Dr. Kelly Powers, a respected surgeon and familiar television medical expert known for her work with Fox News and Fox Business, has died at the age of 45 following a long battle with an aggressive brain cancer.
Powers was diagnosed in 2020 with glioblastoma, one of the deadliest and fastest-growing forms of brain cancer. Despite undergoing extensive treatment and initially achieving remission, the disease ultimately returned.
According to her obituary published by Holmdel Funeral Home, she passed away in New Jersey. A visitation has been scheduled, and funeral services will take place Friday morning at Tower Hill Church in Red Bank. In recent years, she lived in Colts Neck with her husband and their young son.
Born on May 13, 1979, in Yonkers, New York, Dr. Powers built an impressive academic and professional career. She earned her undergraduate degree from Baruch College in New York City before attending the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. She later completed a master’s degree in science at the University of San Francisco and finished residency training programs at Georgetown University and Boston University.
Throughout her career, she became widely recognized as a medical contributor, appearing not only on Fox News and Fox Business but also on CNN, NBC, and CBS. She was known for explaining complex health topics in ways viewers could easily understand.
In a cruel twist of fate, Powers once experienced heart failure while reporting live on heart health during a Fox Business segment. She later described the surreal experience in an interview, saying it felt unbelievable to collapse while discussing warning signs women often overlook.
After recovering from heart complications, she faced an even more daunting diagnosis: glioblastoma. She underwent multiple brain surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. Though doctors were initially able to remove the tumor and she entered remission, the cancer returned several years later.
Despite the enormous physical and emotional challenges, Powers continued to embrace life. During her treatment journey, she became pregnant and gave birth to her son, Bennett. Friends and supporters often described her optimism and resilience. She once jokingly called herself “the luckiest unlucky girl,” noting with humor that chemotherapy temporarily left her and her baby with matching hairstyles.
When her cancer returned in 2024, friends and colleagues organized fundraising efforts to help cover the cost of experimental treatments not covered by insurance. The campaign raised close to $100,000 in support.
Her obituary describes her as compassionate, warm, and deeply devoted to her family. Above all her professional achievements, those closest to her say her greatest pride was her role as a wife and mother.
Dr. Kelly Powers is survived by her husband, Steven Doll, and their son, Bennett. Her legacy lives on through the many patients she treated, the viewers she educated, and the loved ones who remember her strength and kindness.
