A summary of qualifications and background
Dr. Karen Hennessey is a board-certified infectious disease physician with over 25 years of clinical, academic, and leadership experience. She has served as Division Chief of Infectious Disease at Lincoln Hospital (NYC Health + Hospitals) since 1999, where she provides patient care, oversees infection control, directs quality improvement programs, and teaches fellows and residents. Her expertise in HIV care, infection control, sepsis, and hospital-acquired infections informs both her litigation support for defense counsel and her consulting services for healthcare organizations.
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Education & Training
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine – Detroit, Michigan
Internship: Indiana University School of Medicine
Residency: NYU School of Medicine – Internal Medicine
Fellowship: NYU School of Medicine – Infectious Disease
Board Certification & Licensure
Board Certified in Internal Medicine
Board Certified in Infectious Disease
Licensed Physician – State of New York
Clinical & Leadership Roles
Division Chief, Infectious Disease – Lincoln Hospital / NYC Health + Hospitals (1999–Present)
Primary Care Physician for HIV-positive population
Inpatient consultant for infectious disease cases
Quality Improvement Coordinator
Teaching and supervision of fellows and residents
Past Leadership & Research Roles
Chair, Infection Control Committee
Site Investigator, Harlem AIDS Treatment Group – NIH/NIAID-funded TBTC (Tuberculosis Trials Consortium)
Principal Investigator, Pilot study for Directly Observed HIV Therapy – NYC AIDS Institute
Principal Investigator, Compassionate release programs for antiviral agents (Raltegravir, Tecovirimat – BRANY IRB oversight)
Academic & Teaching Appointments
Assistant Professor of Medicine – Weill Cornell University School of Medicine
Selected Publications
Representative peer-reviewed publications reflecting expertise in infectious disease, infection control, and hospital safety:
“A case of apparent ART-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in Strongyloides infection.” Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 2023
“Bloodstream infections in hospitalized patients before and during the COVID-19 surge.” Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 2022
“HIV diagnosis and the Clinical Course of COVID-19 in New York City hospitals.” Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2021
“Hospital response to the Bronx Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak.” American Journal of Public Health, 2020
“Systematic review on vancomycin dosage for Clostridioides difficile infection.” Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2019
“Successful prevention of a multidrug-resistant hospital outbreak by pre-emptive infection control.” Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 2015
“Treatment outcomes in hospitalized patients with Clostridium difficile infection: impact of guideline adherence.” Journal of Hospital Medicine, 2014
“Directly observed therapy to improve adherence in HIV-infected patients: pilot program outcomes.” AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 2012
“Nosocomial transmission and prevention of influenza and other respiratory infections in hospital settings.” Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 2011
“Emerging resistance in Clostridium difficile: clinical challenges and infection control implications.” Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 2010
“Adherence to antiretroviral therapy in an urban HIV clinic: strategies and barriers.” Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (JAIDS), 2008
“Sepsis protocol compliance and patient outcomes in a community hospital setting.” Journal of Critical Care, 2007
A complete bibliography is available in the full CV.
Professional Associations
Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA)
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)
American College of Physicians (ACP)
Full CV
Attorneys and hospital administrators may request Dr. Hennessey’s complete CV for a detailed list of publications, research, and professional activities.
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