Kelly Cousins Adams
Houston,TX
Summary
Social worker and program leader with 15+ years’ experience advancing health equity in oncology, HIV, and safety-net care. Recognized for combining clinical expertise with systems-level advocacy, achieving measurable policy and programmatic change to improve access for underserved populations. Skilled in program development, staff capacity-building, quality improvement, and cross-sector partnerships. Committed to translating frontline insight into sustainable, macro-level interventions.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Social Work Counselor
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
01.2019 - Current
- Provide advanced psychosocial assessment, counseling, and complex discharge planning for a 24-bed hospital medicine unit serving high-acuity oncology patients.
- Policy & Access Reform: Spearheaded a successful policy change within MD Anderson’s Patient Financial Assistance (PFA) program. Identified that the Financial Clearance Center was misclassifying limited-benefit “indemnity” plans as out-of-network insurance, disqualifying indigent patients from charity care. Persisted across multiple cases to expose the inequity — including a 22-year-old uninsured student with aggressive but treatable testicular cancer whose only option for care was PFA — ultimately securing a policy revision that restored eligibility for vulnerable patients.
- Cross-System Collaboration: Serve as departmental point person for complex financial clearance cases, regularly liaising with Texas Breast & Cervical Cancer Medicaid Waiver program staff and other state/federal programs to secure and maintain treatment access.
- Leadership & Staff Development: Chair of Senior SWC Committee (2024–present), representing 20+ senior social workers; initiated staff well-being projects including a social work–specific Schwartz Rounds (launching FY26) and a peer case consultation forum.
- Capacity-Building & Training: Designed and delivered departmental workshops on Houston’s The Way Home homeless housing program after its 2014 intake redesign. Identified a critical staff knowledge gap when joining MD Anderson in 2016 and developed training to update colleagues on new structures and referral processes, directly improving discharge planning for patients facing housing insecurity.
- Quality Improvement & Systems Redesign: Contributed frontline expertise to institutional projects on goals-of-care workflow, uncompensated care, hospital throughput, and length of stay, shaping policies to reduce avoidable delays and ensure goal-concordant care.
- Mentorship & Training: Supervised three MSW interns (2019, 2022, 2024), designing oncology-specific curricula covering financial barriers, discharge planning, and resilience practices; elements later adopted department-wide.
- Crisis Response: Served on COVID-19 inpatient frontline, supporting patients and staff under crisis conditions, informing ongoing institutional strategies around clinician moral distress and resilience.
Social Work Counselor
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Provided continuity-of-care planning and psychosocial support for oncology outpatients. Designed and facilitated workshops to enhance staff knowledge of Houston’s homeless and housing resources.
Social Worker II – Adolescent HIV Medical Services
Thomas Street Health Center, Harris Health System
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Managed a caseload of 50+ HIV-positive adolescents and young adults within a Ryan White–funded program, ensuring continuity of care in one of the largest safety-net HIV clinics in the U.S.
- SDOH Resource Linkage: Coordinated comprehensive support around social determinants of health — connecting patients to transportation, food assistance, housing programs, and financial aid — to reduce barriers to antiretroviral adherence and outpatient follow-up.
- Care Coordination: Partnered with interdisciplinary teams (medical providers, case managers, public health officials) to develop individualized care plans addressing both medical and psychosocial needs.
- Youth Engagement & Retention: Implemented strategies to improve outpatient engagement, reducing missed visits and promoting long-term retention in HIV care.
- Therapy & Adjustment Support: Provided individual and family counseling for newly diagnosed patients, focusing on coping, stigma reduction, and treatment acceptance.
- End-of-Life Counseling: Supported critically ill AIDS patients and their families in navigating hospice options and advance care planning.
- Systems & Policy Awareness: Gained expertise in HRSA waiver program structures and compliance requirements under the Ryan White Care Act, aligning practice with federal reporting and funding guidelines.
Linkage to Care Coordinator
Baylor College of Medicine, Dept. of Pediatrics – Retrovirology Section, Texas Children’s Hospital
01.2012 - 01.2013
- Coordinated care for HIV+ youth within a federally funded Ryan White program, improving engagement and retention in medical care.
- Linked patients and families to vital community resources (housing, transportation, food assistance), reducing systemic barriers to care.
- Analyzed program data for compliance with IRB and Adolescent Trials Network (ATN) standards; contributed to strategic insights on youth HIV engagement.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary providers to strengthen care pathways for adolescents navigating stigma and chronic illness.
Clinical Case Manager
St. Hope Foundation
01.2011 - 01.2012
- Conducted psychosocial assessments for HIV/AIDS patients, integrating mental health and medical needs.
- Facilitated referrals for specialized care (oncology, psychiatry, gynecology), ensuring continuity of treatment.
- Provided crisis counseling and readiness interventions for patients initiating antiretroviral therapy.
Social Worker
Avondale House
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Delivered psychosocial assessments and case management for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
- Collaborated on individualized treatment plans with interdisciplinary teams (medical, behavioral, educational).
- Connected families with community resources and legal supports, including guardianship planning.
Labor/Political Organizer
National Nurses United
01.2007 - 01.2009
- Organized registered nurses to advocate for workplace safety, staffing ratios, and patient care standards.
- Coordinated political campaigns around healthcare reform and labor rights at the state and national level.
Education
MSW with Honors - Policy Concentration
University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work
01.2007
BFA, Graphic Design, Cum Laude - undefined
University of Texas at Arlington
01.2003
Skills
- Program Development & Evaluation
- Policy Advocacy & Systems Change
- Health Equity & Financial Barriers to Care
- Staff Training, Mentorship & Curriculum Design
- Quality Improvement & Process Redesign
- Interdisciplinary & Cross-Sector Collaboration
- Clinical Expertise: Oncology, Palliative, HIV Care
Affiliations
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Texas; eligible in other states); license no 54219
- Oncology Social Worker–Certified (OSW-C)
- Member, Association of Oncology Social Workers
Certification
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners (54219)
Certified Oncology Social Worker (OSW-C) - Board of Oncology Social Work
Timeline
Senior Social Work Counselor
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
01.2019 - Current
Social Work Counselor
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
01.2016 - 01.2019
Social Worker II – Adolescent HIV Medical Services
Thomas Street Health Center, Harris Health System
01.2014 - 01.2016
Linkage to Care Coordinator
Baylor College of Medicine, Dept. of Pediatrics – Retrovirology Section, Texas Children’s Hospital
01.2012 - 01.2013
Clinical Case Manager
St. Hope Foundation
01.2011 - 01.2012
Social Worker
Avondale House
01.2009 - 01.2011
Labor/Political Organizer
National Nurses United
01.2007 - 01.2009
BFA, Graphic Design, Cum Laude - undefined
University of Texas at Arlington
MSW with Honors - Policy Concentration
University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work
Publications
- Mott, F. & Adams, K. (2018). Advance Care Planning and End of Life Issues in Head and Neck Cancer. Journal of Palliative Care, 33(4).
- AOSW 2018 - Podium Presentation: Stigmatized Disfigurement and Functional Impairment in Head & Neck Cancer
- Society for Social Work Leadership in Healthcare (October 2022) - Poster Presentation: The Role of Social Work in Effective Discharge Planning and Reducing Length of Stay
Publications and Conferences
Mott, F. and Adams, K. (2018). Advance Care Planning and End of Life Issues in Head and Neck Cancer. Journal of Palliative Care. 33(4)
AOSW 2018 - Podium Presentation: Stigmatized Disfigurement and Functional Impairment in Head & Neck Cancer
Society for Social Work Leadership in Healthcare (October 2022) - Poster Presentation: The Role of Social Work in Effective Discharge Planning and Reducing Length of Stay