Dr. Karen Serrano, MD, is a board-certified, actively practicing emergency medicine physician with extensive experience in both academic and clinical settings. She is a Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Hospital, a Level 1 trauma and tertiary care referral center in Chapel Hill, NC. As core faculty in the Department of Emergency Medicine, she plays a vital role in training residents and medical students, shaping the next generation of emergency physicians.

Dr. Serrano completed her emergency medicine residency at the University of Wisconsin, where she served as Chief Resident. Before joining UNC, she was an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and an attending physician at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Her experience spans high-acuity academic centers as well as community and rural hospitals, giving her a broad perspective on emergency care in diverse medical settings.

In addition to her clinical and teaching roles, Dr. Serrano is the Medical Director of UNC’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program, where she leads efforts to improve forensic medical care for survivors of sexual violence. Her professional interests include critical care, medical peer review, forensic medicine, expert witness consultation, and medical education. With her expertise in emergency medicine, trauma, and forensic evaluations, she is a sought-after consultant for legal cases involving medical malpractice, standard of care, and hospital protocols.

EDUCATION & LICENSES
Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA; BA, History 1995
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, MD 2005
University of Wisconsin Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Madison, WI, 2008-2011
Chief Resident; 2010-2011
Holds licenses to practice medicine in NC and WI