Dr. Karen Gedney, born in New York to immigrant parents, attended Clark University on scholarships and a National Health Service Corps award that required four years of service in an underserved area. After completing her internal medicine residency at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, she became the first woman physician at the predominantly male Nevada State Prison, confronting both a male dominated administration and the emerging HIV crisis of the mid‑1980s. Despite an inmate assault, she remained there until 2016, becoming a stabilizing force in managing the epidemic and a strong advocate for humane, equitable care for incarcerated people. In retirement, she continues to push for meaningful prison reform.
Dr. Karen Gedney was interviewed by the Nevada Women’s History Project on September 17, 2025, in Reno, Nevada, through a grant from the Estelle J Kelsey Foundation.