Dr. Karl Clebak’s research focuses on advancing Graduate Medical Education (GME) and family and community medicine through innovation, mentorship, and clinical scholarship.

His primary area of investigation centers on competency-based assessment and artificial intelligence integration in GME, exploring how emerging technologies can enhance resident evaluation, milestone assessment, and program improvement. His recent work includes a national study comparing AI-assisted milestone ratings with Clinical Competency Committee assessments and an investigation of how department chairs plan for AI adoption and policy development in family medicine education.

As Principal Investigator for an American Board of Family Medicine–funded Residency Learning Network, Dr. Clebak leads efforts to build collaborative infrastructure across Penn State Health residency programs to strengthen quality improvement education and institutional learning outcomes.

His research also includes the development of mentorship frameworks for Underrepresented in Medicine (URM) and International Medical Graduate (IMG) residents through the Diverse Resident Mentorship Program (DR.MP) Initiative, designed to improve belonging, support, and professional success during training.

Clinically, his scholarship extends to diagnostic accuracy, dermatologic procedures, and evidence-based primary care innovation.

Dr. Karl Clebak is Professor of Family and Community Medicine and Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education / Designated Institutional Official at Penn State College of Medicine, where he oversees more than 70 residency and fellowship programs across Penn State Health.

His teaching and educational interests are centered on Graduate Medical Education leadership, faculty development, and competency-based assessment. He designs and implements curricula that strengthen resident learning through direct observation, structured feedback, individualized learning plans, and data-driven evaluation.

As an educator and mentor, Dr. Clebak emphasizes supportive, collaborative learning environments that promote professional growth and well-being among residents and faculty. He is actively engaged in national GME initiatives, serving on the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) Graduate Medical Education Committee and as faculty for the STFM Residency Faculty Fundamentals Certificate Program.

His teaching portfolio includes leadership development, evidence-based medicine, and quality improvement training for residents, fellows, and program directors. Through his dedication to innovation in GME, Dr. Clebak advances institutional excellence in medical education and prepares the next generation of physicians to lead in a complex healthcare environment.

Dr. Karl Clebak’s clinical interests complement his leadership in Graduate Medical Education, integrating direct patient care with procedural and educational excellence.

His clinical practice encompasses dermatologic care, office-based procedures, and evidence-based primary care, areas in which he also trains residents and fellows. He has extensive experience diagnosing and managing skin conditions such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis and teaches procedural techniques including corticosteroid joint injections, biopsies, and minor surgical procedures.

Dr. Clebak emphasizes procedural competency, clinical reasoning, and diagnostic accuracy within resident training, aligning clinical experiences with competency-based milestones. His scholarly work in dermatology, infectious disease management, and primary care procedures informs both his teaching and the development of standardized curricula for residency programs.

Member, National Association of Designated Institutional Officials (NADIO), 2024 to present

Faculty, STFM Residency Faculty Fundamentals Certificate Program, Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, 2024 to present

Member, Graduate Medical Education Committee, Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, 2022 to present

Member, American College of Healthcare Executives, 2021 to present

Member, Family Medicine Education Consortium, 2019 to present

Member, Evidence-Informed Decision Making/ Information Mastery Collaborative, Family Medicine Education Consortium, 2019 to present

Member, Primary Care Innovators Network, Family Medicine Education Consortium, 2019 to present

Member, Program Directors Assembly, Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, 2019 to present

Member, Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors, 2019 to present

Member, Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, 2017 to present

Member, Resident and Student Affairs Committee, Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, 2017 to present

Member, Evidence Based Medicine Collaborative, Society of Teachers of Medicine, 2017 to present

Member, Hospital Medicine and Procedural Training Collaborative, Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, 2017 to present

Member, Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, 2016 to present

Fellow, American Academy of Family Physicians (FAAFP), 2015 to present

Board-certified in Family Medicine, American Board of Family Medicine, 2012

Member, American Academy of Family Physicians, 2005 to present