Karen grew up in San Francisco and moved to Benicia in 2017 in anticipation of retirement. Karen spent 46 years working in healthcare, the last twenty as the Director of Risk Management, Patient Relations, Privacy and Compliance at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco.

Since “retiring” in 2021, Karen continues to work as a member of a research study team with UCSF that is exploring systemic racism in older African-Americans at end of life in the healthcare environment.

Karen has a B.S. degree in Law Studies from Saint Mary’s College of California in Moraga. Karen also has an A.S. Degree in Fashion Design from Canada College in Redwood City, California and worked for designer Jessica McClintock/Gunne Sax as a Trim Buyer for 1 1/2 years.

Some of Karen’s official job responsibilities included conflict investigation and resolution with disgruntled patients and their families and responding both in person and in writing; representing the hospital in small claims court; conferring with State regulatory agencies (California Department of Public Health, CalOSHA); and accountability to internal Board of Directors.

Karen’s unofficial job responsibilities included Event Planning of the Annual Employee Awards Luncheon with 200-250 participants; Tour Guide to visitors to the facility; education with staff and physicians regarding new regulations; and provided notary services to patients.

Karen is an alum (Class of 2005) of Leadership San Francisco (LSF), an ‘organization dedicated to educating and developing community trustees who will make significant contributions to strengthen and transform our community.’ Following completion of her program, Karen continued to work with LSF as a healthcare advisor to future classes.

Upon moving to Benicia, Karen participated in the Benicia Citizen’s Police Academy as a way to better understand the inner workings of her community and to learn ways in which she may be a better steward of that community.

Karen’s hobbies include sewing, reading, musical theatre (as an attendee, NOT a participant!), walking/hiking (walked the Nike Half Marathon twice), swimming cooking/baking, travel, and she will challenge anyone to a game of Scrabble!