Education and Training: 
Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania
M.S. University of Pennsylvania
B.S.N. University of Pennsylvania
B.S. Northeastern University

Board Certifications:
Registered Nurse, Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing

Research Interests:
Evaluating critical care nurses’ knowledge and self-efficacy performing pain assessments and management with the goal of understanding the predictors and consequences of pain among vulnerable populations, such as those with opioid use disorder, the elderly and racial and ethnic minorities, in order to direct the development of pain therapies towards better, more individualized patient care. 

Funding:
Mental Health Outcomes Among US Healthcare Workers Exposed to COVID-19. Northeastern University COVID-19 Crisis Seed Funding, 2020.
Role: Principal Investigator

Evaluating Pain Assessment and Management in Critical Care Nurses. Hillman Scholars Program in Nursing Innovation Advancing Early Research Opportunities (AERO) Alumni Fellowship, 2020.
Role: Principal Investigator

Pain-Related Disparities Among Patients with Substance Use Disorder. Advancing Health Equity Pilot Project Awards Northeastern University Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice, 2020.
Role: Principal Investigator

Improving Critical Care Pain Management: Evaluating Nurses Knowledge, Attitudes and Self-Efficacy. Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing 2020.
Role: Principal Investigator

Postsurgical Outcomes Among Older Adults with Delirium. University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing Research Council.

ICU Delirium in Older Adults. Hillman Scholars Program: Advancing Early Research Opportunity (AERO) Fellowship

Publications:
MyNCBI Bibliography:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/kara.pavone.1/bibliography/public/

Areas of Expertise:
Acute and chronic pain; postoperative cognitive dysfunction; geriatric critical care and behavioral neuroscience

Honors & Awards: 
The Dorothy Mereness Award for exceptional ability in scholarly writing, University of Pennsylvania, 2019
Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, 2018
Hillman Scholar in Nursing Innovation, 2015

Professional and Community Service:
Member, American Association of Critical Care Nursing
Member, Society for Critical Care Medicine
Member, American Society for Pain Management Nursing 
Member, Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society 
Member, American Delirium Society
Member, Eastern Nursing Research Society