocacy
Associate Editor, Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology (ASHE); providing national editorial oversight for infectious disease research.
Co-Author of National Pediatric Safety Benchmarks; contributing to the peer-reviewed development of inappropriate medication lists for children.
National Committee Leadership, Pediatric Pharmacy Association (PPA); serving on the Board of Directors and advocating for adolescent health policy.
