Karen Hauer

Karen Hauer, MD, PhD, is Professor of Medicine and Vice Dean for Education at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. She is a leading scholar in medical education with a focus on competency-based medical education, learner assessment, equity, coaching, and remediation. Her work bridges clinical practice in internal medicine with rigorous educational research.

• PhD in Medical Education, joint program, UCSF and University of Utrecht
• MD, University of California, San Francisco
• Residency and Chief Residency, Internal Medicine, UCSF
• Bachelor’s degree, Stanford University

Her research centers on improving the fairness and validity of medical student and resident assessment, particularly through entrustable professional activities (EPAs), coaching models, and addressing bias in evaluation. She has extensively studied the impact of pass/fail grading systems, Step 1 reform, and the role of feedback and supervision in clinical learning environments. Her recent work explores equity in awards, anti-oppressive curricula, and the implications of AI in health professions education. She mentors numerous fellows, residents, and students in medical education research.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong thematic focus on assessment innovation, educational equity, and the integration of competency-based frameworks across the medical education continuum. She frequently publishes in top-tier journals such as Academic Medicine, JAMA Network Open, and Medical Education, often in collaboration with national leaders in the field.

Dr. Hauer has not received any scientific awards listed in the provided text.

She actively mentors students and trainees in medical education research and has led major curriculum reforms at UCSF, including the implementation of longitudinal coaching and equitable assessment practices. While no specific grants are mentioned, her extensive publication record suggests sustained research funding and leadership in multi-institutional studies.

Dr. Hauer leads educational innovation at UCSF as Vice Dean for Education, overseeing curriculum and assessment strategy. Her work contributes to national dialogues on medical education reform, particularly through her scholarship on clinical competency committees, milestone assessment, and entrustment decision-making.