Millennium Magazine_4th Ed

87 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine A s Dr. Karen E. Gable has experienced, sometimes life unexpectedly changes plans, but she did not let some roadblocks end her journey. She had an interest in health care and dental hygiene, and so Dr. Gable went to the Indiana University School of Dentistry and graduated with an AS in dental hygiene in 1969. She later developed rheumatoid arthritis, which mainly affected her hands, and she knew she could not continue in her profession. Rather than not working, Dr. Gable chose to go back to school for education so she could teach future health care providers. Dr. Gable returned to Indiana University and graduated with a BS in education in 1976. She received an MS in education in 1979 and then an EdD in 1985. Her professional career as an educator took place at Indiana University as well, and from 1976 to 1994, she went from clinical instructor of dental hygiene in the School of Dentistry to assistant professor/ program director of the Health Occupations Education Program in the School of Education. From 1994 to 2006, she was the associate professor/ program director of health sciences education in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and from 2002 to her retirement in 2006 as professor emeritus, she was the chair of the Department of Health Sciences. Dr. Gable was the recipient of the Distinguished Dental Hygiene Alumna Award from the School of Dentistry and numerous teaching and services awards. After her retirement, her former students initiated a scholarship in her name. Despite choosing a new career and her inspirational overcoming of obstacles, Dr. Gable calls this recognition the highlight of her career. The road to becoming an educator was not a simple one, and so she thanks mentor Dr. Mary Lee Seibert for her support. Outside of school, Dr. Gable has held multiple leadership positions in prominent health related organizations. She was the president of the Indiana Health Care Association, secretary of the Indiana Dental Hygienists’ Association and policy board member for the Association for Career and Technical Education. Alongside her passion for health care, Dr. Gable enjoys gardening and genealogy. EDUCATION KAREN E. GABLE, EDD HEALTH CARE EDUCATOR (RETIRED) Indiana University Indianapolis Avon, IN