Karen Berg (politician)
{{short description|American physician and politician}}
{{About|the physician and politician|the religious writer|Karen Berg}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Karen Berg
| birth_name =
| birth_place =
| spouse =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|12|30}}{{cite web | url=https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/Pages/Legislator-Profile.aspx?DistrictNumber=126 | title=Legislator-Profile - Legislative Research Commission }}
| party = Democratic
| state_senate = Kentucky
| district = 26th
| term_start = July 13, 2020
| predecessor = Ernie Harris
| education = University of Kentucky (BA)
University of Louisville (MD)
| children = Henry Berg-Brousseau
}}
Karen A. Berg (born December 30, 1961) is a physician and professor{{Cite web |date=2020-05-11 |title=Karen Berg, M.D. |url=https://uoflphysicians.com/provider/karen-berg/ |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=UofL Physicians |language=en-US}} who also serves in the Kentucky State Senate, representing the 26th District. She was elected to the Kentucky Senate (26th district) as a Democrat in a special election held on June 23, 2020, defeating Bill Ferko."Democrat Karen Berg wins special election to succeed state Sen. Ernie Harris", WHAS11 television, [https://www.whas11.com/article/news/politics/elections/karen-berg-kentucky-state-senator-election-win/417-3f447090-b45f-4a56-b54f-649b9b765c90 June 30, 2020] She succeeded Senator Ernie Harris, who resigned on April 15, 2020.{{Cite web |title=Ernie Harris |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Ernie_Harris |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}} She is the only Jewish member of the Kentucky State Senate.{{Cite web |title=Legislator-Profile - Legislative Research Commission |url=https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/Pages/Legislator-Profile.aspx?DistrictNumber=126 |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=legislature.ky.gov}}
Early life
Berg is a graduate of Central High School in Louisville, Kentucky, the University of Kentucky where she earned her Bachelor of Arts, and the University of Louisville, where she earned a Doctor of Medicine in 1987.{{Cite web|title=Karen Berg|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Karen_Berg|access-date=2020-07-09|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Dr. Karen Berg, MD {{!}} Louisville, KY {{!}} Healthgrades|url=https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-karen-berg-xvkhh|access-date=2020-07-09|website=www.healthgrades.com}}
She is the daughter of Harold Berg, a physician and artist.{{Cite web|last=Chottiner|first=Lee|date=2017-06-06|title=Forty-eight years after unveiling, Berg mural to be rededicated at JCL Awards Meeting|url=https://jewishlouisville.org/forty-eight-years-unveiling-berg-mural-rededicated-jcl-awards-meeting/|access-date=2020-07-09|website=Jewish Community of Louisville|language=en-US}}
Career
Berg is a diagnostic radiologist.{{Cite web|title=Dr. Karen Berg|url=https://races.dlcc.org/races/dr-karen-berg/|access-date=2020-07-09|website=DLCC|language=en-US}} She is also an assistant professor in the Department of Radiology at the University of Louisville.{{Cite web |title=Dr. Karen Berg, M.D. — School of Medicine University of Louisville |url=https://louisville.edu/medicine/departments/radiology/faculty/dr-karen-berg-m-d |access-date=2020-07-09 |website=louisville.edu}}
Berg ran for the Kentucky State Senate in 2018, losing the seat to incumbent Ernie Harris. She won the seat in a special election in June 2020 after Harris announced his retirement.{{Cite web|title=Democrat Karen Berg wins special election to succeed state Sen. Ernie Harris|url=https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/politics/elections/karen-berg-kentucky-state-senator-election-win/417-3f447090-b45f-4a56-b54f-649b9b765c90|access-date=2020-07-09|website=wwltv.com|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-04-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417140735/https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/politics/elections/karen-berg-kentucky-state-senator-election-win/417-3f447090-b45f-4a56-b54f-649b9b765c90|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=Democrats Flip First State Senate Seat For First Time In A Decade|url=https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/lexington/news/2020/07/02/democrat-elected-in-state-senate-special-election|access-date=2020-07-09|website=spectrumnews1.com|language=en}} This was the first time in 25 years that the seat was won by a Democrat.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-01|title=Democrats flip state Senate seat held by Republicans for 25 years|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election/kentucky-election-karen-berg-mitch-mcconnell-state-senate-a9596181.html|access-date=2020-07-09|website=The Independent|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Democrat Karen Berg wins special election to replace state GOP Sen. Ernie Harris, who held seat 25 years {{!}} NKyTribune|url=https://www.nkytribune.com/2020/07/democrat-karen-berg-wins-special-election-to-replace-state-gop-sen-ernie-harris-who-held-seat-25-years/|access-date=2020-07-09|language=en-US}} She is the only Jewish member serving on the Kentucky State Senate.{{Cite web|title=Karen Berg To Become Only Jewish Member of Kentucky State Legislature|url=https://crownheights.info/jewish-news/709898/karen-berg-to-become-only-jewish-member-of-kentucky-state-legislature/|access-date=2020-07-09|website=CrownHeights.info - Chabad News, Crown Heights News, Lubavitch News|date=7 July 2020 |language=en}}
She supports Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s efforts to reinstate Kentucky's health insurance exchange, a program that was abandoned by previous Republican governor Matt Bevin.{{Cite web|last=Chottiner|first=Lee|title=Physician to become only Jewish member of Kentucky's state legislature|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/physician-to-become-only-jewish-member-of-kentuckys-state-legislature/|access-date=2020-07-09|website=www.timesofisrael.com|language=en-US}}
Berg is a member of the Kentucky Antisemitism Task Force started by Governor Andy Beshear on December 21, 2023. The task force was founded as a response to bomb threats across the United States that targeted many locations including Kentucky synagogues.The task force is also responsible for revising training for law enforcement and Holocaust curriculum in Kentucky public middle and high schools.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-22 |title=Kentucky starts task force against antisemitism |url=https://www.lpm.org/news/2023-12-22/kentucky-starts-task-force-against-antisemitism |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=Louisville Public Media |language=en}}
During the 2023 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly, Berg sponsored five amendments to Senate Bill 150: AN ACT relating to children.{{Cite web |title=23RS SB 150 |url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/23rs/sb150.html#SFA3 |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=apps.legislature.ky.gov}} Her advocacy for LGBTQ+ youth in Kentucky prevented the passage of the bill.
= Controversy =
= Senate Session Standing Committees =
- Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (S) (Member)
- Transportation (S) (Member)
- BR Sub. on Health & Family Services (S) (Liaison Member)
- Judiciary (S) (Member)
- Health Services (S) (Member)
= Interim Joint Committees =
= Statutory Committees =
= Caucuses =
Personal life
Berg's son, Henry Berg-Brousseau, was a transgender rights advocate and worked as a deputy press secretary for politics of the Human Rights Campaign.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-21 |title=Transgender rights advocate Henry Berg-Brousseau dies at 24 |url=https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-louisville-4178def3dc8843761f4f54c03aea46da |access-date=2022-12-21 |publisher=Associated Press |language=en}} In 2015, at 16 years old, he testified against a bathroom bill in the Kentucky state legislature.{{cite news |title=Transgender rights activist Henry Berg-Brousseau dies aged 24 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/dec/21/transgender-rights-activist-henry-berg-brousseau-dies-aged-24 |access-date=December 22, 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=December 22, 2022}} He died by suicide at the age of 24 on December 16, 2022.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{CongLinks|votesmart=178058}}
{{Kentucky State Senators|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berg, Karen}}
Category:Jewish state legislators in Kentucky
Category:Democratic Party Kentucky state senators
Category:21st-century members of the Kentucky General Assembly
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:Jewish American women in politics
Category:University of Kentucky alumni
Category:University of Louisville School of Medicine alumni
Category:21st-century American Jews
Category:Women state legislators in Kentucky
Category:21st-century American women physicians
Category:21st-century American physicians