Karen O’Malley, PhD
karen.ombuds@gmail.com
Karen L. O’Malley joined the faculty at Washington University School of Medicine in 1984 in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology. As Professor of Neurobiology, her primary research interests focus on molecular mechanisms underlying the specification, regulation, and neurodegeneration of dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems. She has taught classes in molecular neurobiology, histology and neuroscience. She has also served as Chair of the Neuroscience Admissions Committee and Director of the Program in Neuroscience. At the University-wide level, she has served on the Faculty Senate Council, the Executive Committee of the Faculty Council (ECFC), as the Preclinical representative to the Executive Faculty, as the Preclinical representative to the Research Affairs Committee, and as Vice-chair and Chair of the ECFC. She is a long-term member of the Academic Women’s Network serving on the board for over a decade and as President 2001-2002. She is a graduate of the first Academic Medical Leadership Program for Physicians and Scientists offered by the School of Medicine in partnership with the Olin School of Business and BJC HealthCare. She has received many University-wide Mentoring awards and in 2013 the School of Medicine Alumni Distinguished Service Award. Since 2013, she has completed courses in conflict resolution, mediation, disruptive conduct as well as becoming an active member of the International Ombudsman Association. In addition she regularly shadows a local professional mediator.