Karla Eisen

Overview

Karla Eisen, MPH, MSW, is a Senior Research Associate with more than 30 years of experience in program evaluation, research, and technical assistance capacity building. Vested with substantial knowledge regarding underrepresented populations in biomedical research; child welfare systems; Indian Country child welfare and corrections; the military and veterans; alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse treatment; HIV/AIDS; and maternal health, Eisen is frequently enlisted for her experience in working with hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations. Her expertise also extends to using qualitative approaches for data collection and analysis as well as survey operations and she is practiced in multiple evaluation methods. These include instrument design; field data collection and analysis; case study and ethnographic methods; community-engaged research; and computer-assisted qualitative analysis, primarily with NVivo.

Eisen started her career as a clinical social worker and community organizer in family-centered health care and substance abuse treatment programs for pregnant and parenting women and children at risk for HIV/AIDS. Over her research and evaluation career, she has contributed articles to more than 20 peer-reviewed journals and presented on such topics as the emotional challenges for researchers interviewing military veterans or immersed in indigenous settings, as well as the use of GIS within tribal health and human services.

Education

• MPH, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health
• MSW, Hunter College School of Social Work
• BA, Human Development and Social Relations, Earlham College

Certifications and Licensures

• Licensed Master Social Worker, Virginia