Meet Our Team

Cameron began his career as a business major at Duquesne University where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration. After his start as a Business Analyst, he began to question who he was helping, and started to explore the need for a deeper meaning to his career path. This led him to Robert Morris University and Carlow University where he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Nursing, with a Nurse Practitioner Degree, board certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

After two years working in the ICU at UPMC Children’s Hospital, he transitioned to Family General Medicine. It was here that he truly began to see the devastation of the Metabolic/Insulin Resistance Syndrome pandemic and all the chronic diseases devastating the health of our communities.

Cameron is excited to be a founding member of Trajectory Health Partners to help patients along  their journey of disease remission, drug de-escalation and prevention by helping them understand and address the root causes, especially Insulin Resistance.  He has also started the clinical pathway to certification as a Metabolic Health Practitioner (MHP) through the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners. He lives a life of health, including proper human nutrition and physical activity. Cameron hopes to be a role model, especially to his generation, and even those much younger who are already  affected by poor metabolic health.

Gail and Dr. Jerome-Zapadka have been friends for over 30 years, and always talked about someday working together. It was Gail, who in 2004, invited Dr. KJZ to a Geneva College lecture about “faux“ (fake) food and its impact on health. This had a profound effect on Dr. KJZ’s career path. They still reminisce that this prompted Dr. KJZ to clean out her kitchen closet and get rid of her children’s Fruit Roll-ups and Gushers, among many other items!

When Gail heard about the creation of Trajectory Health Partners, she was “all in” at the very start and knew that she wanted to have a role.
 

Over the past 25 years there were three people who influenced Gail’s growing interest in the importance of nutrition: Her friend, Rita Hanna, a dietician, who piqued Gail’s interest in why"French women don’t get fat”; her son, who many years ago decried the fast food industry as being damaging to our national health; and her friend, Dr. KJZ from whom she learned that liver disease brought on by poor nutrition was now affecting even our youngest population.
 

Spurred on by a desire to help, Gail has also completed training through the Nutrition Network and is now a Nutrition Network Certified Health Coach Advisor.

Cheryl recently retired from the business world after a 32-year career. She is so excited to be part of the THP team that is striving for a healthier lifestyle for each patient. She truly believes in the mission of this practice!

Gregg began his journey as a patient at the VGA Center for Obesity Medicine. He had multiple and significant metabolic abnormalities including Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic (Fatty) Liver Disease. By embracing the lessons taught around nutrition, physical activity and other lifestyle changes, Gregg experienced dramatic improvement in his health and energy level.

Inspired by his newfound knowledge, health improvements and significant weight loss, Gregg asked to volunteer with Dr. Jerome-Zapadka. Together they decided that he would seek certification through the Nutrition Network. Now, Gregg is working as a Nutrition Network Certified Health Coach Advisor.

Besides nutrition, and drawing on his own experiences, he will work with patients in areas of motivation, planning, problem solving, relapse, good sleep habits, and chronic stress management, which can all affect the success of the patient’s health journey. Through this intervention, Gregg hopes to help each patient discover their “why” in their healing process.

Retiring in September of 2021 after a 44-year career in Medical Diagnostic Imaging, Melissa decided it was time to take charge of her own health and wellbeing after blood work revealed Prediabetes in addition to already having hypertension. In March of 2022 she picked up the phone and called the one person she knew who could help her: Dr. Karen Jerome-Zapadka, her best friend.  It was clear after their conversation that Melissa met the criterion for Metabolic (Insulin Resistance) Syndrome, and indeed her insulin level was elevated. Melissa started following Dr. Zapadka’s plan for good metabolic health so she could maintain the active style of living she wanted.

With this journey came reversal of her Prediabetes, improvement in her blood pressure, increase in her energy level, a 70 pound weight loss … and fitness!  “I was introduced to the 12-week in-home resistance training series and found my love for fitness once again, something that I thought was lost forever,” said Melissa.

Fitness has now become a passion. In September of 2023, Melissa successfully achieved Certification as a Group Fitness Instructor through The American Council on Exercise (ACE). She recently achieved certification as a Senior Fitness Specialist. It is Melissa’s sincere hope that she will help as many people as possible along their journey toward good health, fit and active daily living and happiness.

​Stan is excited to transition to a role at THP after his retirement from a 30-year career in civil engineering. He is eager to support patients with the Velacur liver scan and to be a positive, engaging face at our practice. Stan believes and practices a life of exercise and nutrition, and is excited to support THP's mission.