General Info

After watching her 8 year old cousin be treated for cancer, Karen knew she wanted to become a nurse. After working in a hospital as a maternal-child health staff nurse, as well as a home health care nurse, and teaching nursing at a local community college for ten years, she wanted to make a more of a direct impact in patient’s lives. This prompted her to return to earn her master’s degree and become a family nurse practitioner.Karen says faith and family have impacted her most in her life. She feels privileged to come to work and care for God's people. When it comes to her close-knit family, they have been tested many times with medical crises and loss. Through it all, they have remained close and maintained a very strong faith. These valuable life experiences help Karen minister to patients and families every day because she knows first-hand what it feels like to be the patient rather than the provider.In her free time, Karen particularly enjoys being with her granddaughter, who she provides daycare for on her days off with her husband, who is retired. She also values spending time with her immediate and extended family, traveling (including abroad), reading and golfing.Throughout my career as a nurse practitioner, I have looked at my job as a ministry. It is very rewarding to meet people where they are at, and to partner with them to achieve their health care goals. Family medicine often allows you to care for many generations of the same family. When this happens, I am so honored to become part of their family as I care for them throughout the years.