Karen Gallagher is an expert in how service-related injuries can cause mild traumatic brain injury and damage higher-order thinking skills. Her work focuses on treatments that support cognition in military veterans entering college.

Gallagher is the founding director of the Office for Veteran Health Solutions in the College of Health Solutions. The interdisciplinary office focuses on transnational research and evidenced-based solutions that address obstacles faced by student veterans as they transition from military service to academic and civilian life.

Gallagher is also a senior postdoctoral research scholar with the Global Sport Institute.

While at ASU, she developed a Veteran Clinic within the Speech and Hearing Clinic to provide grant-funded treatment to veterans experiencing memory and learning difficulties.