Very used to moving with her family, she received her college education in three places. She started at TCU, transferring to North Texas State, and finishing at TWU.

She started her nursing career in a heart lung step down unit because they didn’t hire new graduates in the OR. She broke her collar bone and had to wait a whole year before applying for a spot in the OR. She has worked in multiple positions in several facilities and is currently an educator for the O.R. at BUMC.

Her most rewarding nursing challenge was being one of four nurses selected, on the spur of the moment, to assist in the first liver transplant procedure at Baylor. “This was with no advanced training,” Karen commented, “But I like challenges like that!”

Karen has traveled all over the world and loves to see different cultures in action. Two of her favorite trips were a visit to Japan and an African photo safari.

Her dream job would be working in the mission field in another country. She currently is investigating teaching nursing concepts in Indonesia following the tsunami.