Karen Alexander, Ph.D. - Friends Research Institute

Karen Alexander, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist

Ph.D., Nursing, Duquesne University
M.S.N, Community Systems Administration, Thomas Jefferson University
kalexander@friendsresearch.org
Phone: 410-837-3977 ext. 233
Fax: 410-752-4218

Brief Biography

Dr. Alexander is a nurse scientist with expertise in improving healthcare delivery to vulnerable populations. She has over 19 years of clinical experience as a registered nurse working in acute, outpatient and community settings, predominately among women who use drugs. Her program of research aims to improve healthcare delivery with personalized interventions responsive to identified needs. She has an extensive background in qualitative research among healthcare providers and people who use drugs to assess stigma, bias, and opportunities for improving healthcare access and care experiences. She currently leads three NIH-funded clinical trials; one centered on patient navigation and two centered on digital healthcare innovations.

Selected Publications

Alexander K., & Scialanca, M. (2025). The Development of a Patient-Centered Digital Health Care Technology for Young Adults in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment: Qualitative Study. JMIR formative research, 9, e67401. https://doi.org/10.2196/67401

Alexander K., Sharma A., Fletcher JB., Smith, Z., Huddleston, T., Gryczynski, J., & Stitzer, M. (2025). Digitally delivered contingency management during methadone treatment for people with co-occurring cocaine and opioid use: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16, 1576277. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1576277

Durney, P., Kahoud, J. L., Warrick-Stone, T., Montesi, M., Carter, M., Butt, S., Mencia, A. M., Omoregie, L., Shah, M., Bloomfield, M., Tomasko, N., Jaffe, R., Herens, A., Korn, W. R., Alexander K., Stickle, D., Goodstein, D., Weinstein, L. C., & London, K. S. (2025). Biochemical Identification and Clinical Description of Medetomidine Exposure in People Who Use Fentanyl in Philadelphia, PA. International journal of molecular sciences, 26, (14), 6715. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26146715

Durney, P., Paquin, E., Fitzpatrick, G., Lockstein, D., Warrick-Stone, T., Montesi, M., Patel-Francis, S. H., Rashid, J., Vaughan-Ogunlusi, O., Goodsell, K., Kahoud, J. L., Martin, C., Chism, K., Goebel, P., Alexander K., Goodstein, D., & London, K. S. (2025). Profound Opioid and Medetomidine Withdrawal: A Case Series and Narrative Review of Available Literature. Psychoactives, 4(4), 37. https://doi.org/10.3390/psychoactives4040037

London, K. S., Hurwitz, B., Davis, J., Warrick-Stone, T., Cherney, A., Randolph, F., Bradley-O’Toole, B., Deis, K., & Alexander K. (2025). “Are you worried about going into withdrawal today?” Retrospective analysis of single-question, patient-centered screen for substance use and care linkage. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 96, 69-74. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2025.06.017

London, K., Durney, P., Warrick-Stone, T., Alexander K., Kahoud, J. (2025). Decreased Effectiveness of a Novel Opioid Withdrawal Protocol Following the Emergence of Medetomidine as a Fentanyl Adulterant. BioMed, 5, (2), 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomed5020013

Rising, K. L., Kemp, M., Gerolamo, A., Diamond, N., Ostroff, P., Malone, S., Alexander K., & Powell, R. (2025). Beyond the Check Box: Development of the Nutrition Health Related Social Need Assessment and Referral Tool (N-HART). Journal of general internal medicine,, 10.1007/s11606-025-10048-0. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-025-10048-0

Scialanca, M., Alexander K., & Tofighi, B. (2025). Digital Psychosocial Interventions Tailored for People in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment: Scoping Review. Journal of medical Internet research, 27, e69538. https://doi.org/10.2196/69538

Alexander K., Roberts, S.C.M, Terplan, M. (2024). We’re checking a box and, you know, covering our own”: health professionals’ descriptions of hospital-policy making regarding child welfare reporting related to birthing people’s drug use. Substance Use & Addiction Journal, doi: 10.1177/29767342241273416. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39323361.

Roberts S.C.M., Taylor K.J., Alexander K., Goodman D., Martinez N., Terplan M. (2024). Training health professionals to reduce overreporting of birthing people who use drugs to child welfare. Addiction Science and Clinical Practice., 19(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s13722-024-00466-6. PMID: 38671544; PMCID: PMC110467794.

Alexander K. and Terplan, M. (2023). Contingency Management : Promises, Gaps, and Philosophical Limitations. The American Journal of Accountable Care (AJAC),11(2):28-29. https://doi.org/10.37765/ajac.2023.89382

Alexander K., Nordeck, C., Rosecrans, A., Harris, R., Collins, A., Gryczynski, J. (2023). Perspectives of people experiencing homelessness on the effect of a non-congregate, integrated care shelter on health: a qualitative study. Public Health Nursing. 00, 1– 10. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.13197

Alexander K., Sanjuan, P., Terplan, M. (2023). How has ecological momentary assessment been used with people in medication-based treatment for opioid use disorder? Current Addiction Reports. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-023-00492-5

Carswell, S.B., Alexander K., Gryczynski, J., Knowlton, A.R., Abatemarco, D.J., Horodyski, A., Mitchell, M.M. (2023). Mindfulness-Base Stress Reduction Application for African American Caregivers Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41347-023-00366-7

Darlington, C., Clark, R., Jacoby, S., Terplan M., Alexander K., Compton, P. (2023). Outcomes and Experiences After Child Custody Loss Among Mothers Who Use Drugs: A Mixed Studies Systematic Review. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 251,110944.

Alexander K., & Clary-Muronda, V. (2022). A scoping review of interventions seeking to improve aspects of patient-provider relationships involving Black pregnant and post-partum people. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 00, 1– 11. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15537

Darlington, C., Teitelman, A., Compton, P., Alexander K. (2022). Depression and anxiety interventions among pregnant and parenting women with substance use disorders: A systematic review. Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports,

Alexander K (Jan. 26,2021). Shared Grief Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA Network) 325(4):349-350. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.25000.

Alexander K, Hassen N, Maziarz M, Gerolamo A, Rising K (2021). The Impact of COVID-19 on Service Delivery and Outcomes in Individuals Who Use Opioids: A Scoping Review Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention and Policy, 16(1), 1-10

Alexander K, Short V, Gannon M, Goyal N, Naegle M, Abatemarco D (2020). Identified gaps and opportunities in perinatal healthcare delivery for women in treatment for opioid use disorder. Substance Abuse Journal, 1-7. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2020.1803178.

Alexander K, Smith J, Clary-Muronda V, Ward J (2020). The relationship between past experience, empathy and attitudes towards poverty. Journal of Nursing Education., 59(3), 158-162

Alexander K, Kronk R, Sekula K, Short V, Abatemarco D (2019). Implementation of a mindfulness intervention with women in treatment for opioid use disorder. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 40(8), 690-696.,

Short V, Cambareri K, Gannon M, Alexander K, Abatemarco D (2019). A pilot study to assess breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of individuals who work in perinatal opioid use disorder treatment settings. Breastfeeding Medicine, 14(5):307-312

Alexander K (2018). Integrative review of the relationship between mindfulness-based parenting interventions and depression symptoms in parents. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecology and Neonatal Nursing, 41(2), 184-190

Alexander K (2017). A call to compassionate care Journal of Addictions Nursing, 28(4):220-223. DOI: 10.1097/JAN.0000000000000198

Alexander K (2013). Social determinants of methadone in pregnancy: Violence, social capital, and mental health. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 34(10), 747-751