Title(s): Clinical Assistant Professor, Director, MHA Program
Department: Health Management and Policy
Office: N216 CPHB
Phone: (319) 335-2669

Karen Hammar, MHA, MOT, OTR/L, FACHE, is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Master of Health Administration (MHA) program in the Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. She is also a core faculty member in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program. Karen earned her Master of Health Administration from the University of Iowa and her Master of Occupational Therapy from Saint Ambrose University.

Karen is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and serves as Chapter Committee Co-Chair on the ACHE of Iowa Board, as well as on the Board of Directors at Goodwill of the Heartland. Prior to her full-time academic appointment, she served as an adjunct faculty member for several years and held progressive leadership roles within University of Iowa Health Care.

Most notably, Karen served as Director of the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD), where she oversaw core programs including the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), the Iowa LEND program, and CDD Clinical Services. She also served as administrator for the Hawkeye Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (Hawk-IDDRC).

With over a decade of experience as an Occupational Therapist and administrator, Karen brings a deep commitment to person-centered care, interdisciplinary practice, and systems integration across the continuum. Her clinical expertise informs her leadership, enabling her to drive operational strategies that prioritize quality, access, and health equity. She is passionate about improving outcomes for individuals with disabilities and brings a servant and transformational leadership approach focused on developing high-performing teams and advancing sustainable, systems-level change.