Dr. Karns graduated from the University of Scranton with a BS in Biology with a minor in German language studies. She then earned her DO degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. At graduation from medical school, she was awarded the Dr. Samuel and Ellen Garloff Award for Excellence in Psychiatry. Dr. Karns completed her residency in general psychiatry at Michigan State University. She served as the co-chief resident from January to December 2014. She then went on to complete a fellowship in forensic psychiatry from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Karns served as a staff psychiatrist and then as the assistant chief clinical officer at Summit Behavioral Healthcare in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2023, she joined Centurion as the statewide director of psychiatry.