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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


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

Use of an Electronic Health Record Order to Directly Refer Patients With Prediabetes to Community-Based Diabetes Prevention Programs.

Journal Article Ann Fam Med · September 22, 2025 PURPOSE: Rates of participation in community-based diabetes prevention programs (DPPs) are low among patients with prediabetes. This may be due, in part, to low rates of referrals to these programs from health systems. One key opportunity to augment clinic ... Full text Link to item Cite

Randomized Controlled Trial of a Text-Based Smokeless Tobacco Cessation Intervention for Rural and Medically Underserved Communities.

Journal Article Nicotine Tob Res · December 23, 2024 INTRODUCTION: Smokeless tobacco use remains prevalent in rural and medically underserved populations, leading to increased rates of tobacco-related cancers and chronic disease. While access to effective cessation programs is limited, text-based interventio ... 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 - 2028

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Education, Training & Certifications


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