Student Karsen Krebs

2025 Shirley Carpenter Endowed Scholarship Recipient

Born and raised in Plains, Montana, Karsen Krebs grew up with the values of connection, integrity, and service.

Now a third-year medical student at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM), Karsen builds on that foundation through clinical training, research, and outreach. His work in tendon regeneration at Boise State University advanced understanding of healing, and his leadership in the Ophthalmology Club fostered education and community engagement.

A former wildland firefighter and fly-fishing guide, Karsen witnessed the body’s resilience under stress and learned how exercise, nutrition, and rest unlock its natural healing ability. These experiences reinforced his belief in the osteopathic tenet that the body is capable of self-regulation and self-healing.

He also embraces the principle that structure and function are reciprocally intertwined, recognizing how restoring alignment can transform both physical and emotional well-being. In his future practice, Karsen plans to integrate osteopathic manipulative medicine and preventive care—especially important in rural Montana, where access to specialized therapies can be limited.

Karsen envisions returning to his home state to serve as both physician and community advocate—providing whole-person, relationship-based care that reflects Montana’s spirit of strength, compassion, and neighborliness.

The Shirley Carpenter Endowed Scholarship Fund honors the remarkable legacy of Shirley Carpenter, whose leadership shaped osteopathic medicine across the Northwest.
With support from the Montana Osteopathic Medical Association and generous donors, this scholarship continues her legacy by supporting Montana’s future osteopathic physicians.