Next Phase

Hello!  I'm Dr. Karen Larson, and I'm excited to be a part of the Harper Health team!  I am a Board-Certified Family Physician and will be serving Naples, Florida and the surrounding communities at our new Harper Health location in North Naples. 

I started my journey in medicine at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, where I obtained my Doctor of Medicine degree.  I chose to go into Family Practice because all my med school rotations were interesting, challenging, and rewarding and I couldn’t narrow my scope of practice down to just one area!  I completed my residency in Family Practice at Hermann-Memorial Southwest Family Practice Residency Program in Houston, where I served as Chief Resident. 

With a couple of decades of experience since then, I have worn many hats in multiple settings in Texas, Colorado, and now Florida, my new forever home.  This broad array of settings has given me a wealth of experience and knowledge treating patients of all ages, races, and walks of life.  My most challenging role was owning and managing my own family practice in the Denver, Colorado area for 13 years.  I have served as a newbie staff physician, head honcho of my own practice, and center medical director at multiple locations.  I have worked for large corporations, small businesses, urgent care centers, and occupational medicine clinics.  I have delivered babies, diagnosed cancers, treated some extremely ill patients, talked to those in psychologic stress, and helped others continue on a path of excellent health.  And no matter what hat I was wearing or what role I was in, I have always strived to keep the patient at the center of it all.   

In all the patient care roles I have served, there was one pervasive and invasive theme that was underlying– see more patients and see them faster.  I have never been swayed to think that is the best model for caring for patients.  People are complex individuals that need time to express their health needs and deserve to be treated with honesty and dignity.  Doing that in 5-7 minutes is just not possible and does not foster the deep level of trust that patients need with their doctor.  I want to have open, real conversations with my patients. This takes time.   

The solution to the abbreviated, incomplete medical visit is concierge medicine.  As a doctor at Harper Health, I get to have meaningful relationships with my patients and talk about what’s important to them.  Because my patient panel size is limited, I am not rushed and can spend the time needed with each patient I see.  I am a strong believer in patient empowerment, education, and accountability.  My goal is to form a medical partnership with my patients, providing high end, honest, excellent health care in a setting that makes room for discussion and understanding of motivations and hurdles.  As a long time member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, I am committed to staying current with the latest advancements in medicine to provide the best possible care to my patients.  For a Family Practice physician, and my internal medicine colleagues here at Harper Health, prevention and early detection of health issues is the goal. I appreciate that Harper Health’s mission aligns well with mine. (Though I won’t be delivering babies in my new role: adolescents and adults only!) 

When I am not working, you will find me chasing manatees, roaming the beach, and enjoying all that Florida has to offer.  I love gardening and being outside in general.  I have lots of green leafy babies at home and I do talk to them.  I play the harp and I’m still learning.  I love painting and dressing up for Halloween.  I have a regular journaling and meditation practice that keeps me sane.  I practice yoga and dance in my living room every chance I get.  I am a world traveler and have been to some amazing places.  The most life changing trip was to India and Nepal, where I spent six weeks in 2015.  That trip changed my philosophy on life and led to a dramatic shift in how I view my life’s purpose.  I am here on this planet to be a teacher of self care, self love, and self healing.  If this is something that calls to you I’m happy to work with you in these areas, in addition to the traditional doctor role. 

I look forward to meeting you and working together to achieve your health goals here at Harper Health Naples.  

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about Harper Health Naples, or setting up time to meet me to see if it’s a good fit, reach out to us at info@harper-health.com or call 630-446-6130.  

In good health, 

Dr. Karen