Karen Hardy

Biography

Dr. Karen Hardy attended Oberlin College majoring in tropical botany and biochemistry. She worked in nutritional indicies in malnutrition and stress and then attended the Medical College of Ohio of Toledo.

Following graduation she completed pediatric residency at Children's Hospital and Research Center at Oakland (CHRCO). She was fascinated with pulmonary disease and elected to complete her fellowship in Philadelphia at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children.

In 1986 Dr. Hardy joined the faculty at UCSF where she initiated the flexible bronchoscopy program, directed the pedicatric pulmonary fellowship program and directed the clinical service.

In 1989 she was recruited to direct the pediatric pulmonary program at California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC). The program has grown steadily and in 1999 the group incorporated as BAPP.

Dr. Hardy was then recruited to direct the program at CHRCO. Today BAPP spans the San Francisco Bay Area serving these two hospitals and children throughout northern California and northern Nevada. Dr Hardy loves helping children and families with a wide variety of pulmonary and respiratory problems.

Research

BAPP is involved in a number of national multicenter clinical trials for cystic fibrosis patients. These trials are open to all eligible patients, even if not receiving their day to day care from the BAPP team. Five studies on various aspects of cystic fibrosis are ongoing. Various industry initiated studies of new drugs and or devices are also ongoing. BAPP has access to the PCRC pediatric clinical research center at CHRCO for complicated protocols and is always entertaining new studies to help determine how to treat our patients. If you are interested in learning more about these studies please contact Dr Hardy via this website under "contact us".

Dr. Hardy has explored the use of various airway clearance techniques to allow patients with cystic fibrosis to clear sticky secretions more efficiently and easily, even at young ages. Many types of clearance devices are available for patients to explore and learn which techniques might suit them best. Biofeedback can be a helpful asset when teaching patients how to breathe better and to clear secretions.

Teaching

Dr Hardy loves to teach and speak about lung disease and children. She leads a fellowship training program teaching pediatricians how to become pulmonary specialists for kids over a three year curriculum. Many enjoy hearing her lecture throughout the state and nation.

Dr Hardy is proud of the team that is BAPP. She looks forward to welcoming you too.