Karen Baer
Karen Baer, BS, MS, MHA, CTBS, joined the staff at The Hanna Perkins Center for Child Development as Chief Executive Officer in June 2012. Baer is a graduate of the Ohio State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in biology science, and a Master of Science degree in nutrition. She also attended Saint Joseph’s College, where she earned a master’s degree in health services administration.
Baer’s career began in Massillon, Ohio, as a marketing and sales representative for Mid-America Tissue Center (MATC), a non-profit tissue bank that provided bone and tendon grafts to patients in need of orthopedic, reconstructive and trauma surgeries.
She remained at MATC for 12 years, where she was promoted to Director of Tissue Services and then President. During her tenure at MATC, Baer increased market share, obtained industry certification, facilitated the construction of a new facility, acquired a competitor tissue bank and worked closely with the administration at Lifebanc to form a merger of MATC and Lifebanc.
Lifebanc, which Baer joined in 2001, is a non-profit federally designated organ and tissue procurement organization. During her tenure at Lifebanc, Baer served as Director of Tissue Services and Chief Clinical Officer. She created three new departments, obtained industry certification, and led the clinical departments to record-setting years in the number of organs transplanted, tissue grafts recovered and families served. Baer and her team were instrumental in Lifebanc receiving the Medal of Honor for organ donation and transplantation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
In addition to her role at Hanna Perkins, Baer also manages a private congregate home for women with developmental disabilities in Silver Lake, Ohio, and is owner of Karen Baer Consulting LLC, a consulting firm that focuses on clinical best practices in the area of transplantation and healthcare.
She is an Ohio native and lives in Stow with her husband Butch. They have two adult children residing in Atlanta and Chicago.
She has served on a number of professional and community organizations, including:
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- Member of ARC in Summit County – a community-based advocate organization for individuals with developmental disabilities
- United Way Council of Agency Executives
- Education Committee, John Carroll University
- American Association of Tissue Banks Accreditation Committee
- American Association of Tissue Banks promotions Committee
- Governor’s appointment to the Second Chance Trust Fund
- Chair, Ohio Transplant Recovery Council
- Chair, Doctor’s Hospital Service League Fund Committee
- Chair, Canton YMCA Corporate Cup Committee
- Council President, Trinity Lutheran Church
- Member, Association for Retarded Citizens
- Member, The Ohio State University Alumni Association
- Member, Stow Booster Club