Jennifer Zepf, D.O.
Assistant Professor
Department of Medical Sciences
Dr. Jennifer Zepf is a medical educator and board-certified clinical pathologist. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Sciences and serves as Vice Chair of the Department of Pathology at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.
Dr. Zepf brings extensive experience, expertise, and commitment to curriculum, course, and session design. She focuses on designing learning experiences grounded in learning theory and neuroscience to help learners understand, retain, and retrieve foundational science concepts that support excellence in clinical diagnostic reasoning. She is skilled in a wide range of instructional methods, including Team-Based Learning (TBL), Case-Based Learning (CBL), and Problem-Based Learning (PBL). She has led the design, development, and implementation of numerous systems-based Phase 1 courses, including an innovative metacognitive skills curriculum. In addition, she provides faculty development and leadership to support the delivery of educational experiences that align with the school's curriculum.
Dr. Zepf earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Saint Mary's College and her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her residency in Clinical Pathology at New York Presbyterian–Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she also served as Chief Resident in Clinical Pathology.
Throughout her career, Dr. Zepf has received numerous awards recognizing her contributions to medicine and medical education. Her honors include the Distinguished Faculty Award for Medical Education Scholarship, the Distinguished Faculty Award for Pre-Clerkship Teaching, and the Paul E. Strandjord Young Investigator Award from the Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists. In 2017, she was recognized as an Inspirational Physician by the American Medical Association's Women Physicians Section.
Her areas of scholarship include metacognition, adult learning theory, active learning, and ensuring that medical education reflects the diversity of all patient populations to improve health outcomes. She is actively involved in local, regional, and national medical education communities, contributing to initiatives that advance medical education. Dr. Zepf serves as principal investigator for grants from the New Jersey Health Foundation and the AAMC Northeast Group on Educational Affairs. Her scholarship has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, including Academic Pathology, The Journal of the National Medical Association, and Clinical Teacher.
Education
- D.O., Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
- B.S., Saint Mary’s College