Community Scholars-In-Residence

The Community Scholars-in-Residence Program began in 2015 with funding from the CEAR Core of the Penn CTSA grant. Now jointly funded by the CEAR Core and the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (CPCRN) of the UPenn Prevention Research Center, the program aims to train young researchers on the fundamentals of community-engaged health research, and provides funding for the selected Scholars to design and conduct a research project with a community partner.

Please contact Krista Scheffey (krista.scheffey@pennmedicine.upenn.edu) if you are interested in learning more about this opportunity.

2017-2018 Community Scholars-In-Residence

Joseph Benci, PhD, MPH

Postdoctoral Researcher, Radiation Oncology

Project Title: Improving Survivorship Care Plans for Chronic Cancer Survivors

Community Partner: Philadelphia Multiple Myeloma Networking Group

Faculty Mentor: Christine Hill-Kayser, MD

Akin Oyalowo, MD

Clinical Fellow, Division of Gastroenterology

Project Title: Appropriate Adherence to Fecal Immunochemical and Occult Blood Test Screening in Community Health Centers

Community Partner: Health Federation of Philadelphia/Health Annex

Faculty Mentor: Shivan Mehta, MD, MBA, MSHP

2016-2017 Community Scholars-In-Residence 

Bridgette M. Brawner, PhD, APRN

Assistant Professor of Nursing

Project Title: Understanding Disparities in Philadelphia’s Behavioral Health Service Penetration Rates

Community Partner: Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disABILITY Services, Engaging Males of Color Initiative

Nadia Dowshen, MD, MSHP

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Project Title: Supporting Healthy Identities (SHINE) for Gender Non-conforming Youth

Community Partners: Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Division of Maternal Child and Family Health (MCFH); and the AIDS Activities Coordinating Office (AACO)