Karan Dawson
Emeritus Clinical Associate Professor
Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Faculty, Plein Center in Geriatrics Faculty, School Faculty
Telephone: (206) 543-1030
Email: kdawson@uw.edu
Office Location: Health Sciences H375 P2 Box 357630 1959 NE Pacific Street Seattle, WA 98195/7630
Education
- PhD in Communication, University of Washington
- Master of Science in Pharmacy (Minor in Business Administration), University of Washington
- Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, University of Washington
Research Interests
- Education and professional development
- Human behavior and communication
- Geriatrics
Courses Taught
- Pharm 584, 585, 586: Pharmacy Practice I, II and III
- Pharm 532, PharmP 533: IPPE Hospital II and III
Biography
Following an internship at Valley Medical Center, Dr. Dawson worked as a clinical pharmacist at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Seattle, where she also completed a residency. She returned to the UW for an MS in Pharmacy to explore teaching and research, which led to becoming the director of continuing pharmacy education.
Dr. Dawson continued to pursue her interests in chronic diseases and substance abuse, areas of specialty developed during work at the VA. She was course master for the clinical therapeutics courses in both the School of Pharmacy and UW School of Nursing; managed the UW School of Pharmacy institutional clerkship program; and developed a number of electives including a first in tobacco cessation for teens run by pharmacy students and a self-care course for non-majors, which was aired on the UW educational television channel and included a live call-in show.
Given the changing needs of pharmacists to provide patient-centered care, she returned to the UW for a PhD in speech communication. She currently teaches in three pharmacy practice courses – a course for non-majors about medications and health; and a course in mind/body/medicine for graduate students in the health sciences.
She is one of three consulting pharmacists in an innovative, non-dispensing practice that serves retirement communities. She has won three awards for innovative teaching, served in a series of elective offices for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, and continues to precept pharmacy clerkship students. Her current research interests are in the areas of teaching effectiveness, the provision of non-dispensing pharmacy services, and application of mind/body/spirit/medicine techniques to enhance professional self-care and patient well-being.