Dr Kennedy graduated from the University of Sydney Medical School, after completing her final year of training at The Canberra Hospital. She spent her first two post-graduate years at Orange Base Hospital, before returning to Canberra for basic physician training and subsequently advanced training in Infectious Diseases, followed by Microbiology training. During this period she also completed a Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in Peru and a Masters of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at James Cook University, Townsville. Dr Kennedy is currently Director of Microbiology and staff specialist in Infectious Diseases at the Canberra Hospital. She also has an interest in infection control, chairing the Canberra Hospital and Health Services Healthcare Associated Infection Committee. Dr Kennedy has a longstanding involvement with the ANU Medicine, contributing predominately in the areas of microbiology and infectious disease.