Amy Karren is a pivotal figure in microbiology standards, and she holds a significant role at W.L. Gore & Associates in Flagstaff, Arizona. Her primary responsibility is to guarantee the safety and sterility of medical devices, a task she executes with unwavering dedication. Her journey into this specialized field, rooted in a childhood aspiration to become a doctor, led her to a B.S. in microbiology from Utah State University. Despite taking a different path, her passion for medicine continues to be her driving force.
Her professional journey started at Nelson Laboratories, an industrial lab specializing in medical device testing, where she became a pioneer in the Bacterial Endotoxins Test, also known as the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) Test. This work laid the foundation for her current research goal: keeping patients safe by maintaining the highest standards of sterilization for medical devices.
At W.L. Gore, Amy’s role transcends the confines of the lab. She is a global collaborator, working with professionals from various corners of the world to develop and implement universal standards for device safety. Her daily tasks involve drafting standards, scrutinizing processes, and working with international colleagues to ensure that the devices meet stringent microbiological criteria. Despite the challenges in gaining global acceptance for these standards, Amy finds fulfillment in the collaborative nature of her work.
Reflecting on a recent honor, Amy was nominated for the prestigious AAMI Standards Developer Award. The nomination itself was meaningful to her, as it recognized her dedication to creating, revising, and publishing standards—a process she finds incredibly rewarding. Amy shares the recognition with the AAMI community, a group she credits with much of her success.
Aside from her role at W.L. Gore, Amy is deeply committed to public education, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has faced challenges in conveying the concept that not all bacteria are harmful, striving to highlight the balance between beneficial and harmful microbes. Looking ahead, Amy’s goals include advancing global harmonization of sterilization standards, developing rapid methods, and even having a bacterium named after her.
Amy offers inspiring advice for those considering a career in microbiology: it’s a fulfilling path that allows you to help people in meaningful ways. She also sees great potential in citizen science, believing that the public can appreciate the vital role microbes play in our lives with greater understanding. During the pandemic, Amy observed that many people became more aware of microbiology, a shift she hopes will continue.
Amy’s work at W.L. Gore & Associates is not just about standards; it’s about safeguarding global health, inspiring future scientists, and continuously pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in microbiology.
Board member, Adam Marsh, and lead paleontologist at Petrified National Forest, works with a team of scientists to uncover an approximately 300 million-year-old fossil skeleton discovered at Canyonlands National Park in Utah (June 2024)