The University of Toledo

Knowledge has no geographic boundary, and one University of Toledo nurse practitioner and researcher recently circled the globe to bring new medical information to doctors in Shanghai, China.

Dr. Beverly Karabin was one of four researchers from the United States selected to present at the second annual International Congress of Cardiology. Karabin, who both teaches in the College of Nursing and works in the Syncope and Autonomic Disorders Clinic, presented her research on syncope, also known as fainting.

“The majority of people who faint suffer from autonomic disorders. These disorders can wreck your life functionally. Patients have a hard time driving and working. You may not see the mortality, but it can be a disabling condition,” Karabin said.

There is very little medical information available on fainting and the condition is often misdiagnosed. Karabin’s presentation focused on giving doctors worldwide the tools to diagnose fainting and improve patient lives.

“Our information was very well-received because we have other therapies we use and devices that can improve quality of life. These were new to other participants,” Karabin said.

Along with her research efforts, Karabin is a nurse practitioner and plays a vital role in the UT Syncope and Autonomic Disorders Clinic directed by Dr. Blair Grubb, Distinguished University Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics.

“Her work has been critical to our research efforts, and we have published 20 research papers in the last year alone. She is a shining example of what a university professor should be: an excellent clinician, a superb researcher and dedicated teacher,” Grubb said.

Thanks to the research and efforts of Karabin and the other staff in the Syncope and Autonomic Disorders Clinic, the University’s reputation is growing at home and abroad.

“People find information online and want to come into the Syncope and Autonomic Disorders Clinic from across the country,” Karabin said. “We look at the entire patient in a holistic approach. It doesn’t just stop at fainting.”

This entry was posted  on  Monday, April 4th, 2011 at  4:56 am and is filed under  Features, UToday.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.  You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.