Karen W. Linkins, Ph.D.

Karen W. Linkins, Ph.D. is Co-Founder and Principal of Desert Vista Consulting, based in Scottsdale, Arizona.  She specializes in systems transformation in the health, behavioral health, and human services fields through strategic planning, organizational development, data infrastructure development, measurement, evaluation, and quality improvement.  Dr. Linkins is currently directing the Integrated Behavioral Health Project, funded by the State of California, which aims to spread integrated health care across the state and nationally through capacity building, training, and technical assistance.  Her approach is to advance integrated care by promoting cross-sector accountability among policy makers, funders, and providers to improve health outcomes through delivery system redesign, payment reform, care coordination, and data sharing. Dr. Linkins works to develop strong strategic partnerships across the safety net, which enables community partners to overcome barriers to care and achieve better clinical and economic outcomes.  Dr. Linkins earned her PhD in Medical Sociology at the University of California, San Francisco and an undergraduate degree from Smith College.