Karen holds registrations to practice acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and physiotherapy in both Australia and the USA. Her impressive qualifications include a Ph.D. in Research Science, a B. App. Sc. in Physiotherapy, a Dip. App. Sc. in Acupuncture, and an Ad. Dip. in Chinese Herbal Medicine.
With three decades of experience in Chinese medicine, Karen has made significant contributions to the field. Her healthcare journey began in 1988, and she has practiced in various countries, including Australia, the UK, and the USA, where she spent 15 years. During her time in the USA, Karen immersed herself in the study of Shen-Hammer Pulse Diagnosis (formerly called Contemporary Chinese Pulse Diagnosis) under the guidance of master practitioner Dr. Leon Hammer, MD. She also received training in Chinese herbal medicine from Andrew Gamble and participated in workshops led by Lonny Jarret and Jeffrey Yuen. Additionally, she underwent extensive training in osteopathic manual medicine techniques, which originated in the USA and are not commonly practiced in Australia.
Karen’s research endeavours have encompassed diverse areas. Early in her career, she conducted a 12-month clinical trial on Traditional Chinese Medicine and People Living with HIV/AIDS, A Quality of Life Study, focusing on improving their quality of life. More recently, she completed her doctoral studies, researching the reliability raters utilising Shen-Hammer Pulse Diagnosis Investigating the reliability of Contemporary Chinese Pulse Diagnosis (CCPD) as a diagnostic tool in Oriental medicine. This ground-breaking research shed light on the effectiveness of practitioners in applying this method in the clinical setting.
In collaboration with her peers, Karen co-authored the book “Handbook of Contemporary Chinese Pulse Diagnosis." She has also presented her work at conferences held in China, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand and has published articles in esteemed peer-reviewed journals. Her past lectures at respected institutions like the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, New York City; the University of Technology, Sydney; and The University of Western Sydney; are further testament to her academic excellence and contribution to Chinese medicine. Notably, Karen is one of only 15 instructors worldwide certified by Dr Hammer to teach Shen-Hammer Pulse Diagnosis, emphasising her expertise in the field of pulse diagnosis.
As the clinical director of a prominent clinic in New York City for 10 years, Karen championed an integrative approach to healthcare, blending eastern and western treatment paradigms. She collaborated closely with patients’ physicians, integrating acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and manual therapy with Western medical interventions. This holistic approach yielded enhanced treatment outcomes, improved quality of life, and, in some cases, allowed for a reduction in medication dosages. Karen collaborated with physicians across various specialties, including orthopaedics, sports medicine, psychiatry, respiratory care, fertility, immunology, gastroenterology, and cardiology.
Karen firmly believes in the power of combining Western and Oriental medicine to optimise healthcare outcomes. Currently, she continues her dedication to teaching, writing, and clinical practice in Sydney, where she remains at the forefront of advancing the field of holistic healthcare.