Krok and Paro recognized for Exceptional Moments in Teaching
Karen Krok, MD, faculty member, and Mitchell Paro, MD, resident, were recognized through the “Exceptional Moments in Teaching” program for the month of August.
Dr. Krok is professor and vice chair for clinical affairs in the Department of Medicine and director of hepatology in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
“Dr. Krok has a passion for medical education and never passed an opportunity to explain concepts and teach the group on a range of topics,” said a student. “Whenever we had free time from taking care of patients, she was always willing to go over concepts we needed help with. She was extremely warm and welcoming and created a learning environment I found thoroughly enjoyable. She is an excellent physician and teacher.”
Since joining Penn State in 2013, Dr. Krok has served in many roles at Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine. After serving as medical director of the Liver Transplant Program and program director of the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship, she is now the associate program director of the fellowship as well as director of the Fatty Liver Program.
Dr. Krok trained at The University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins. Her professional interests include the care of patients with chronic liver disease – particularly metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, primary biliary cholangitis, hepatopulmonary syndrome and alcohol-related liver disease – and has many actively enrolling clinical trials.
Outside of medicine, she is a proud wife and mother to two daughters and can be found cheering on the soccer sidelines and supporting local community theatre.
Dr. Paro is a fourth-year neurosurgery resident in the Department of Neurosurgery.
“Dr. Paro was an exceptional teacher. I truly hope he goes into academic medicine in the long run because in our short time together he vastly improved my confidence and skill level in the operating room,” one student said. “He actively involved me in patient care at a level appropriate to my educational stage. He took time to give me dedicated feedback – both encouraging and constructive – to help me learn. This is all while literally doing brain surgery!”
Dr. Paro has clinical interests in functional and stereotactic neurosurgery, epilepsy surgery and neurosurgical approaches to neurorehabilitation. He also loves teaching and has taught professionally in several different settings in the past and plans to continue to do so in the future.
After growing up in Connecticut, Dr. Paro attended Connecticut College where he majored in English, then made a late decision to pursue medicine and neurosurgery after reading “When Breath Becomes Air,” by Paul Kalanithi. He completed the post-baccalaureate pre-medical program at the University of Virginia, then medical school at the University of Connecticut before coming to Penn State.
When not in the hospital, Dr. Paro can be found running, reading or hanging out with his wife, Miranda, and his Aussidoodle, Gus.
Penn State College of Medicine’s Office for a Respectful Learning Environment recognizes exceptional faculty, residents and fellows with the monthly “Exceptional Moments in Teaching” program. One faculty member and one resident/fellow are highlighted each month for their contributions. College of Medicine students are invited to submit narratives about faculty members, residents, nurses or any other educators who challenge them and provide an exceptional learning experience using the online nomination form.
The Office for a Respectful Learning Environment fosters an educational community at Penn State College of Medicine in which all learners and educators feel supported, challenged, valued and respected. It serves all learners at the College of Medicine: medical students, graduate students, physician assistant students, residents and fellows.
See previous faculty and resident/fellow honorees here.
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