Karel is an investigator with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, in Denver, Colorado. A graduate of the University of Denver Law School, she investigates civil rights complaints of discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, religious conscience, and sex by those who receive HHS funds. The majority of her workload is dedicated to investigating complaints, breach reports, and compliance reviews under the Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).