Carmen E. Guerra
Ruth C. and Raymond G. Perelman Professor of Medicine
Attending Physician, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Member, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center
Attending Physician, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
Senior Fellow , Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania
Member, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania
Founding co-director, UPHS Colorectal Cancer Screening Patient Navigation Program, University of Pennsylvania Health System
Senior Fellow, Center for Health Behavior Research, University of Pennsylvania
Member, Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics
Founding Associate Director of Diversity and Outreach, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania
Founding Director, Office of Diversity, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania
Founding Director, Healthy Woman Program/Penn Medicine Breast Health Initiative, University of Pennsylvania Health System
Diversity Search Advisor, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine
Founding Director, Dr. Edward S. Cooper Leadership Development Program for Women and Diverse PSOM faculty , Perelman School of Medicine
Lead Diversity Search Advisor, Perelman School of Medicine
Senior Fellow, Center for Public Health Initiatives
Vice Chair of Diversity and Inclusion, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine
Affiliate Member, Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation at the Abramson Cancer Center
Chair, Vice Chairs of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania
Department: Medicine
Contact information
Abramson Cancer Center
12-107 South Pavilion
Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine
3400 Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
12-107 South Pavilion
Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine
3400 Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: (215) 349-5200
Fax: (215) 614-0044
Fax: (215) 614-0044
Publications
Links
Search PubMed for articles
American Board of Internal Medicine Blog, Apr 6, 2018.
"Diversity in Clinical Trials," Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Health Summit, Nov 17, 2021
Preventing Colorectal Cancer in Vulnerable Populations: A Former Harold Amos Scholar Searches for Solutions: A Grantee Story of Carmen E. Guerra, MD, MSCE
Medical Interview for CBS news affiliate KYW Channel 3 Philadelphia "Colorectal Cancer Screening and Curcumin for the Chemoprevention of Colorectal Cancer. Record date 3/2/07. Air date March 27, 2007
Caner del seno? No dejes que to conuma el panico. El Diaro NY. Oct 18, 2017.
Science Meets Community: Cancer in the Delaware Valley. Abramson Cancer Center Publication, May, 2015.
American Cancer Society Get Screened (in Spanish)
Why Cancer Screenings — Even in the Middle of a Pandemic — Are Still Vitally Important. Philadelphia Magazine. Oct 31, 2020.
Doctora latina rompe barreras para ayudar a mujeres con cáncer de mama. By José Martínez. Oct, 2021.
American Cancer Society Get Screened PSA (in English)
Harvard Medical School Health Disparities Resources for Providers
Cancer Inequities. 2021 Mercy Douglas Lectureship, Feb 17, 2021.
More Black patients are participating in clinical trials for cancer treatment at Penn thanks to this effort | 5 Questions by Sandy Bauers
American Cancer Society has new guidelines on when to start mammograms. CBS-3 Philadelphia. October 20, 2015.
Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates in Practice. Webinar for Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, Quality Insights of Delaware and Quality Insights of West Virginia. February 4, 2009 and February 5, 2009.
Breast Cancer: What all Latinas should know. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, Join the Fight Against Breast Cancer. October, 2016.
An American Tale: Making a difficult journey easier for others. Carmen Guerra, M.D. Philadelphia Magazine, April 28, 2018.
"Faith, (Mis)Trust, and COVID-19" Penn Medicine Co-Sponsored Town Hall Targeting Vaccine Hesitancy in Communities of Color. University Joins with Rev. Cean James and Congressman Dwight Evans and the COVID-19 Prevention Network. December 15, 2020.
Drive, Walk, Mail, Text: How to Connect Communities to Colorectal Cancer Screening
Avoiding Getting Colorectal Cancer by Getting Screened at 45, KYW Briding Philadelphia interview
Philadelphia Magazine Think Pink Breast Cancer - you can help save lives. October, 2015.
Delays in mammography screening during the pandemic. Oct 14, 2020 ABC7 News Chicago.
Health Care Organization Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
American Board of Internal Medicine | Health Care Org. Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
The reality of cancer risks - and bacon by Sandy Bauers
Art of Aging: Screening Saves Lives. WABC, Philadelphia, January 7, 2016.
A Primary Care Physician Explores Barriers to Cancer Prevention and Clinical Trial Accrual. ASCO Post. Oct 20, 2020.
#WomenofPenn: Seeds of Inspiration Rooted in Childhood. Penn Medicine Blog. May 9, 2019.
AACR Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
Cáncer de Seno: Mujeres latinas luchan por salvar vidas. By José Martínez. Oct, 2021.
Philadelphia Magazine's Think Pink 2017
Aware for all Northeast. April 15, 2021.
La detección temprana del cáncer de seno salva vidas. Oct 12, 2020 Univision 41 NYC
The Cancer Screening Crisis, KYW Philadelphia, Oct 1, 2022
"Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Cancer Screening" Philadelphia Magazine, 12/5/2020
Amplifying Scientific Innovation Podcast: Clinical Trial Diversity Panel Session. Jan 11, 2021.
Medical interview on breast cancer for the Spanish television network Telemundo’s Maria Del Pilar’s “De Todo Un Poco” taped for live on 3/4/04 and aired on Philadelphia’s WWSI Telemundo Channel 62 on 3/8/04 at 6PM. Tape can be viewed at the URL below.
The Reality of Cancer Risk….and Bacon. Interview by Sandy Bauers from the Philadelphia Inquirer. October 30, 2015.
Breast Cancer Town Hall. WDAS, Philadelphia. October 20, 2015
Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
Increasing Participation of Patients from Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations in Cancer Clinical Trials: An ASCO-ACCC Collaboration
Lack of Broadband, Rise of Anti-Vaxxer Rhetoric Threaten Black Community During Pandemic
6 Things All Black Women Need to Know About Breast Cancer by Rozalyn Frasier. Nov, 2021.
Stories of Innovation, Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Innovation. Jan, 2019.
Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer: Communication is Key
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, October, 2018
Colon Cancer Alliance rings the NASDAQ closing bell in promotion of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Times Square, New York, March 1, 2011
Promoting Cancer Equity and Inclusion Through Navigation Efforts
Inquirer Live: Cancer Care for All
Black and Hispanic Americans are most likely to miss health screenings due to COVID-19. A Penn physician is meeting the need.
ASCO podcast: Social Determinants of Health - Access to Care. Oct, 2021.
Pennsylvania Senator Art Haywood: Ask Art Live Series on Affordable Healthcare Open Enrollment, Dec 15, 2022
Oncolink Brown Bag Webchat: Advances in Colorectal Cancer Screening. March 11, 2011.
Genetic Testing Saves Lives. So Why Aren’t More Women Of Color Doing It? by Lauren Pluckett-Pope. Oct, 2021.
You were diagnosed with DCIS. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Search PubMed for articles
American Board of Internal Medicine Blog, Apr 6, 2018.
"Diversity in Clinical Trials," Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Health Summit, Nov 17, 2021
Preventing Colorectal Cancer in Vulnerable Populations: A Former Harold Amos Scholar Searches for Solutions: A Grantee Story of Carmen E. Guerra, MD, MSCE
Medical Interview for CBS news affiliate KYW Channel 3 Philadelphia "Colorectal Cancer Screening and Curcumin for the Chemoprevention of Colorectal Cancer. Record date 3/2/07. Air date March 27, 2007
Caner del seno? No dejes que to conuma el panico. El Diaro NY. Oct 18, 2017.
Science Meets Community: Cancer in the Delaware Valley. Abramson Cancer Center Publication, May, 2015.
American Cancer Society Get Screened (in Spanish)
Why Cancer Screenings — Even in the Middle of a Pandemic — Are Still Vitally Important. Philadelphia Magazine. Oct 31, 2020.
Doctora latina rompe barreras para ayudar a mujeres con cáncer de mama. By José Martínez. Oct, 2021.
American Cancer Society Get Screened PSA (in English)
Harvard Medical School Health Disparities Resources for Providers
Cancer Inequities. 2021 Mercy Douglas Lectureship, Feb 17, 2021.
More Black patients are participating in clinical trials for cancer treatment at Penn thanks to this effort | 5 Questions by Sandy Bauers
American Cancer Society has new guidelines on when to start mammograms. CBS-3 Philadelphia. October 20, 2015.
Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates in Practice. Webinar for Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, Quality Insights of Delaware and Quality Insights of West Virginia. February 4, 2009 and February 5, 2009.
Breast Cancer: What all Latinas should know. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, Join the Fight Against Breast Cancer. October, 2016.
An American Tale: Making a difficult journey easier for others. Carmen Guerra, M.D. Philadelphia Magazine, April 28, 2018.
"Faith, (Mis)Trust, and COVID-19" Penn Medicine Co-Sponsored Town Hall Targeting Vaccine Hesitancy in Communities of Color. University Joins with Rev. Cean James and Congressman Dwight Evans and the COVID-19 Prevention Network. December 15, 2020.
Drive, Walk, Mail, Text: How to Connect Communities to Colorectal Cancer Screening
Avoiding Getting Colorectal Cancer by Getting Screened at 45, KYW Briding Philadelphia interview
Philadelphia Magazine Think Pink Breast Cancer - you can help save lives. October, 2015.
Delays in mammography screening during the pandemic. Oct 14, 2020 ABC7 News Chicago.
Health Care Organization Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
American Board of Internal Medicine | Health Care Org. Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
The reality of cancer risks - and bacon by Sandy Bauers
Art of Aging: Screening Saves Lives. WABC, Philadelphia, January 7, 2016.
A Primary Care Physician Explores Barriers to Cancer Prevention and Clinical Trial Accrual. ASCO Post. Oct 20, 2020.
#WomenofPenn: Seeds of Inspiration Rooted in Childhood. Penn Medicine Blog. May 9, 2019.
AACR Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
Cáncer de Seno: Mujeres latinas luchan por salvar vidas. By José Martínez. Oct, 2021.
Philadelphia Magazine's Think Pink 2017
Aware for all Northeast. April 15, 2021.
La detección temprana del cáncer de seno salva vidas. Oct 12, 2020 Univision 41 NYC
The Cancer Screening Crisis, KYW Philadelphia, Oct 1, 2022
"Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Cancer Screening" Philadelphia Magazine, 12/5/2020
Amplifying Scientific Innovation Podcast: Clinical Trial Diversity Panel Session. Jan 11, 2021.
Medical interview on breast cancer for the Spanish television network Telemundo’s Maria Del Pilar’s “De Todo Un Poco” taped for live on 3/4/04 and aired on Philadelphia’s WWSI Telemundo Channel 62 on 3/8/04 at 6PM. Tape can be viewed at the URL below.
The Reality of Cancer Risk….and Bacon. Interview by Sandy Bauers from the Philadelphia Inquirer. October 30, 2015.
Breast Cancer Town Hall. WDAS, Philadelphia. October 20, 2015
Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
Increasing Participation of Patients from Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations in Cancer Clinical Trials: An ASCO-ACCC Collaboration
Lack of Broadband, Rise of Anti-Vaxxer Rhetoric Threaten Black Community During Pandemic
6 Things All Black Women Need to Know About Breast Cancer by Rozalyn Frasier. Nov, 2021.
Stories of Innovation, Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Innovation. Jan, 2019.
Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer: Communication is Key
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, October, 2018
Colon Cancer Alliance rings the NASDAQ closing bell in promotion of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Times Square, New York, March 1, 2011
Promoting Cancer Equity and Inclusion Through Navigation Efforts
Inquirer Live: Cancer Care for All
Black and Hispanic Americans are most likely to miss health screenings due to COVID-19. A Penn physician is meeting the need.
ASCO podcast: Social Determinants of Health - Access to Care. Oct, 2021.
Pennsylvania Senator Art Haywood: Ask Art Live Series on Affordable Healthcare Open Enrollment, Dec 15, 2022
Oncolink Brown Bag Webchat: Advances in Colorectal Cancer Screening. March 11, 2011.
Genetic Testing Saves Lives. So Why Aren’t More Women Of Color Doing It? by Lauren Pluckett-Pope. Oct, 2021.
You were diagnosed with DCIS. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Education:
B.A. (Psychobiology)
New York University, 1989.
M.D. (Medicine)
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 1993.
M.S.C.E. (Epidemiology)
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2006.
B.A. (Psychobiology)
New York University, 1989.
M.D. (Medicine)
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 1993.
M.S.C.E. (Epidemiology)
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2006.
Post-Graduate Training
Intern in Medicine, Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , 1993-1994.
Resident in Medicine, Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , 1994-1996.
Fellow , NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Summer Training Institute on Randomized Clinical Trials Involving Behavioral Interventions, 2003-2003.
Fellow, Robert Wood Johnson Amos Medical Faculty Development Program, 2005-2009.
Executive Leadership Development, Certificate of Professional Development, Aresty Institute of Executive Education, the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 2012-2015.
Executive Leadership Development, Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM), 2018-2019.
Fellow, National Cancer Institute Multilevel Intervention Training Institute, 2022-2022.
Permanent linkIntern in Medicine, Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , 1993-1994.
Resident in Medicine, Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , 1994-1996.
Fellow , NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Summer Training Institute on Randomized Clinical Trials Involving Behavioral Interventions, 2003-2003.
Fellow, Robert Wood Johnson Amos Medical Faculty Development Program, 2005-2009.
Executive Leadership Development, Certificate of Professional Development, Aresty Institute of Executive Education, the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 2012-2015.
Executive Leadership Development, Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM), 2018-2019.
Fellow, National Cancer Institute Multilevel Intervention Training Institute, 2022-2022.
Description of Research Expertise
Health disparitiesBarriers to accessing cancer screening
Barriers to accessing clinical trials
Colorectal cancer screening
Breast cancer screening
Health literacy
Participation in Cancer Clinical Trials by Underserved Populations
Description of Other Expertise
Student, Trainee and Faculty Diversity and InclusionDescription of Itmat Expertise
Dr. Guerra is interested in health disparities related to access to cancer screening and cancer clinical trial participation.Selected Publications
Ramos E, Nguyen VV, Santaniello A, Dornsife D, Johnson R, Wileyto EW, Vonderheide R, Guerra CE: Addressing financial toxicity in cancer clinical trial participation: Barriers and facilitators of enrolling in a reimbursement program for out-of-pocket travel costs. Cancer Research Apr 2024.Jones MC, Buckley W, Elie K, Nguyen V, Kim S, Ferber J, Cordoba A, Nivar I, Rohn K, Wooden C, Newberry B, Pain D, Lee D, Guerra CE: A culturally sensitive video increases prostate cancer screening knowledge and reduces decisional conflict in a population of diverse men. Cancer Research Apr 2024.
Dako F, Holden N, Narayan A, Guerra C: Understanding Health-Related Social Risks. In press. J Am Coll Radiol Mar 2024.
Bakillah E, Syvyk S, Sharpe J, Wirtalla C, Merchant RM, Mehta S, Guerra CE, Kelz R.: The Effect of Colorectal Cancer Treatment on Quality of Life: A Paired Medicare Advantage Analysis. 19th Annual Academic Surgical Congress Feb 2024.
Bakillah E, Syvyk S, Wirtalla C, Merchant RM, Mehta S, MD, MBA, Guerra CE, Kelz R.: The Burden of Colorectal Cancer Treatment on Quality of Life in Medicare Advantage Patients. 19th Annual Academic Surgical Congress Feb 2024.
Herrera C, Saikali L, Lepore G, Chen A, Ramadan O, Guerra CE. : Evaluating Patient Experience with a Surgical Navigation Program for Uninsured Patients. 19th Annual Academic Surgical Congress Feb 2024.
Villalona S, Castillo BS, Chavez Perez C, Ferreira A, Nivar I, Cisneros J, Guerra CE: Interventions to Mitigate Financial Toxicity in Adult Patients with Cancer in the United States: A Scoping Review. Curr Oncol 31(2): 918-932, Feb 2024.
Guerra CE, Sharma PV, Castillo BS: Multi-Cancer Early Detection: The New Frontier in Cancer Early Detection. Annual Reviews of Medicine 75: 67-81, Jan 2024.
Guerra C, Yang C: Health Care System Approaches to Addressing Cancer Health Disparities. In press. Cancer Health Disparities: From Determinants of Disparities to Solutions for Equity. Hughes-Halbert C. (eds.). Springer Science, 2024.
Martei YM, Afari HA, Guerra CE: How to Promote Diversity in Cardio-Oncology Clinical Trials Running Title. In press. JACC: CardioOncology 2024.