Carmen E. Guerra, M.D., M.S.C.E., F.A.C.P.

Ruth C. and Raymond G. Perelman Associate 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
Associate Member, Center for Molecular Studies in Digestive and Liver Diseases, University of Pennsylvania
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
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
Advisory Dean, Dr. Helen O. Dickens House, Perelman School of Medicine
Affiliate Member, Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation at the Abramson Cancer Center
Facilitator, Program to Advance Clinician Educators, Perelman School of Medicine
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
Science Meets Community: Cancer in the Delaware Valley. Abramson Cancer Center Publication, May, 2015.
ASCO podcast: Social Determinants of Health - Access to Care. Oct, 2021.
American Cancer Society Get Screened PSA (in English)
Cáncer de Seno: Mujeres latinas luchan por salvar vidas. By José Martínez. 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
Stories of Innovation, Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Innovation. Jan, 2019.
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
You were diagnosed with DCIS. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Black and Hispanic Americans are most likely to miss health screenings due to COVID-19. A Penn physician is meeting the need.
American Board of Internal Medicine Blog, Apr 6, 2018.
Art of Aging: Screening Saves Lives. WABC, Philadelphia, January 7, 2016.
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, Join the Fight Against Breast Cancer. October, 2016.
The Reality of Cancer Risk….and Bacon. Interview by Sandy Bauers from the Philadelphia Inquirer. October 30, 2015.
Delays in mammography screening during the pandemic. Oct 14, 2020 ABC7 News Chicago.
Why Cancer Screenings — Even in the Middle of a Pandemic — Are Still Vitally Important. Philadelphia Magazine. Oct 31, 2020.
"Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Cancer Screening" Philadelphia Magazine, 12/5/2020
6 Things All Black Women Need to Know About Breast Cancer by Rozalyn Frasier. Nov, 2021.
Drive, Walk, Mail, Text: How to Connect Communities to Colorectal Cancer Screening
Genetic Testing Saves Lives. So Why Aren’t More Women Of Color Doing It? by Lauren Pluckett-Pope. Oct, 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.
Philadelphia Magazine Think Pink Breast Cancer - you can help save lives. October, 2015.
La detección temprana del cáncer de seno salva vidas. Oct 12, 2020 Univision 41 NYC
Harvard Medical School Health Disparities Resources for Providers
Health Care Organization Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
Amplifying Scientific Innovation Podcast: Clinical Trial Diversity Panel Session. Jan 11, 2021.
Doctora latina rompe barreras para ayudar a mujeres con cáncer de mama. By José Martínez. Oct, 2021.
AACR Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
Oncolink Brown Bag Webchat: Advances in Colorectal Cancer Screening. March 11, 2011.
Colon Cancer Alliance rings the NASDAQ closing bell in promotion of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Times Square, New York, March 1, 2011
#WomenofPenn: Seeds of Inspiration Rooted in Childhood. Penn Medicine Blog. May 9, 2019.
Lack of Broadband, Rise of Anti-Vaxxer Rhetoric Threaten Black Community During Pandemic
Cancer Inequities. 2021 Mercy Douglas Lectureship, Feb 17, 2021.
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.
The reality of cancer risks - and bacon by Sandy Bauers
Breast Cancer: What all Latinas should know. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
An American Tale: Making a difficult journey easier for others. Carmen Guerra, M.D. Philadelphia Magazine, April 28, 2018.
Breast Cancer Town Hall. WDAS, Philadelphia. October 20, 2015
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, October, 2018
Aware for all Northeast. April 15, 2021.
"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.
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.
Caner del seno? No dejes que to conuma el panico. El Diaro NY. Oct 18, 2017.
A Primary Care Physician Explores Barriers to Cancer Prevention and Clinical Trial Accrual. ASCO Post. Oct 20, 2020.
American Cancer Society Get Screened (in Spanish)
"Diversity in Clinical Trials," Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Health Summit, Nov 17, 2021
Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer: Communication is Key
Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
American Board of Internal Medicine | Health Care Org. Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
Inquirer Live: Cancer Care for All
Philadelphia Magazine's Think Pink 2017
Search PubMed for articles
Science Meets Community: Cancer in the Delaware Valley. Abramson Cancer Center Publication, May, 2015.
ASCO podcast: Social Determinants of Health - Access to Care. Oct, 2021.
American Cancer Society Get Screened PSA (in English)
Cáncer de Seno: Mujeres latinas luchan por salvar vidas. By José Martínez. 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
Stories of Innovation, Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Innovation. Jan, 2019.
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
You were diagnosed with DCIS. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Black and Hispanic Americans are most likely to miss health screenings due to COVID-19. A Penn physician is meeting the need.
American Board of Internal Medicine Blog, Apr 6, 2018.
Art of Aging: Screening Saves Lives. WABC, Philadelphia, January 7, 2016.
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, Join the Fight Against Breast Cancer. October, 2016.
The Reality of Cancer Risk….and Bacon. Interview by Sandy Bauers from the Philadelphia Inquirer. October 30, 2015.
Delays in mammography screening during the pandemic. Oct 14, 2020 ABC7 News Chicago.
Why Cancer Screenings — Even in the Middle of a Pandemic — Are Still Vitally Important. Philadelphia Magazine. Oct 31, 2020.
"Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Cancer Screening" Philadelphia Magazine, 12/5/2020
6 Things All Black Women Need to Know About Breast Cancer by Rozalyn Frasier. Nov, 2021.
Drive, Walk, Mail, Text: How to Connect Communities to Colorectal Cancer Screening
Genetic Testing Saves Lives. So Why Aren’t More Women Of Color Doing It? by Lauren Pluckett-Pope. Oct, 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.
Philadelphia Magazine Think Pink Breast Cancer - you can help save lives. October, 2015.
La detección temprana del cáncer de seno salva vidas. Oct 12, 2020 Univision 41 NYC
Harvard Medical School Health Disparities Resources for Providers
Health Care Organization Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
Amplifying Scientific Innovation Podcast: Clinical Trial Diversity Panel Session. Jan 11, 2021.
Doctora latina rompe barreras para ayudar a mujeres con cáncer de mama. By José Martínez. Oct, 2021.
AACR Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
Oncolink Brown Bag Webchat: Advances in Colorectal Cancer Screening. March 11, 2011.
Colon Cancer Alliance rings the NASDAQ closing bell in promotion of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Times Square, New York, March 1, 2011
#WomenofPenn: Seeds of Inspiration Rooted in Childhood. Penn Medicine Blog. May 9, 2019.
Lack of Broadband, Rise of Anti-Vaxxer Rhetoric Threaten Black Community During Pandemic
Cancer Inequities. 2021 Mercy Douglas Lectureship, Feb 17, 2021.
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.
The reality of cancer risks - and bacon by Sandy Bauers
Breast Cancer: What all Latinas should know. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
An American Tale: Making a difficult journey easier for others. Carmen Guerra, M.D. Philadelphia Magazine, April 28, 2018.
Breast Cancer Town Hall. WDAS, Philadelphia. October 20, 2015
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, October, 2018
Aware for all Northeast. April 15, 2021.
"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.
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.
Caner del seno? No dejes que to conuma el panico. El Diaro NY. Oct 18, 2017.
A Primary Care Physician Explores Barriers to Cancer Prevention and Clinical Trial Accrual. ASCO Post. Oct 20, 2020.
American Cancer Society Get Screened (in Spanish)
"Diversity in Clinical Trials," Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Health Summit, Nov 17, 2021
Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer: Communication is Key
Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
American Board of Internal Medicine | Health Care Org. Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
Inquirer Live: Cancer Care for All
Philadelphia Magazine's Think Pink 2017
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
Takvorian SU, Chatterjee P, Mamtani R, Wu Y, Guerra CE, Werner RM, Schpero W: Association Between State Medicaid Policies and Accrual of Black Participants to Cancer Clinical Trials. In press. J Clin Oncol Jun 2022.Barrett N, Boehmer L, Schrag J, Benson AB, Green S, Hamroun L, Howson A, Matin K, Oyer RA, Pierce LJ, Jeames SE, Winkfield KM, Yang ES, Zwicker V, Bruinooge SS, Hurley PA, Williams JHH, Guerra C. : Assessing feasibility and utility of an implicit bias training program for addressing disparities in cancer clinical trial participation. In press. J Clin Oncol Jun 2022.
Pressman A, Hurley P, Kaltenbaugh M, Bruinooge SS, Garrett-Mayer E, Boehmer L, Bernick LA, Byatt L, Charlot M, Crews J, Fashoyin-Aje L, McCaskill-Stevens W, Nowakowski G, Oyer R, Patel MI, Pierce L, Ramirez A, Williams JH, Zwicker V, Guerra CE : Availability of Data for Screening, Offering, and Consenting Patients to Cancer Clinical Trials: Report from an ASCO-ACCC Collaboration J Clin Oncol 40(16 Suppl): 6530, Jun 2022.
Bange EM, Coughlin K, Brown TJ, Li W, Moriarty E, Bange T, Rosin R, Josephs M, Smith D, Cohen RB, Getz K, Rangusano D, Balar E, Schuchter L, Balachandran M, Long Q, Schulman L, Guerra C, Mamtani, R: Saving TIME: accuracy of a Text Intervention to MinimizE the time burden of cancer care. In press. J Clin Oncol Jun 2022.
Oyer RA, Hurley P, Boehmer L, Steeby Bruinooge S, Levit K, Barrett N, Benson A, Bernick LA, Byatt L, Charlot M, Crews J, DeLeon K, Fashoyin-Aje L, Garrett-Mayer E, Gralow JR, Green S, Guerra CE, Hamroun L, Hardy CM, Hempstead B, Jeames S, Mann M, Matin K, McCaskill-Stevens W, Merrill J, Nowakowski GZ, Patel MI, Pressman A, Ramirez AG, Segura J, Segarra-Vasquez B, Williams JH, Williams JE, Winkfield KM, Yang ES, Zwicker V, Pierce LJ.: Increasing Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Cancer Clinical Trials: An American Society of Clinical Oncology and Association of Community Cancer Centers Joint Research Statement. J Clin Oncol May 2022 Notes: doi: 10.1200/JCO.22.00754. Online ahead of print.
Sarah Gantz: Philadelphia Researchers Work to Make Clinical Trials More Diverse. The Philadelphia Inquirer May 2022 Notes: https://www.inquirer.com/health/clinical-trials-philadelphia-diversity-20220503.html.
Wiredu C, Haynes N, Guerra C, Ky B.: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cancer Associated Thrombosis. Thromb Haemost 122(5): 662-665, May 2022.
Edmonds CE, Zuckerman SP, Guerra CE.: Racial Disparities Persist in Cancer Screening: New USPSTF Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines Illuminate Inadequate Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines for Black Women. J Gen Intern Med 37(6): 1534-1536, May 2022.
Finn CB, Tong JK, Alexander HE, Wirtalla C, Wachtel H, Guerra CE, Mehta SJ, Wender R, Kelz RR. : How Referring Providers Choose Specialists for Their Patients: A Systematic Review. J Gen Intern Med Apr 2022 Notes: doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07574-6. Online ahead of print.
Guerra CE, Fleury ME, Byatt LP, Lian T, Pierce L: Strategies to Advance Equity in Cancer Clinical Trials. Accepted for Publication. ASCO Education Book Apr 2022.