Kristen Kolleda

Kristen Kolleda, PhD, MPH, CEM is the Director of Emergency Management for University of Kansas and University of Kansas Medical Center.  She also works for Columbia Southern University as a Part-time Faculty member and Purdue Global as an adjunct professor.  Kristen has received her PhD in Fire and Emergency Management from Oklahoma State University.  Kristen has worked as a University Emergency Manager for three years.  She previously worked in healthcare emergency management for over a decade, with experience in both academic health systems, and pediatric hospitals, working in both urban and rural settings.  She began her role in emergency management after finishing her Master’s in Public Health in Epidemiology with a specialization in Global Emergencies from San Diego State University and completing a fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.  She went on to build emergency management programs at Rideout Health (CA), Prisma Health (SC), and Children’s Mercy (MO).  During her time in emergency management, she has responded to dozens of major emergencies, most notably the Oroville Dam Collapse health system evacuations and COVID-19 management for 10-hospitals in SC and Children’s Mercy, Kansas City.  She is a Certified Emergency Manager for the International Association of Emergency Managers and currently serves as a Chair for the IAEM Healthcare Caucus.