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| Meet Dr. Karen Sarpolis
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Karen Sarpolis, M.D., M.B.A. Medical Director and CEO of GenneX Healthcare Technologies Karen Sarpolis graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor's degree in psychology and varsity letters in Track and cross-country. After her undergraduate education, she chose one of the most unusual options in the combined degree program at the University of Illinois--the M.D./M.B.A. It was at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, one of the nation's leading computer centers (NCSA), that she first explored computer-aided learning and the Internet. She was a frequent user of its unparalleled collection of interactive instruction. She also has lectured for an undergraduate course where she was noted for her creative and effective use of audio-visuals and class participation activities. Sarpolis also took her doctoral courses at the Public Health School where she studied the psychology of patients, patient populations, and the motivations behind health behavior. During medical school, she worked as a research assistant at Searle Pharmaceuticals and did studies with the top medical schools in the country, including Harvard and Johns Hopkins. Some studies involved women's health, and others set national standards for pharmaceutical use. In addition to developing computer programs to manage and analyze research data, Dr. Sarpolis interned as a health care consultant. Dr. Sarpolis explored health software development through the company's technology division, as well. While training in surgery, she contributed several research papers and presentations in the areas of trauma and orthopedics, winning awards and recognition for her work. Afterwards, she formed her own health management firm. She staffed a center for women's health that carried out a holistic program integrating primary care, specialty care, prevention, education, and support for patients. Throughout her career, Dr. Sarpolis has been actively involved in organized medicine. She was secretary of the American Medical Women's Association's (A.M.W.A.) Chicago Chapter, and is now Illinois State director. She is a graduate of its Advanced Curriculum on Women's Health and on its Women's Health and Computer Committees. She is also a charter member of the Center for Women in Medicine and Health Care. She was national Treasurer for the American Association of Women Emergency Physicians and a member of the National Association of Professionals of Women's Health. She is also a founding member of the American College of Women's Health Physicians, which is the Board Certifying organization for Women's Health in the United States. She is also a member of Webgrrls. Dr. Sarpolis currently manages two public service pages on women's health on the Internet - Ask A Woman's Health Doctor and A Forum for Women's Health, which have won numerous awards. She is also Medical Director of GenneX Healthcare Technologies, a company dedicated to improving health care information through use of the Internet. |