National Expert on Gender-Based Violence/Forensic Psychology

• Expert on gender-based violence from both the perpetration and victim-survivor perspective, restorative justice, trauma-informed care and leadership, gender-based violence prevention/education, sexual assault, non-fatal strangulation, drug/alcohol-based assault, forensic psychology, medical care. 

• Researcher with strong interest in proactive versus reactive systems of care for interpersonal violence, non-carceral solutions to sexual assault and intimate partner violence, masculine role dominance and its impact on violence (including military, para-military, and others), nonfatal strangulation, and more. 

• Author of numerous peer-reviewed research articles and forthcoming book: Stolen Breath: How a Deadly Act Went Mainstream; Forensic Examiner; Medical Director; Expert Witness.

• Award-winning public speaker at a national, regional, and local level, Teacher of the Year Award for University of Washington in 2021 and Golden Apple Award in 2024 and 2025; Guest Lecturer Award at Colorado University in 2025. 

• Entrepreneur: managed a small company dedicated to provider comfort in interpersonal violence.

• Quantitative/Qualitative research and PhD in forensic psychology; Physician Assistant (PA) Education Association (PAEA) and American Academy of PAs (AAPA) research fellow studying trauma-informed systems and their impact on workplace wellness and longevity; US Dept of Health and Human Services research fellow in gender-based violence, teen dating and intimate partner violence. 

• Experienced educator; 10 years of in-person and remote teaching experience in higher education and additional 8 years of experience providing hands-on and experiential learning for EMTs. 

• Leadership: Service in national professional associations, managed/supervised up to five staff, experience in academic admissions and chairing medical education courses.

• Designed and delivered engaging curriculum that included problem-based learning, small-group learning, traditional lectures, multi-media classes, online learning, and technical labs for 5-50 participants. 

• Technical skills: Blackboard, Canvas, SPSS, APA and AMA style writing, online discussion, MS Office. 

• Advocate for Physician Assistants in forensic medicine, unique practice environments, and research. 

• Clinician with ten years’ hands-on experience in direct patient care.

 EDUCATION 

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY 

Walden University | Minneapolis, MN | March 2025

Dissertation: A Comparative Analysis of Demographic Characteristics of Male Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators

MASTER OF CLINICAL HEALTH SERVICES, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES

University of Washington MEDEX | Seattle, WA | 2016

MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN THEATRE MANAGEMENT

California Institute for the Arts | Valencia, CA | 2008

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN THEATRE DESIGN

Scripps College | Claremont, CA | 2005

 CERTIFICATIONS

• Certified Physician Assistant, first obtained in 2016; finished first recertification cycle. 

• Advanced Trauma Life Support, 2018, renewed 2022. 

• Current AHA ACLS, BLS, and PALS. 

FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY/VIOLENCE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

RESEARCH FELLOW – AAPA-PAEA JOINT FELLOWSHIP, American Academy of Physician Assistants | Remote | 2025 - 2026

• Designed, implemented, and completed research study at Snoqualmie Valley Health to examine the impact of trauma-informed systems on employee wellness, connectivity, and longevity. 

• Conducted analysis of 50 staff members; successfully applied for IRB approval; producing report Impact of Trauma-Informed Systems on Employee Wellness. 

RESEARCH FELLOW – GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE WORKGROUP, ORISE / U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | Washington D.C. / Remote | 2024 - 2025 

• Conducted research for multidisciplinary gender-based violence workgroup, including healthcare for sexual assault survivors, teen dating violence, research organization and priorities. 

PROGRAM MANAGER / HOSPITALIST PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

Snoqualmie Valley Hospital | Snoqualmie, WA | 2022 - Present

• Develop and envision a comprehensive trauma-informed care curriculum and program. Apply for $50,000 grant and other funding for establishment of a sexual assault and intimate partner violence treatment program. Developed evidence-based program serving 30 patients/year, resulting in fewer sequelae for victims, less transport time, and fewer barriers to care for a rural region of eastern King County.

• Develop a complete forensic medicine program, including care for survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence and nonfatal strangulation. 

• Work clinically in medical inpatient unit that is dual function – both a skilled nursing facility and an acute inpatient floor. Assist with wound care, manage care for 18-24 patients, assess and approve new admissions and transfers. Train and supervise clinical staff and work in collaborative teams.

MEDICAL DIRECTOR IN INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE PROGRAMS

Kaiser Permanente Washington | Bellevue, WA | 2019 – 2022

• Successfully proposed and advocated for this position. Worked as part of a multidisciplinary team addressing social determinants of health and violence. Improved screening for and awareness of sexual assault and intimate partner violence. 

EXPERT WITNESS, Pierce County and Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office | Tacoma, WA | 2019 - Present

• Expert witness testimony in 75+ cases, covering intimate partner violence dynamics, nonfatal strangulation, some fatality strangulation. Contributed to judge, jury, and attorney knowledge of strangulation as a mechanism of violence. 

FORENSIC EXAMINER, UCLA | Santa Monica, CA | 2018 – 2019

• Forensic examiner for child abuse, sexual assault, nonfatal strangulation for patients aged 0-99 years old. Formed excellent rapport with patients, law enforcement, and hospital staff. Conducted forensic interviews and exams that reduced victim re-interviewing and additional trauma. 

FORENSIC EXAMINER, Northridge Hospital | Northridge, CA | 2017 - 2018

 TEACHING EXPERIENCE

COURSE DESIGNER / LEAD INSTRUCTOR, PUBLIC AND POPULATION HEALTH

College of Idaho Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) Program |Remote, Idaho | 2024 - Present

• Design and build doctorate course studying public and population health, using topics such as analytic and descriptive epidemiology, social determinants of health, community health, and population health to address pressing societal issues including community and gang violence, gun violence, interpersonal violence and pandemics and infectious disease. 

• Monitor, grade, and teach course to doctorate students with class sizes ranging from two students to ten students. 
  

ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR

University of Washington MEDEX |5 campuses in WA / HI / AK | 2018 - Present

• Teach physician assistant education courses to master’s degree Physician Assistant programs. Course topics include emergency medicine, adult medicine, surgery, behavioral medicine, technical skills, and interpersonal violence / trauma-informed care. 

• Proctor clinical learning opportunities, Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE), branching physical examination skills, and patient education encounters. 
  

ACADEMIC RISK TUTOR, University of Washington MEDEX | Seattle, WA | 2020 - 2022

• Managed a small group (5-10 individuals) of physician assistant students who were identified by their program as academic high risk. Discussed problem areas in curriculum, delivered mini lectures on complex or misunderstood topics. 

• Significantly improved student test scores by reviewing test taking strategy, clinical vignette strategy, etc. 

ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR, CHILD ABUSE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND SEXUAL ASSAULT), University of Colorado | Denver, CO | 2018 - Present

• Teach virtual physician assistant education courses to diverse learners. Design and teach unique course on interpersonal violence, trauma-informed care, and patient interviewing. 

ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR, Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA | 2018 - Present

• Designed and built innovative virtual physician assistant courses to diverse learners. Spearheaded course focused on combination of interpersonal violence, trauma-informed care, and patient interviewing.

ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR, Delaware Valley University | Doylestown, PA | 2023 

• Taught a mini lecture (1 hour of content) in trauma- and violence-informed care and practical detection and treatment for survivors of interpersonal violence. 

ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR, Marshall B. Ketchum University | Orange, CA | 2018 - Present

• Taught face-to-face PA courses to diverse learners, including designing and implementing course on interpersonal violence, child abuse, trauma-informed care, and patient interviewing. 

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, Charles R. Drew University PA Program | Watts, CA | 2017 - 2019

• Chaired emergency medicine and general surgery course, designed problem-based learning curriculum, and lectured to students on topics relevant to emergency medicine and general surgery. Designed and developed a lab component for skills relevant to these clinical areas. 

• Lectured in courses including adult medicine, anatomy and physiology, technical skills. 

• Designed and spearheaded an advanced differential diagnosing class for the third-year students who were returning from clinical rotations. 

• Supervised admissions for one academic cycle. Maintained CASPA application portal, organized faculty for application review, arranged interviews and faculty panels for interviews, created an admissions protocol for decision-making. 

• Served on initial committee for development of “pipeline” and “magnet” programs to help attract and encourage students from SPA6 (the area directly around the university) to apply for physician assistant school and return to practice clinically after graduation. 

LEAD EMT TEACHING ASSISTANT, College of the Canyons | Valencia, CA | 2009 – 2014

 AWARDS

GOLDEN APPLE AWARD, University of Washington, Seattle, WA | 2023, 2025

GUEST INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD, Colorado University, Denver, CO | 2025

TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD, University of Washington, Seattle, WA | Mar 2021

INDUCTED INTO PA HISTORY SOCIETY ARCHIVES, PA History Society, National | 2020

OUTSTANDING CAPSTONE AWARD, University of Washington, Seattle, WA | Jun 2016

 CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Thompson, K. (2025, May). Kids should be kids: Teen Dating Violence. A presentation for AAPA National Conference

Thompson, K. (2025, April). The Neurobiology of Trauma. AAPA Hot Topics recorded presentation. 

Thompson, K. (2025, April). The 21st Century CURES Act and Victim Safety. AAPA Hot Topics recorded presentation. 

Thompson, K. (2024, September). Student poster presentation on planned dissertation work. A presentation at Society for Police and Criminal Psychology National Conference. 

Thompson, K. (2024, May). Trauma- and Violence-Informed Care: Integrating recommendations from the forensic medical examination. A presentation at the AAPA National Conference, Houston, TX. 

Thompson, K. (2023, July). Trauma-informed care. A presentation for the National Association of PAs in OB/GYN.

Thompson, K. (2022, May). Trauma-informed care and interpersonal violence. A presentation for the Seattle Association of OB/GYN Providers. 

Thompson, K. (2022, April). Trauma-informed care and interpersonal violence for healthcare providers. A presentation for Duke University Grand Rounds, North Carolina. 

Thompson, K. (2020, May). Special interest session: Case studies in domestic violence and child abuse. A presentation for AAPA National Conference, delivered virtually due to pandemic isolation requirements. 

Thompson, K. (2019, May). Parents, interviewing, injuries: Oh my! Demystifying the initial investigation and management of suspected child sexual abuse. A presentation for AAPA National Conference, New Orleans, LA. 

Thompson, K. (2018, May). The silent killer: Non-fatal strangulation and interpersonal violence. A presentation for AAPA National Conference, Las Vegas, NV. 

Thompson, K. (2017, May). Beyond roofies: Drug- and alcohol-facilitated sexual assault. A presentation for AAPA National Conference. 

Thompson, K. (2016, May). Sexual assault survivors: Meeting their behavioral and emotional needs. A presentation for AAPA National Conference. 

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

Thompson, KM (currently out on submission). Nonfiction book. Stolen Breath: How a Deadly Act Went Mainstream. 

Thompson, KM (accepted for publication, March 2026). Nonfatal strangulation knowledge and experience in healthcare professionals. Journal of Forensic Nursing. 

Thompson, KM (accepted for publication, March 2026). Perpetrators of intimate partner violence and strangulation. Journal of Gender-Based Violence (Bristol, UK). 

Thompson, KM. (2025 May). A comparative analysis of demographic characteristics of male intimate partner violence perpetrators. ProQuest. Published PhD dissertation. 

Smith, NE, Thompson, KM, McCall TC. (2022 December). Physician assistants’ training and self-perceived competencies to work with survivors of intimate partner violence. Journal of Physician Assistant Education, 33(4), 284-90. 

Smith, NE, Thompson, KM, McCall TC. (2022 May). PAs and domestic violence education. AAPA Poster Presentations. 

Thompson, KM. (2021 January). Beyond roofies: Drug- and alcohol-facilitated sexual assault. Journal of American Academy of Physician Assistants, 34(1), 45-49. 

Thompson, KM. (2020 January). Helping survivors of sexual assault. Journal of American Academy of Physician Assistants, 33(1), 39-44. 

Thompson, KM. (2017 April). Using PAs in prehospital environments to reduce ED and EMS overuse. Journal of American Academy of Physician Assistants, 30(4), 49-52. 

LEADERSHIP/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

PRESIDENT OF SOCIETY FOR PAS IN FORENSIC MEDICINE, AAPA Special Interest Group | 2021 - Present

CLINIC STUDENT LIASON, Skagit Valley Dental, Skagit Valley, WA | 2016 – 2018

ZERO HOUR MODEL MUGGING FEMALE INSTRUCTOR, Zero Hour Model Mugging, CA | 2003 – 2020

RAPE CRISIS ADVOCATE VOLUNTEER, Center for Assault Treatment, Northridge, CA | 2003 - 2016

 PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

FELLOW, American Academy of Physician Assistants | 2016 - Present

MEMBER, Society of Emergency Medicine PAs | 2016 - Present

MEMBER, Washington State Association of PAs | 2019 - Present