Karen Cotton is a seasoned and board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in emergency and acute care medicine. At Gordon Memorial Hospital District, she provides skilled, compassionate care to patients in the hospital setting, drawing on more than two decades of frontline experience in emergency departments across Nebraska and South Dakota.
Karen earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine in 1999 and began her career in emergency services soon after. She has cared for patients in a variety of rural and urban hospital settings, including CHI Health, Pine Ridge Service Unit, Winnebago Hospital, and more. Her broad clinical background includes trauma care, advanced diagnostics, and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to ensure the best outcomes for every patient.
Karen holds active certifications in Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Basic Life Support (BLS). She also has specialized training in hyperbaric medicine.
Known for her calm demeanor, sharp clinical judgment, and patient-first approach, Karen is a trusted part of the emergency care team at Gordon Memorial, ensuring that patients receive high-quality, timely care when they need it most.