Karen Orjuela, MD

Professional Titles

• Assistant Professor
• Co-Director Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• Neurohospitalist Fellowship - Program Director

Recognitions

• Denver 5280 Vascular Neurology - Top Doctors, 5280 Magazine (2019)
• Faculty Resident Teaching Award. Excellence in resident teaching, Department of Neurology. University of Colorado (2019)
• Faculty Student Teaching Award. Excellence in student teaching, Department of Neurology. University of Colorado (2018)

Research Interests

Cryptogenic stroke, PFO-related strokes, stroke in the young, inherited cerebrovascular diseases, CADASIL

Publications

• Cost-Effectiveness of Patent Foramen Ovale Closure versus Medical Therapy for Secondary Stroke Prevention
• Differential Responses to Thrombolytic and Antithrombotic Therapies. Stroke in Women. Stroke in Women: A Clinical Guide, edited by Dr. Michael Schneck
• Orjuela K, Gomez C. Stroke syndromes and their anatomic localization. In: Steven R Levine, editor-in-chief. MedLink Neurology. San Diego: MedLink Corporation. Available at www.medlink.com. Last updated: [April 27, 2017].
• Cumbler E, Patil, T, Orjuela K, Dietsche C, Ecker D, Anstett T. In the Literature: Physician Reviews of Hospital Medicine-Centric Research. The Hospitalist. 2017; Vol 21 (4): 17-19
• Leppert MH, Poisson SN, Carroll JD, Thaler DE, Kim CH, Orjuela KD, Ho PM, Burke JF, Campbell JD. Cost-Effectiveness of Patent Foramen Ovale Closure Versus Medical Therapy for Secondary Stroke Prevention. Stroke. 2018 Jun;49(6):1443-1450. PubMed PMID: 29720435
• A., M. S., Brian P., M., Vela-Duarte, D., Orjuela, K. D., & Pastula, D. M. (2018). Neuroterrorism Preparedness for the Neurohospitalist. The Neurohospitalist. https://doi.org/10.1177/1941874418806668
• Orjuela K, Simpson J, Poisson S, Jones W, Leppert M, Vela-Duarte D, Johnson P, Faust J, Morgan M, Gama K, Wiktor D, Carroll J. The University of Colorado Patent Foramen Ovale Clinic Experience. Six years of neurology and cardiology teamwork. Heart and Brain Symposium. Chicago, IL. June 2018
• Orjuela K, Sedhom W, Walker G, Hokosawa P, Roark C. Is stroke etiology a predictor of successful recanalization status in acute endovascular therapy?. European Stroke Organization Conference. Gothenburg, Sweden. May 2018
• Ralston MSA, Murray MBP, Vela-Duarte D, Orjuela KD, Pastula DM. Neuroterrorism Preparedness for the Neurohospitalist. Neurohospitalist. 2019 Jul;9(3):151-159. PubMed PMID: 31244972
• Kammeyer R, Orjuela K, Rapidly progressive dementia and temporal lobe atrophy in a case of non-ketotic hyperglycemic hemichorea. The Neurohospitalist, in Press
• Graham E, Orjuela K, Poisson S, Biller J. Treatment challenges in idiopathic extracranial ICA vasospasm case report and review of the literature. eNeurologicalSci. 2021 Mar;22:100304. PubMed PMID: 33336087
• Warrior L, Kim CY, Burdick DJ, Ackerman DJ, Bartolini L, Cagniart KR, Dangayach NS, Dawson ET, Orjuela KD, Gordon Perue GL, Cutsforth-Gregory JK, Bahouth MN, McClean JC 2nd, DeLuca GC. Leading with inclusion during the COVID-19 pandemic: Stronger together. Neurology. 2020 Sep 22;95(12):537-542. PubMed PMID: 32817189
• Kammeyer RM, Orjuela KD. Rapidly Progressive Dementia and Temporal Lobe Atrophy in a Case of Nonketotic Hyperglycemic Hemichorea. Neurohospitalist. 2020 Jul;10(3):229-233. PubMed PMID: 32549949
• Macchi ZA, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Orjuela KD, Pastula DM, Piquet AL, Baca CB. Glioblastoma as an autoimmune limbic encephalitis mimic: A case and review of the literature. J Neuroimmunol. 2020 Mar 7;342:577214. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32182452
• Graham E, Orjuela K, Poisson S, Biller J. Treatment challenges in idiopathic extracranial ICA vasospasm case report and review of the literature. eNeurologicalSci. 2021 Mar;22:100304. PubMed PMID: 33336087
• Warrior L, Kim CY, Burdick DJ, Ackerman DJ, Bartolini L, Cagniart KR, Dangayach NS, Dawson ET, Orjuela KD, Gordon Perue GL, Cutsforth-Gregory JK, Bahouth MN, McClean JC 2nd, DeLuca GC. Leading with inclusion during the COVID-19 pandemic: Stronger together. Neurology. 2020 Sep 22;95(12):537-542. PubMed PMID: 32817189
• Kammeyer RM, Orjuela KD. Rapidly Progressive Dementia and Temporal Lobe Atrophy in a Case of Nonketotic Hyperglycemic Hemichorea. Neurohospitalist. 2020 Jul;10(3):229-233. PubMed PMID: 32549949
• Macchi ZA, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Orjuela KD, Pastula DM, Piquet AL, Baca CB. Glioblastoma as an autoimmune limbic encephalitis mimic: A case and review of the literature. J Neuroimmunol. 2020 Mar 7;342:577214. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32182452
• Matthews E, Schmitt B, Passeri M, Mizenko C, Orjuela K, Piquet A. AMPA Receptor Encephalitis in a Patient With Metastatic Breast Cancer Receiving Palbociclib: A Case Report. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2022 Sep;9(5). PubMed PMID: 35794024
• Poisson SN, Block KL, Orjuela KD. Implications of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Cookie Theft Picture-A Closer Look. JAMA Neurol. 2022 Aug 1;79(8):734-735. PubMed PMID: 35696194
• Graham E, Orjuela K, Poisson S, Biller J. Treatment challenges in idiopathic extracranial ICA vasospasm case report and review of the literature. eNeurologicalSci. 2021 Mar;22:100304. PubMed PMID: 33336087
• Poisson SN, Leppert MH, Orjuela KD. Cryptogenic Stroke and PFO Closure: Does Sex Matter?. J Am Heart Assoc. 2023 Oct 3;12(19):e031857. PubMed PMID: 37776208
• Matthews E, Schmitt B, Passeri M, Mizenko C, Orjuela K, Piquet A. AMPA Receptor Encephalitis in a Patient With Metastatic Breast Cancer Receiving Palbociclib: A Case Report. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2022 Sep;9(5). PubMed PMID: 35794024
• Poisson SN, Block KL, Orjuela KD. Implications of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Cookie Theft Picture-A Closer Look. JAMA Neurol. 2022 Aug 1;79(8):734-735. PubMed PMID: 35696194
• Khedr EM, Al-Attar G, Rosales J, Sampaio Silva G, Sebastian IA, Orjuela KD, de Souza AC. Strategies to Advance Stroke Care in Women: An International Conversation. Stroke. 2024 Aug 22. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 39171414
• Jellins TS, Borko TL, Otero-Bell R, Arnett K, Saunders S, Poisson SN, Orjuela KD, Salehi Omran S, Jones WJ, Leppert M, Madera A, Carlson A, Pastula DM, Sauer BM, Piquet AL, Gonzales NR. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in medical education: DEI at the bedside. J Neurol Sci. 2024 Apr 15;459:122946. PubMed PMID: 38493733
• Orjuela KD, Leppert MH, Carroll JD. Navigating the Gray: The Complex Story of PFO Closure Utilization. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2024 Jan;17(1):e010581. PubMed PMID: 38189124
• Poisson SN, Leppert MH, Orjuela KD. Cryptogenic Stroke and PFO Closure: Does Sex Matter?. J Am Heart Assoc. 2023 Oct 3;12(19):e031857. PubMed PMID: 37776208
• Fuhlbrigge ME, Carroll JD, Gonzales NR, Orjuela KD. Participant Diversity in Stroke-Related Medical Device Trials: Historical Context and Ongoing Challenges. Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology. 2024 Mar 10:e001383.

Professional Memberships

• American Academy of Neurology, Member
• American Heart Association, Member
• Neurohospitalist Society, Board Member

Practice Locations

UCHealth Stroke and Brain Aneurysm Center - Anschutz Medical Campus
12401 E 17th Ave
Leprino Building, 3rd floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-2080

UCHealth Neurosciences Center - Anschutz Medical Campus
1635 Aurora Ct
4th Floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-2080

UCHealth Anschutz Inpatient Pavilion - Anschutz Medical Campus
12605 E. 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0000

UCHealth Anschutz Inpatient Pavilion 2 - Anschutz Medical Campus
12505 E. 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0000

Hospital Affiliation

• University of Colorado Hospital

Specialty Information

Specialties

• Neurology, Board Certification (2017)
• Vascular Neurology, Board Certification (2018)
• Master in Science Clinical Research, Specialized Training (2019)

Conditions & Treatments

• Brain and Nervous System - Stroke
• Brain and Nervous System