RESIDENTS & NEW PHYSICIANS By Tracie Hazelett NCAFP Manager, Medical Student and Residency Relations
North Carolina Residents and Students Selected as AAFP Emerging Leaders
Development of an Integrated Electronic Referral System to Local Diabetes Prevention Programs Within a Family Medicine Clinic. Dr. Scherr is passionate about making a positive difference in people’s lives, whether as a physician or personally, in the community she has grown to love. She not only strives to provide excellent patient care and but also to use her knowledge and skills to empower people, families and communities to live healthier lives. Dr. Scherr is completing her Family Medicine residency at Duke Community and Family Medicine where she is a third-year resident and was recently selected as co-chief. Gabriela Plasencia, MD, MAS
The AAFP Foundation’s competitive leadership development program has selected two residents and one medical student from North Carolina to participate in the Family Medicine Leads’ Emerging Leader Institute. Karen Scherr, MD, PhD Dr. Scherr obtained her undergraduate degree at Texas Tech in 2009 prior to relocating to North Carolina. She went on to complete her medical degree at Duke University School of Medicine where she also completed her doctorate as part of the Duke Medical Scientist Training Program. Dr. Scherr has also been a teaching assistant for courses in Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy and The Fuqua School of Business. In addition to being selected for the Emerging Leader Institute, the research and poster she co-authored with fellow Duke resident, Matthew Geisz, MD, PGY-2, was selected as one of the winners in the Community Project category for inclusion in the (virtual) AAFP National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students:
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Dr. Plasencia completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Florida, followed by her Masters in Applied Science in Population Health Management at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Plasencia then completed her medical degree at the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Plasencia’s career goals are to continue her work in population health, using health management strategies to decrease health disparities, especially in older adult populations, and to promote research in primary care, particularly in Family Medicine. Dr. Plasencia is completing her Family Medicine residency at Duke Community and Family Medicine where she was drawn because of their focus on social justice, community engagement and primary care research. She is excited to offer her skills in community-based participatory research experience, masters training and fluency in Spanish to the community. Plasencia is a second-year resident, and during the recent virtual graduation ceremony for Duke residents, was selected as the recipient of the Thomas Matheson, M.D. Award.
The North Carolina Family Physician
