Karen has demonstrated exemplary leadership and management skills in a variety of roles across the acute care, long term care, primary care and home care sector.

Joining Hamilton Health Sciences in June 2008, Karen has provided leadership to the Specialty Adult Services portfolio, the development of the West End Urgent Care Centre and the visioning process for the future development of Adult Ambulatory Services at the MUMC site as well as leadership in the revising the model of care delivery for the Womens’ Reproductive Health and Newborn Care Program. Karen’s collaborative leadership style was a key success factor as she led the successful opening, with a very short timeline (48 hours) of the West End H1N1 screening centre in October 2009.

Karen is the Site Administrator at the McMaster University Medical Centre - Hamilton Health Sciences and the Clinical Director for Womens’ Reproductive Health and Newborn Care, Adult Ambulatory Services. In May 2011 Karen joined the leadership team of the McMaster Children’s Hospital as well, with responsibility for 3 inpatient pediatric medicine and surgical units and the pediatric medical/surgical Day Care Unit ...

As a Director, Clinical Programs, at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Karen lead a variety of areas during her career there including: the regional Kidney/Urinary Program, the regional Chest program, the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health Clinic, Respiratory Therapy Department, the regional Head and Neck Program; Surgical Step Down Unit; Emergency Department and Urgent Care as well as Perioperative Services including the Stoney Creek Site - Surgery Centre. A dynamic and effective leader, Karen substantially contributed to the successful execution of many initiatives to improve the quality of care and move these programs towards recognition as centres of excellence.

Karen’s clinical and managerial experience, combined with expertise in strategic planning has earned her a reputation province wide resulting in requests for consultation, project management, and presentations. Karen’s commitment to her profession, to academics and to her community is amply demonstrated through participation in numerous professional and ministerial committees; advisory groups; scholarly activities and community volunteerism.

Karen also is the owner of a private consulting firm - imPRESS! Consulting. Karen has provided consultation services to a number of health care systems in Southern Ontario. A recurring theme in her private work is the engagement of multiple stakeholders across care continuums combined with program and policy review in order to produce rich, comprehensive and actionable reports for her clients.

Karen graduated from the Mohawk College Diploma Nursing Program- Dean’s Honours List and was a College Bronze Medal Winner. In 2001 Karen was awarded a Mohawk College Alumnae of Distinction Award. Karen has also completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Nursing) as well as a Master of Health Services Management.

Karen holds a cross appointment with the McMaster University - Faculty of Health Sciences - School of Nursing.