Dr. Karina España was raised in the Pacific Northwest. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Organismal Biology from Portland State University and her medical degree from OHSU. She completed her general psychiatry training at OHSU before moving to California for her first of two fellowships. Dr. España completed a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at UCLA, where she served as Chief Fellow and received distinction in Community and Global Child Psychiatry. After this, she completed a Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship at OHSU.

Dr. España is interested in community mental health. Specifically, she is committed to advancing health equity for structurally marginalized youth and families. She has specific expertise in working with high-risk youth, including those with histories of trauma and involvement in juvenile legal and child welfare systems. Dr. España also enjoys creative ventures of expression and advocacy in medicine, such as storytelling and graphic medicine. Furthermore, she has provided leadership to various groups, organizations and health systems on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Dr. España is passionate about teaching and mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows.

Dr. España works collaboratively with patients and families as an inpatient child psychiatrist at Unity Center for Behavioral Health. Dr. España is an Associate Program Director for OHSU’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship.