Advocacy Committee

Karen Jerome–Zapadka MD, DABOM

Dr. Jerome–Zapadka is a native of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania.  She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pittsburgh School of Health Related Professions with a BS in Physical Therapy.  She received her Medical Degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, graduating with Honors, and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society.  She performed her Internal Medicine residency and subspecialty fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, maintaining board certification in Gastroenterology.  She has been practicing Gastroenterology since 1993, joining Valley Gastroenterology Associates in 2000.  She is currently serving as President of the organization.  She maintains ties with her mentors at UPMC to bring their knowledge to her community setting.

She has always had a special interest in metabolic health,  obesity, and the medical complications associated with these entities, particularly Non–Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).  But it was after her own brush with Insulin Resistance, and her patient with end stage fatty liver disease and liver cancer asking her: “Dr., did I eat myself to death?”, that she knew she needed more answers than her training had provided.  She then achieved board certification in Obesity Medicine, but it was attending her first LowCarb USA meeting in 2019, as well as reading the book. “The Big Fat Surprise” by Nina Teicholz that truly changed the trajectory of her career.  She is now actively pursuing certification through the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners, (SMHP) where she is a founding member.

Aligned with these interests, Dr. Jerome–Zapadka developed and co-chairs the Metabolic Task Force at the Heritage Valley Health System.  This task force has brought together a diverse group of physicians, nurses,  nutrition specialists, education specialists, medical residents, and pharmacist.  Several short and long term goals have been developed related to education regarding metabolic health and therapeutic carbohydrate reduction(TCR), and to change the paradigm on how we view chronic disease, with an emphasis on disease reversal and drug de-escalation. A Metabolic Order Set is in development and now offers in-patients a low carbohydrate meal plan, that will be transitioned to the out-patient setting.  It is hoped that the task force may serve as a model for other institutions interested in change.

With the support from HVHS, and Joni Current from VGA, she developed the area’s first Pediatric Symposium, “All Hands On Deck,” a morning devoted to pediatric health.  There was a special emphasis on pediatric fatty liver disease and the role of the ultra-processed food diet. It was attended by staff from nearly every school district in the area.

She serves as a co-chair of the Fatty Liver Coalition of the Community Liver Alliance (formerly the American Liver Foundation), serves on the Board of Directors of NASH kNOWledge, and has recently aligned with the Global Liver Institute, all organizations devoted to raising awareness about NAFLD.  She speaks at numerous events for these organizations. Dr. Adele Hite joined Dr. Jerome- Zapadka on the Fatty Liver Coalition prior to her passing.

She is the Medical Director of the VGA Center for Obesity Medicine, where patients enroll in a structured, comprehensive program to improve metabolic disease, obesity and NAFLD, utilizing Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction, appropriate physical activity and behavioral changes.  Using FibroScan technology, progress can be tracked to document complete reversal of fatty liver.  The organization is active with teaching of medical students and Family Medicine residents where they learn about metabolic health, insulin resistance and NAFLD.  She recently teamed up with Dr. Mark Cucuzella to give a joint talk to the Family Medicine Residents.  Two PCOM medical students have developed a pilot project for their research requirement that involves screening self-perceived healthy patients for metabolic disfunction, then attempting to reverse this in a cost- effective setting with group teaching visits about metabolic dysfunction, TCR, physical activity and behavioral changes.  A quarter of the subjects screened had evidence of moderate to severe fatty liver.

She also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Heritage Valley Health System and recently presented at the Board Retreat, a talk entitled “Insulin Resistance/Metabolic Dysfunction: A Root Cause Analysis”, educating Board members about metabolic disease and laying out the case that hospital nutrition is a Quality issue .

She is a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the Beaver County Medical Society, the American Gastroenterology Association, and the American College of Gastroenterology with membership in process to the AASLD.  She is also a member of the Obesity Medicine Association and the SMHP as noted. She maintains certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support. She has been voted a Top Doctor by Pittsburgh Magazine in 2021 and 2022.

Dr. Jerome–Zapadka's personal interests include fitness, baking, tennis, and especially time spent traveling with family and friends,