Karen, known to the Premier family as ‘KJ’, is an exceptionally dedicated and skilled patient coordinator and member of our front office team. Karen brings a wealth of compassion and organizational skills to our group. She graduated from Clearwater High School and furthered her education at St. Petersburg College. Karen’s interest in health and the human body, combined with her natural talent for organization and clerical tasks, led her to this profession. Her compassion for the sick, elderly, and vulnerable is what drives her and makes her an invaluable asset to our team.

Karen believes that excellent patient care involves treating every patient as if they were a member of her own family, especially those who are fearful, elderly, or alone. She empathizes deeply, imagining how she would want her own parents or grandparents treated. Understanding that anger often masks fear, she goes the extra mile to make a helpful phone call or provide a comforting gesture like a blanket or a glass of water to help even the most overwhelmed patients feel welcomed, understood, and cared for.

Karen recognizes the immense challenges patients face when battling cancer. A cancer diagnosis is frightening, and treatments can be mentally, physically, and financially draining. The taxing nature of the treatment process on both patients and their families fuels Karen’s commitment to making their experience as positive as possible. Her goal is to offer a supportive and caring environment that alleviates burdens and to help patients every way she can to help lighten the load during their cancer care journey.

In her spare time, Karen enjoys reading, walking, biking, shopping, going to the movies, and dining out. She cherishes spending time with her husband, three daughters, their significant others, and her five grandsons. Karen also loves visiting Minnesota and staying at their condo on a lake, where she finds peace and relaxation.