Kellie Armstrong, MSN RN FASMBS-IH CBN

Kellie has worked in all aspects of Acute Care Nursing. Her RN career started at RIH in 1998 where she held positions as Med/Surg, Critical Care and Peri-Operative staff RN and was the Bariatric Coordinator. Brown Univesty Health(BUH: formerly Lifespan) merged bariatric surgery programs in 2012, and Kellie took the role of Bariatric Surgery Service Line Manager. In 2007, Kellie was the first RN in RI to become a Certified Bariatric Nurse (CBN). She facilitates bariatric support groups, patient & staff education, develops policy and procedures for the care of the surgical and medical bariatric patients. She has presented at local and national venues. In 2010, she organized and directed the 1st Annual Bariatric Symposium at RIH and was the program planner/director for the 2012- 2014 Rhode Island Obesity Symposiums. Kellie was the race director for the Obesity Walk in State of RI. Aug 2021, Kellie co-authored an article in Bariatric Times related to preparing for a MBSAQIP virtual survey and author another article in 2023 related to provider as patient. She was the co-chair of and speaker at of the 2024 IH Obesity Summit. She has served on several IHS committees, including holding chair and co-chair positions. In 2022, Kellie was elected to the IHSEC. She is currently the IHS President Elect. Also, she is the IHSEC liaison to the Program Committee. May 2021, Kellie was awarded the Hurvitz Quality Award (TMH) for her work revamping the bariatric surgery program to match the needs of the hospital and the patients during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The funds awarded are being used to support staff RNs, nursing supervisors and quality RNs that work with the bariatric patients to take the CBN prep course and the CBN exam offered by the ASMBS. In June 2022, Kellie was awards the 2022 Distinguished CBN award and in 2024 Kellie was a part of the first cohort of FASMBS-IH and IH Leadership Acedamy. Kellie is also a WLS patient, having undergone a gastric bypass in 2005.