A Profile In Caring

The first in a series featuring stars of the wellness world who specialize in caring for our military members and first responders.

Once in a while we all run into someone so amazing, that we instantly know they are a star in some way.  Then, as we get to know them, we realize that we were incorrect…they are in fact a super star.  Dr. Kellie O’Dare is one of those people.  Humble, gregarious and approachable, Dr. O’Dare exudes professional acumen when one first meets her and after you get to know her, it becomes quickly obvious that first impressions were incorrect.  She isn’t just talented and knowledgeable; she is supremely so.

After going to work in the wellness field, I met Dr. O’Dare.  Prior to meeting her, I heard her name mentioned in wellness circles as an expert.  After meeting with her and chatting at length, I came to the realization that in spite of her humility and a continuing desire to add to her understanding, she is an expert in the field.  Dr. O’Dare is a faculty member at Florida A and M University in the Public Health Program.  She has a PHD in social work, a master’s in public administration and a bachelors in education.  Although trained as a clinical social worker she doesn’t retain her license.  As a faculty member at FAMU, her focus is health policy and management.  Dr. O’Dare’s teaching is limited as she focuses researching service (grant work).

Dr. Kellie O’Dare is the founder of the 2^nd Alarm Project (https://2ndalarmproject.org-also in the app store).  The web site describes it in the following manner: The 2nd Alarm Project^TM, which includes Florida’s 10-4 Center for Responder Resiliency, is a nonprofit organization established to offer comprehensive, evidence-based resiliency initiatives in our first responder communities.  I might have described it as a one stop shop for all things wellness related for our first responder community.  But, Dr. O’Dare concedes that if she has a super power, it is to turn a one-page document into a three-page document.  The 2^nd Alarm Project was born out of Dr. O’Dare’s passion to help others especially within the first responder community in late 2019 and has grown in scope and importance since that time.

When I asked her where the drive to help others (especially those in our first responder community) came from, she shared that she had grown up in a fire service family (now married to a firefighter) and when she was a child, lost a close relative to a line of duty death.  Although she wanted to be a firefighter, Dr. O’Dare’s mother guided her towards college.  Now educated in the area and fueled by the memory and the first-hand experience of the trauma and grief her family experienced when she was a child, Dr. O’Dare works tirelessly to provide services to our first responder community.  In addition, Dr. O’Dare shared with me that early in her husband’s career, he responded to a couple of pediatric fatalities.  The crushing weight of those horrific events helped guide her.  Now, she works her full-time job at FAMU, runs the 2^nd Alarm Project and makes readily herself available to those within the wellness community in a nearly round the clock manner.  The operational definition of tireless I’d say.

Not content to just teach, conduct research, work on grants, administer the 2^nd Alarm Project and generally be a wellness guru and advocate within our community, Dr. O’Dare also pursues her own personal growth and spends time with her family.  She is married to a firefighter, has a teen aged son and passes what spare time she has weight lifting, camping, boating and participating in crossfit.

As I concluded a delightful interview with Dr. O’Dare over coffee, I asked her what she would like to see in the first responder community as far as wellness is concerned.  After thoughtful consideration, she replied “Evidence based initiatives to build wellness.”  That led to a brief discussion of things first responders can work on to comprehensively help build their wellness.  Dr. O’Dare spoke of resiliency, pointed me to a book (Resilience by Southwick and Charney which I subsequently purchased and highly recommend) and to courses on the topic of resiliency that The 2^nd Alarm Project and the IAFF offer.

One of the marks of a great teacher is that they can teach and you often don’t recognize that class is in session.  When I met with Dr. O’Dare, I hoped I would learn something and I most certainly did.  But, class continues to be in session for me as I continue to learn and benefit from my discussion with Dr. O’Dare, the book she recommended and the guidance she effortlessly dispenses.  She appears to epitomize resilience and professionalism while managing to be easy going and highly relatable.  The North Florida first responder community has been indelibly changed by Dr. Kellie O’Dare and is much better off for it.  Class is still in session for me and Dr. O’Dare, my boss and a few others are teaching even when they (and I) don’t realize it.  Thank you to Dr. O’Dare and the others who have the patience, expertise and passion to guide folks like me.