KAREN ELIAS

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Johns Hopkins Medicine and District KARE

Dr. Karen Elias serves as a nurse practitioner with Johns Hopkins Medicine and is the founder of District KARE, a telehealth-aesthetic wellness practice focused on preventive care, chronic disease management and lifestyle medicine. Her clinical expertise encompasses acute care, cardiac health and preventative care.

Elias established District KARE to address gaps in culturally competent healthcare for high-achieving people of color, particularly those who prioritize caring for others over themselves. She merges clinical expertise with cultural understanding and entrepreneurial strategies to help clients reclaim their health through accessible telehealth care, wellness education and leadership mentorship. “My mission is simple but radical: to make wellness feel personal, powerful and possible, especially for those who are the backbone of their homes, communities and legacies,” Elias said.

Through her one-on-one mentorship programs, Elias works to close the Latina wage gap by helping Latina professionals with salary negotiation, career pivots and self-advocacy. One mentee, a first-generation college graduate, secured a $30,000 salary increase and transitioned to a leadership role in her healthcare organization following their sessions.

Elias currently serves as co-director for Women of ALPFA Baltimore and board member for ALPFA Baltimore, positions she began in January 2025. She has co-chaired the Hopkins Familia committee since 2022. Through her clinical work and entrepreneurship, she has advanced access to culturally competent care across Maryland, partnering with local providers and women-owned businesses while mentoring emerging Latina professionals in health care and entrepreneurship.

“As a speaker and advocate, I use storytelling and leadership coaching to help others thrive; particularly those balancing careers, trauma recovery, and community leadership,” Elias said. “I continue to innovate care delivery through concierge wellness, scalable digital health tools and high-impact mentoring programs.”

Honoree profiles were written using an artificial intelligence program and supported by honoree nominations, applications and letters of recommendation. Each profile was reviewed, fact-checked and edited for accuracy by The Daily Record’s editorial staff.

This is an honoree profile from The Daily Record's Hispanic Leadership Awards for 2025. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree.