Karen Fancher, PharmD, BCOP is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice in Oncology Acute Care at Duquesne University School of Pharmacy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  She is a graduate of Duquesne University, and completed her residency training at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute in Tampa.  Her current practice site is the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center at Passavant Hospital.  She serves on the faculty for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Board Certification in Oncology Pharmacy Review & Recertification course, as well as on various committees of both HOPA and the Advanced Topics for Oncology Pharmacy Professionals (ATOPP) Summit.   Karen’s research interests include the chronic leukemias and ethics in oncology.

Karen was diagnosed with Stage IIA breast cancer at age 39, after her first (and what turned out to be her only) routine screening mammogram.   She has had the somewhat uncommon experience of being simultaneously a patient with cancer and an oncology pharmacy specialist.  She can contribute a unique perspective to topics such as choosing your medical team, being your own advocate, and parenting during cancer.  She has written several national blog posts about her thoughts and feelings before, during, and after cancer treatment, and she looks forward to hearing the panelists’ points of view on these topics.

Karen and her husband Stewart are the proud parents of two pretty awesome teenagers.  When she’s not off on an adventure with her family, you can find Karen reading, cooking, cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and daydreaming about musical legend Sting.