Dr. Karen Kehl joined the National Institute of Nursing Research in 2014 as a Health Scientist Administrator. Her research focused on improving care in the last phase of life using implementation and pragmatic strategies. Her clinical expertise is in pain and symptom management and palliative care. She is especially interested in optimizing health in rural populations.
During her tenure at NINR, Dr. Kehl has been the Program Officer or Project Scientist for Fellowship (Fs), Career Development (Ks), Research Centers (Ps), Cooperative Agreements (Us), and Research Grants (Rs).
In addition to experience teaching at several Schools and Colleges of Nursing, Dr. Kehl has experience as a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Clinical Nurse Educator, and Hospice Clinical Director. She has worked in Skilled Nursing Facilities, small hospitals and academic medical centers, clinics, and both in home and inpatient hospice. Dr. Kehl has received research funding from the National Institutes of Health, Oncology Nursing Society, and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation. She has received multiple awards, including the Outstanding New Investigator award from the Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses Association (HPNA) and she served on the Board of Directors for the HPNA. Dr. Kehl is a Fellow in Palliative Care Nursing (FPCN). She holds BS and PhD degrees in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a MS degree in Nursing from Rush University.