Karn J. Johansen,
PA-C

Physician Assistant

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Specialties:

Degrees & Training:  

• Bachelor of Science in Physician Associate, University of Oklahoma, College of Medicine, 1994
• Associate of Liberal Arts, Cottey College, 1991
• DAN! Clinician Training (Levels 1 and 2), 2006-2009
• Various Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorder Conferences
• MAPS (Medical Academy of Pediatrics & Special Needs) clinician training

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Karn Johansen is a Physician Assistant with over 25 years of experience. She has a passion for helping children with Autism, PANS/PANDAS, and ADHD.

Karn Johansen PA-C, grew up in Wisconsin and obtained her AA degree from Cottey College, a Women’s Liberal Arts College, in Nevada, MO in 1991. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center in 1994 with her Physician Assistant degree. She has worked in Family Practice, Women’s Health and Anticoagulation Clinics over the past 25 years as a Physician Assistant.

In 2005, Karn attended her first Autism Research Institute Conference to learn more about how to help her now adult son with Autism Spectrum Disorder and PANDAS/PANS. She completed yearly Advanced Level I & II Clinical CME trainings until switching to MAPS (Medical Academy of Pediatric and Special Needs) Clinician CME trainings in 2012. She attends yearly MAPS conferences to stay up to date with current research and clinical practice recommendations. She has completed and passed testing in all ACM courses including: Foundation of MAPS, Metabolism, Environmental Medicine, Neurology, Immunology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition.

Karn served on the Governor Appointed Iowa Autism Council from 2010 to 2013. She has been involved in Parent Support Groups and has spoken at TACA coffee meetings.  She has attended Autism One Conferences, American Academy of Environmental Medicine Conferences (AAEM) and The Forum for Integrative Medicine (TFIM), Neuroimmune Institute Webinar conferences, Dr Talks Webinars, and Health Means Webinars on many different medical topics over the years including Lyme and Mold Toxicity.  She completed Dr Crista’s Lyme Literate Mold Certification in January 2025 and listened to Lyme Healhers Conference in 2024.

In 2011, Karn began focusing on Autism, PANDAS/PANS and ADD/ADHD in clinical practice.  She began working with Dr Jon Ahrendsen (also a MAPS Provider) in Clarion, Iowa. She is passionate about applying functional medicine/biomedical approaches to decrease aggression, outbursts, and neurocognitive symptoms. Her goals are to improve sleep, neurotransmitter balance, cognitive processing, and mood. She will address and treat underlying GI symptoms, infections, immune dysfunction, and nutrient deficiencies to improve optimal immune and cognitive function.  Karn strongly feels her patients will progress much more smoothly and effectively thru the OT, SLP, PT and behavioral therapies they are receiving, when underlying medical issues which affect neurocognitive function and the immune system are addressed.  An Individualized treatment plan for each child is based on history, physical exam, testing and family dynamics.

In January 2018, Karn completed a Mini-Fellowship through The Reach Institute in Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care, which focused on Primary Pediatric Psychopharmacology. She is a member of the PANDAS Physician Network(PPN).  In 2019/2020, she completed the Mindd Foundation Online Practitioner Training. 

She has been a member of the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) since 1994; American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) since 1994; Iowa Physician Assistant Society since 2000.

Functional/Integrative Medicine Interventions and Interests:

MAPS Provider since 2012 (Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs)- Have completed all 6 Training Modules and Testing.

Beyond Balance Trained Practitioner

SSP Certification 2022 (Safe and Sound Protocol)

Alpha-Stim Certification 2022

IntellxxDNA Genomic training and testing 2022- present and ongoing

Medical Cannabidiol Discussion

Low Dose Naltrexone

FRAT – Folate Receptor Antibody Testing

Preconception Counseling

Completed Dr Crista’s Mold Online Certification Training Jan 2025

In her free time, Karn enjoys the outdoors, biking, paddle boarding and spending time with family and friends.