Carmen E. Guerra, M.D., M.S.C.E., F.A.C.P.
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 Director, Healthy Woman Program/Penn Medicine Breast Health Initiative, University of Pennsylvania Health System
Faculty Search Advisor, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine
Founding Director, Dr. Edward S. Cooper Leadership Development Program for PSOM faculty, Perelman School of Medicine
Lead Faculty Search Advisor, Perelman School of Medicine
Senior Fellow, Center for Public Health Initiatives
Vice Chair, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine
Founding Associate Director of Community Outreach & Engagement, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania
Affiliate Member, Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation at the Abramson Cancer Center
Director, Center for Community Outreach and Engagement, Abramson Cancer Center
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
Increasing Participation of Patients from Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations in Cancer Clinical Trials: An ASCO-ACCC Collaboration
Breast Cancer Town Hall. WDAS, Philadelphia. October 20, 2015
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.
Art of Aging: Screening Saves Lives. WABC, Philadelphia, January 7, 2016.
Breast Cancer: What all Latinas should know. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Aware for all Northeast. April 15, 2021.
"Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Cancer Screening" Philadelphia Magazine, 12/5/2020
#WomenofPenn: Seeds of Inspiration Rooted in Childhood. Penn Medicine Blog. May 9, 2019.
6 Things All Black Women Need to Know About Breast Cancer by Rozalyn Frasier. Nov, 2021.
Amplifying Scientific Innovation Podcast: Clinical Trial Diversity Panel Session. Jan 11, 2021.
"Diversity in Clinical Trials," Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Health Summit, Nov 17, 2021
The reality of cancer risks - and bacon by Sandy Bauers
Stories of Innovation, Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Innovation. Jan, 2019.
Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer: Communication is Key
Philadelphia Magazine's Think Pink 2017
Health Care Organization Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
Pennsylvania Senator Art Haywood: Ask Art Live Series on Affordable Healthcare Open Enrollment, Dec 15, 2022
Doctora latina rompe barreras para ayudar a mujeres con cáncer de mama. By José Martínez. Oct, 2021.
A Primary Care Physician Explores Barriers to Cancer Prevention and Clinical Trial Accrual. ASCO Post. Oct 20, 2020.
"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.
Avoiding Getting Colorectal Cancer by Getting Screened at 45, KYW Briding Philadelphia interview
National Comprehensive Cancer Network Health Equity Report Card
Why Cancer Screenings — Even in the Middle of a Pandemic — Are Still Vitally Important. Philadelphia Magazine. Oct 31, 2020.
AACR Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
Becker's Hospital Review: Why Penn Medicine Prioritized Mobile Mammography
Caner del seno? No dejes que to conuma el panico. El Diaro NY. Oct 18, 2017.
Colon Cancer Alliance rings the NASDAQ closing bell in promotion of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Times Square, New York, March 1, 2011
Black and Hispanic Americans are most likely to miss health screenings due to COVID-19. A Penn physician is meeting the need.
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, Join the Fight Against Breast Cancer. October, 2016.
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, October, 2018
You were diagnosed with DCIS. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
La detección temprana del cáncer de seno salva vidas. Oct 12, 2020 Univision 41 NYC
Harvard Medical School Health Disparities Resources for Providers
American Board of Internal Medicine | Health Care Org. Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
The Cancer Screening Crisis, KYW Philadelphia, Oct 1, 2022
ASCO podcast: Social Determinants of Health - Access to Care. Oct, 2021.
Genetic Testing Saves Lives. So Why Aren’t More Women Of Color Doing It? by Lauren Pluckett-Pope. Oct, 2021.
Preventing Colorectal Cancer in Vulnerable Populations: A Former Harold Amos Scholar Searches for Solutions: A Grantee Story of Carmen E. Guerra, MD, MSCE
Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
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
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.
Philadelphia Magazine Think Pink Breast Cancer - you can help save lives. October, 2015.
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
American Cancer Society Get Screened PSA (in English)
Promoting Cancer Equity and Inclusion Through Navigation Efforts
Inquirer Live: Cancer Care for All
Lack of Broadband, Rise of Anti-Vaxxer Rhetoric Threaten Black Community During Pandemic
The Reality of Cancer Risk….and Bacon. Interview by Sandy Bauers from the Philadelphia Inquirer. October 30, 2015.
Science Meets Community: Cancer in the Delaware Valley. Abramson Cancer Center Publication, May, 2015.
Oncolink Brown Bag Webchat: Advances in Colorectal Cancer Screening. March 11, 2011.
Delays in mammography screening during the pandemic. Oct 14, 2020 ABC7 News Chicago.
American Cancer Society Get Screened (in Spanish)
Cáncer de Seno: Mujeres latinas luchan por salvar vidas. By José Martínez. Oct, 2021.
American Cancer Society has new guidelines on when to start mammograms. CBS-3 Philadelphia. October 20, 2015.
American Board of Internal Medicine Blog, Apr 6, 2018.
An American Tale: Making a difficult journey easier for others. Carmen Guerra, M.D. Philadelphia Magazine, April 28, 2018.
Drive, Walk, Mail, Text: How to Connect Communities to Colorectal Cancer Screening
Search PubMed for articles
Increasing Participation of Patients from Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations in Cancer Clinical Trials: An ASCO-ACCC Collaboration
Breast Cancer Town Hall. WDAS, Philadelphia. October 20, 2015
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.
Art of Aging: Screening Saves Lives. WABC, Philadelphia, January 7, 2016.
Breast Cancer: What all Latinas should know. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Aware for all Northeast. April 15, 2021.
"Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Cancer Screening" Philadelphia Magazine, 12/5/2020
#WomenofPenn: Seeds of Inspiration Rooted in Childhood. Penn Medicine Blog. May 9, 2019.
6 Things All Black Women Need to Know About Breast Cancer by Rozalyn Frasier. Nov, 2021.
Amplifying Scientific Innovation Podcast: Clinical Trial Diversity Panel Session. Jan 11, 2021.
"Diversity in Clinical Trials," Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Health Summit, Nov 17, 2021
The reality of cancer risks - and bacon by Sandy Bauers
Stories of Innovation, Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Innovation. Jan, 2019.
Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer: Communication is Key
Philadelphia Magazine's Think Pink 2017
Health Care Organization Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
Pennsylvania Senator Art Haywood: Ask Art Live Series on Affordable Healthcare Open Enrollment, Dec 15, 2022
Doctora latina rompe barreras para ayudar a mujeres con cáncer de mama. By José Martínez. Oct, 2021.
A Primary Care Physician Explores Barriers to Cancer Prevention and Clinical Trial Accrual. ASCO Post. Oct 20, 2020.
"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.
Avoiding Getting Colorectal Cancer by Getting Screened at 45, KYW Briding Philadelphia interview
National Comprehensive Cancer Network Health Equity Report Card
Why Cancer Screenings — Even in the Middle of a Pandemic — Are Still Vitally Important. Philadelphia Magazine. Oct 31, 2020.
AACR Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
Becker's Hospital Review: Why Penn Medicine Prioritized Mobile Mammography
Caner del seno? No dejes que to conuma el panico. El Diaro NY. Oct 18, 2017.
Colon Cancer Alliance rings the NASDAQ closing bell in promotion of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Times Square, New York, March 1, 2011
Black and Hispanic Americans are most likely to miss health screenings due to COVID-19. A Penn physician is meeting the need.
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, Join the Fight Against Breast Cancer. October, 2016.
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, October, 2018
You were diagnosed with DCIS. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
La detección temprana del cáncer de seno salva vidas. Oct 12, 2020 Univision 41 NYC
Harvard Medical School Health Disparities Resources for Providers
American Board of Internal Medicine | Health Care Org. Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
The Cancer Screening Crisis, KYW Philadelphia, Oct 1, 2022
ASCO podcast: Social Determinants of Health - Access to Care. Oct, 2021.
Genetic Testing Saves Lives. So Why Aren’t More Women Of Color Doing It? by Lauren Pluckett-Pope. Oct, 2021.
Preventing Colorectal Cancer in Vulnerable Populations: A Former Harold Amos Scholar Searches for Solutions: A Grantee Story of Carmen E. Guerra, MD, MSCE
Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
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
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.
Philadelphia Magazine Think Pink Breast Cancer - you can help save lives. October, 2015.
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
American Cancer Society Get Screened PSA (in English)
Promoting Cancer Equity and Inclusion Through Navigation Efforts
Inquirer Live: Cancer Care for All
Lack of Broadband, Rise of Anti-Vaxxer Rhetoric Threaten Black Community During Pandemic
The Reality of Cancer Risk….and Bacon. Interview by Sandy Bauers from the Philadelphia Inquirer. October 30, 2015.
Science Meets Community: Cancer in the Delaware Valley. Abramson Cancer Center Publication, May, 2015.
Oncolink Brown Bag Webchat: Advances in Colorectal Cancer Screening. March 11, 2011.
Delays in mammography screening during the pandemic. Oct 14, 2020 ABC7 News Chicago.
American Cancer Society Get Screened (in Spanish)
Cáncer de Seno: Mujeres latinas luchan por salvar vidas. By José Martínez. Oct, 2021.
American Cancer Society has new guidelines on when to start mammograms. CBS-3 Philadelphia. October 20, 2015.
American Board of Internal Medicine Blog, Apr 6, 2018.
An American Tale: Making a difficult journey easier for others. Carmen Guerra, M.D. Philadelphia Magazine, April 28, 2018.
Drive, Walk, Mail, Text: How to Connect Communities to Colorectal Cancer Screening
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.
Permanent linkB.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.
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 Clinical Expertise
Cancer Screening and PreventionWomen's Health
Disease Prevention
Description of Other Expertise
Student, Trainee and Faculty Diversity and InclusionSelected Publications
Lin JK, Niu J, Giordano S, Li P, Snyder R, Liao K, Li M, Guerra CE, Doshi J. : Racial and Ethnic Disparities among Medicare Fee-For-Service Beneficiaries with Metastatic Breast, Colorectal, Lung, and Prostate Cancer. J Clin Oncol 43(30): 3254-3265, Oct 2025.Hoadley A, Fleisher L, Kenny C, Kelly PJ, Ma X, Wu J, Guerra C, Leader AE, Alhajji M, D'Avanzo P, Landau Z, Bass SB.: Exploring Racial Disparities in Awareness and Perceptions of Oncology Clinical Trials: Cross-Sectional Analysis of Baseline Data From the mychoice Study. JMIR Cancer 30(10): e56048, Sept 2025.
Paruzzo L, Eshaghi K, Ghilardi G, Doucette A, Ho M, Carturan A, Vogl DT, Waxman AJ, Kapur S, Fardella E, Pucillo M, Imparato A, Stella F, Guruprasad P, De Souza V, Maillie L, Kapariz-Ruiz S, Bouvier R, Cohen AD, Joshi D, Porter D, Garfall A, Stadtmauer EA, Guerra CE, Susanibar S, Ruella M.: Access and Outcomes of Racial and Ethnic Minority Health Populations Receiving Commercial Anti-BCMA CART Therapy for Myeloma. Blood ICT 1(2): 100007, Sept 2025.
Dako F, Karasek P, Seward J, White K, Vachani A, Rendle K, Guerra C.: Measuring Health-Related Social Risks in a Lung Cancer Screening Cohort. J Am Coll Radiol 22(7): 737-743, July 2025.
Guerra CE, Litton JK, Viswanath CE, Fendrick AM: Multicancer Early Detection Tests at a Crossroads: Commercial Availability Ahead of Definitive Evidence. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 45(3): e473834, Jun 2025.
Maillie L, Sisk S, Coghill A, Guerra C, Aboulafia D, Atkinson T, Barta S.: Geospatial disparities in access to clinical trials for AIDS-defining malignancies in the continental United States. J Clin Oncol 43 (supp 16), June 2025.
Parikh R, Hearn C, Frimpong Y, Li Y, Goel K, Ferber J, Berwanger K, Boyd D, Guerra C: Machine learning–informed navigation of patients in persistent poverty zip codes to improve colorectal cancer screening: A prospective controlled study. J Clin Oncol 23 (supp 16), June 2025.
Bakillah E, Rosenthal JW, Syvyk S, Wirtalla C, Sharpe J, Merchant RM, Mehta SJ, Guerra CE, Kelz R.: Colorectal Cancer and Quality of Life: A Medicare Advantage Study by Race, Ethnicity, and Language. J Surg Oncol 131(7): 1373-1383, June 2025.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine : Opportunities and challenges for the development and adoption of multicancer detection tests: Proceedings of a workshop. National Cancer Policy Forum Proceedings. National Academies Press, May 2025 Notes: https://doi.org/10.17226/29114.
Hoffman RM, Wolf AMD, Raoof S, Guerra CE, Church TR, Elkin EB, Etzioni RD, Shih YT, Skates SJ, Manassaram-Baptiste D, Smith RA: Multicancer early detection testing: Guidance for primary care discussions with patients. Cancer 131(7): e35823, Apr 2025.