Karen Krok

Karen Krok, MD, is a Professor and Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs at the Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine. She serves as Director of Hepatology in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Assistant Program Director for the Gastroenterology Fellowship.

• Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, and Transplant Hepatology
• Site PI for multicenter trials on pulmonary vascular complications of liver disease
• Active in clinical and educational leadership roles

Research Focus: Her work spans post-liver transplant outcomes (especially for hepatitis C), cardiovascular and pulmonary complications of liver disease, and heart-liver transplant dynamics in congenital heart disease patients. She also investigates metabolic liver diseases and multidisciplinary care models for conditions like MASH.

Scientific Contributions: Recent publications address contrast-enhanced ultrasound accuracy in hepatocellular carcinoma monitoring, abdominal distention in ICU settings, and smoking impacts on liver transplant candidates. Her research output shows sustained activity in hepatology and transplant medicine.

• Awards: Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (2014), Education Recognition Award (2014), Radhika Srinivasan Professionalism and Humanism Award (2012)

Education & Leadership: As former Fellowship Director (2016-2019), she mentors residents and contributes to clinical competency committees. Her clinical practice includes liver cancer screening, transplant hepatology, and metabolic liver disease management.