Karla attended the University of Washington, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences with emphasis in Communication Disorders. She also attended Seattle University, where she completed a Master of Science in Nursing specializing in Adult and Gerontology Primary Care. The underpinning of her career commenced when she began working as a Certified Nursing Assistant during her undergraduate years at the UW. Her affinity and passion for geriatric medicine continued to be nurtured while working as a Charge Nurse, RN in the post-acute and urgent care settings.
Karla is an avid learner and has a genuine passion for providing quality care for the frail and vulnerable populations. Her commitment in providing her patients with evidence-based practice care was the reason was the reason she returned to school and finished her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Her Doctoral research focused on the implementation of a caregiver education module that focuses on how to provide holistic/evidence-based care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease residing in adult family homes. Karla has a special commitment to treating patients with Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, cardiovascular disease, and palliative care.
Karla has dedicated her life’s work in serving the frail and elderly. She is a member of the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Her philosophy of care includes formulating a cohesive partnership with each patient to ensure that the care they receive meets their personal goals. Karla believes that patients have the right to be well-informed of their care, and feels that it is invaluable to have open/fluid conversations with patients and their family members. Compassion, encouragement, patience, and respect are the principles that guide Karla’s practice.
When Karla is not caring for her patients, she values spending time with her husband, Jason, daughters, parents, younger brother, and two papillons. She also likes to sing karaoke, try new ethnic cuisines, cooking, traveling, and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest.