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Karen Scherr

Assistant Professor in Family Medicine and Community Health
Family Medicine and Community Health, Family Medicine
2100 Erwin Rd, Marshall L. Pickens Building, Durham, NC 27705

Overview


I am an assistant professor in Family Medicine and Community Health.  I am a board-certified family medicine and obesity medicine physician.  My research focuses on clinic-community partnerships to improve treatment of patients with prediabetes and using social media to improve equity in treatment of pediatric obesity.

Education/Training:

BS, Texas Tech University, 2009
MD, Duke University, 2018
PhD in Business Administration, Marketing/Consumer Behavior, Duke University, 2018
Resident, Family Medicine, Duke University, 2018-Dec 2021
Fellow, National Clinician Scholars Program, Duke University, 2021-2023

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Assistant Professor in Family Medicine and Community Health · 2023 - Present Family Medicine and Community Health, Family Medicine, Family Medicine and Community Health

Recent Publications


Assessing Implementation of Clinic-Community Partnerships Treating Pediatric Obesity.

Journal Article Child Obes · April 8, 2026 BACKGROUND: Although intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment (IHBLT) is effective for treating youth obesity, it is not accessible to many. Our objective was to examine the implementation of Fit Together, an evidence-based IHBLT clinic-community ... Full text Link to item Cite

Nutrition and obesity in under-represented population (NOURISH): study protocol to examine the effect of restricted and unrestricted financial benefits on infant food insecurity, growth, and nutrition.

Journal Article BMC Pediatr · January 10, 2026 BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that food insecurity (FI) during infancy is associated with higher odds of obesity in early childhood, but the evidence regarding the impact of FI interventions on improving child body mass index (BMI) remains inconclusive. T ... Full text Link to item Cite

Parent Perspectives on the 2023 Clinical Practice Guideline for Pediatric Obesity: A Mixed-Methods Study of Acceptance and Concerns.

Journal Article Pediatr Obes · January 2026 BACKGROUND: The 2023 Clinical Practice Guideline for pediatric obesity recommends immediate, intensive treatment, including behavioral therapy, medications, and surgery when indicated. Understanding parental agreement with the guideline is critical for suc ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Diabetes Prevention Alliance - Scaling the National Diabetes Prevention Program in Underserved Area

Public ServiceInvestigator · Awarded by American Diabetes Association · 2024 - 2027

YMCA - Healthy Weight and Your Child

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by YMCA of the Triangle · 2026 - 2026

View All Grants

Education


Duke University, School of Medicine · 2018 M.D.