Karen Fleming

The focus of Dr. Fleming’s research is on the effect of pregnancy complications on women’s future health. This includes exercise in pregnancy for sedentary women and elite level athletes; hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and the risk of future cardiovascular health; and gestational diabetes. In addition, Dr. Fleming leads research on eating disorders in adolescence and the development of education materials for family medicine residents and obstetrical patients.

Education

B.Sc. (Hons), 1984, physiology, University of Toronto, Canada
MD, 1989, U of T, Canada
M.Sc., 1989, physiology, U of T, Canada
CCFP, 1992, College of Family Physicians of Canada
FCFP, 2004, Fellow of College of Family Physicians of Canada

Appointments and Affiliations

Affiliate scientist, Evaluative Clinical Sciences, DAN Women & Babies Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
Chief, department of family and community medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Division lead, family medicine obstetrics, department of family and community medicine, Sunnybrook
Assistant professor, department of family and community medicine, U of T

Research Foci

Chronic disease prevention for women
Exercise in pregnancy
Pregnancy complications as predictors of women’s future health

Affiliated Labs & Programs

Selected Publications

Mottola MF, Davenport MH, Ruchat SM, Davies GA, Poitras VJ, Gray CE, Jaramillo Garcia A, Barrowman N, Adamo KB, Duggan M, Barakat R, Chilibeck P, Fleming K, Forte M, Korolnek J, Nagpal T, Slater LG, Stirling D, Zehr L. 2019 Canadian guideline for physical activity throughout pregnancy. Br J Sports Med. 2018 Oct;52:1339–1346.
Watson J, Nicholson M, Dobbin K, Fleming K, Alleyne JMK. Exploring the relationship between obstetrical nurses' work and pregnancy outcomes. Open J Nurs. 2016;6:812–819.
Fleming K. Pregnancy: window into women’s future cardiovascular health. Can Family Physician. 2013 Oct;59(10):1033–1035.