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 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
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.
#WomenofPenn: Seeds of Inspiration Rooted in Childhood. Penn Medicine Blog. May 9, 2019.
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, October, 2018
Science Meets Community: Cancer in the Delaware Valley. Abramson Cancer Center Publication, May, 2015.
Philadelphia Magazine Think Pink Breast Cancer - you can help save lives. October, 2015.
The Reality of Cancer Risk….and Bacon. Interview by Sandy Bauers from the Philadelphia Inquirer. October 30, 2015.
You were diagnosed with DCIS. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
American Cancer Society Get Screened PSA (in English)
Black and Hispanic Americans are most likely to miss health screenings due to COVID-19. A Penn physician is meeting the need.
Doctora latina rompe barreras para ayudar a mujeres con cáncer de mama. By José Martínez. Oct, 2021.
The Cancer Screening Crisis, KYW Philadelphia, Oct 1, 2022
Increasing Participation of Patients from Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations in Cancer Clinical Trials: An ASCO-ACCC Collaboration
Drive, Walk, Mail, Text: How to Connect Communities to Colorectal Cancer Screening
American Board of Internal Medicine Blog, Apr 6, 2018.
The reality of cancer risks - and bacon by Sandy Bauers
Breast Cancer: What all Latinas should know. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Stories of Innovation, Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Innovation. Jan, 2019.
Oncolink Brown Bag Webchat: Advances in Colorectal Cancer Screening. March 11, 2011.
Aware for all Northeast. April 15, 2021.
Preventing Colorectal Cancer in Vulnerable Populations: A Former Harold Amos Scholar Searches for Solutions: A Grantee Story of Carmen E. Guerra, MD, MSCE
A Primary Care Physician Explores Barriers to Cancer Prevention and Clinical Trial Accrual. ASCO Post. Oct 20, 2020.
American Board of Internal Medicine | Health Care Org. Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
More Black patients are participating in clinical trials for cancer treatment at Penn thanks to this effort | 5 Questions by Sandy Bauers
"Diversity in Clinical Trials," Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Health Summit, Nov 17, 2021
American Cancer Society has new guidelines on when to start mammograms. CBS-3 Philadelphia. October 20, 2015.
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, Join the Fight Against Breast Cancer. October, 2016.
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
Colon Cancer Alliance rings the NASDAQ closing bell in promotion of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Times Square, New York, March 1, 2011
Inquirer Live: Cancer Care for All
Avoiding Getting Colorectal Cancer by Getting Screened at 45, KYW Briding Philadelphia interview
Lack of Broadband, Rise of Anti-Vaxxer Rhetoric Threaten Black Community During Pandemic
Cáncer de Seno: Mujeres latinas luchan por salvar vidas. By José Martínez. Oct, 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.
American Cancer Society Get Screened (in Spanish)
Harvard Medical School Health Disparities Resources for Providers
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.
Pennsylvania Senator Art Haywood: Ask Art Live Series on Affordable Healthcare Open Enrollment, Dec 15, 2022
Cancer Inequities. 2021 Mercy Douglas Lectureship, Feb 17, 2021.
La detección temprana del cáncer de seno salva vidas. Oct 12, 2020 Univision 41 NYC
Delays in mammography screening during the pandemic. Oct 14, 2020 ABC7 News Chicago.
"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.
Amplifying Scientific Innovation Podcast: Clinical Trial Diversity Panel Session. Jan 11, 2021.
AACR Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
Genetic Testing Saves Lives. So Why Aren’t More Women Of Color Doing It? by Lauren Pluckett-Pope. Oct, 2021.
ASCO podcast: Social Determinants of Health - Access to Care. Oct, 2021.
Art of Aging: Screening Saves Lives. WABC, Philadelphia, January 7, 2016.
An American Tale: Making a difficult journey easier for others. Carmen Guerra, M.D. Philadelphia Magazine, April 28, 2018.
Caner del seno? No dejes que to conuma el panico. El Diaro NY. Oct 18, 2017.
Philadelphia Magazine's Think Pink 2017
Health Care Organization Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer: Communication is Key
Breast Cancer Town Hall. WDAS, Philadelphia. October 20, 2015
Search PubMed for articles
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.
#WomenofPenn: Seeds of Inspiration Rooted in Childhood. Penn Medicine Blog. May 9, 2019.
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, October, 2018
Science Meets Community: Cancer in the Delaware Valley. Abramson Cancer Center Publication, May, 2015.
Philadelphia Magazine Think Pink Breast Cancer - you can help save lives. October, 2015.
The Reality of Cancer Risk….and Bacon. Interview by Sandy Bauers from the Philadelphia Inquirer. October 30, 2015.
You were diagnosed with DCIS. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
American Cancer Society Get Screened PSA (in English)
Black and Hispanic Americans are most likely to miss health screenings due to COVID-19. A Penn physician is meeting the need.
Doctora latina rompe barreras para ayudar a mujeres con cáncer de mama. By José Martínez. Oct, 2021.
The Cancer Screening Crisis, KYW Philadelphia, Oct 1, 2022
Increasing Participation of Patients from Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations in Cancer Clinical Trials: An ASCO-ACCC Collaboration
Drive, Walk, Mail, Text: How to Connect Communities to Colorectal Cancer Screening
American Board of Internal Medicine Blog, Apr 6, 2018.
The reality of cancer risks - and bacon by Sandy Bauers
Breast Cancer: What all Latinas should know. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Stories of Innovation, Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Innovation. Jan, 2019.
Oncolink Brown Bag Webchat: Advances in Colorectal Cancer Screening. March 11, 2011.
Aware for all Northeast. April 15, 2021.
Preventing Colorectal Cancer in Vulnerable Populations: A Former Harold Amos Scholar Searches for Solutions: A Grantee Story of Carmen E. Guerra, MD, MSCE
A Primary Care Physician Explores Barriers to Cancer Prevention and Clinical Trial Accrual. ASCO Post. Oct 20, 2020.
American Board of Internal Medicine | Health Care Org. Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
More Black patients are participating in clinical trials for cancer treatment at Penn thanks to this effort | 5 Questions by Sandy Bauers
"Diversity in Clinical Trials," Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Health Summit, Nov 17, 2021
American Cancer Society has new guidelines on when to start mammograms. CBS-3 Philadelphia. October 20, 2015.
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, Join the Fight Against Breast Cancer. October, 2016.
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
Colon Cancer Alliance rings the NASDAQ closing bell in promotion of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Times Square, New York, March 1, 2011
Inquirer Live: Cancer Care for All
Avoiding Getting Colorectal Cancer by Getting Screened at 45, KYW Briding Philadelphia interview
Lack of Broadband, Rise of Anti-Vaxxer Rhetoric Threaten Black Community During Pandemic
Cáncer de Seno: Mujeres latinas luchan por salvar vidas. By José Martínez. Oct, 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.
American Cancer Society Get Screened (in Spanish)
Harvard Medical School Health Disparities Resources for Providers
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.
Pennsylvania Senator Art Haywood: Ask Art Live Series on Affordable Healthcare Open Enrollment, Dec 15, 2022
Cancer Inequities. 2021 Mercy Douglas Lectureship, Feb 17, 2021.
La detección temprana del cáncer de seno salva vidas. Oct 12, 2020 Univision 41 NYC
Delays in mammography screening during the pandemic. Oct 14, 2020 ABC7 News Chicago.
"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.
Amplifying Scientific Innovation Podcast: Clinical Trial Diversity Panel Session. Jan 11, 2021.
AACR Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
Genetic Testing Saves Lives. So Why Aren’t More Women Of Color Doing It? by Lauren Pluckett-Pope. Oct, 2021.
ASCO podcast: Social Determinants of Health - Access to Care. Oct, 2021.
Art of Aging: Screening Saves Lives. WABC, Philadelphia, January 7, 2016.
An American Tale: Making a difficult journey easier for others. Carmen Guerra, M.D. Philadelphia Magazine, April 28, 2018.
Caner del seno? No dejes que to conuma el panico. El Diaro NY. Oct 18, 2017.
Philadelphia Magazine's Think Pink 2017
Health Care Organization Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer: Communication is Key
Breast Cancer Town Hall. WDAS, Philadelphia. October 20, 2015
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
Health Equity Workgroup, MCED Consortium: Patient Barriers to Care: A Health Equity Landscape Analysis for Emerging Multicancer Early Detection Tests MCED Consortium March 2023 Notes: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/615c87aaea640d19cc98840b/t/63fe48d66951dd3bf8e6231a/1677609195059/MCED+Health+Equity+Landscape+Analysis+FINAL.pdfHealth Equity Workgroup, MCED Consortium: Building Health Equity through Research Study Design for Multicancer Early Detection Tests: Key Considerations. A report from The Multicancer Early Detection Consortium Health Equity Workgroup MCED Consortium Mar 2023 Notes: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/615c87aaea640d19cc98840b/t/63fe48f6721b7c32d8b63aab/1677609218129/MCED+Health+Equity+Workgroup+Research+Study+Development+Key+Considerations+FINAL.pdf.
Schatz AA, Chambers S, Wartman GC, Lacasse LA, Denlinger CS, Hobbs KM, Bandini L, Carlson RW, Winn RA: Advancing More Equitable Care Through the Development of a Health Equity Report Card J Natl Compr Canc Netw 21(2): 1170124.33, Feb 2023 Notes: doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2023.7003.
Finn CB, Wirtalla C, Roberts SE, Collier K, Mehta SJ, Guerra CE, Airoldi E, Xu Zhang, Keele L, Aarons CB, Jensen ST, Kelz RR: Simulated Comparison of Outcomes Following Colorectal Cancer Surgery at the Best Local Hospital Versus Chosen Hospital. JAMA Network Open 6((2): e2255999, Feb 2023.
Herrera C, Guerra CE, Narayan V, Guzzo TJ, Mamtani R, Lee DJ, Tasian G, Talwar R.: Financial toxicity in prostate cancer survivors: a national cross-sectional assessment of subjective financial burden. Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations. 41(2): 105.e1-105.e8. Feb 2023.
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, 2023.
Barrett NJ, Boehmer L, Schrag J, Benson AB, Green S, Hamroun-Yazid L, Howson A, Matin K, Oyer RA, Pierce L, Jeames SE, Winkfield K, Yang ES, Zwicker V, Bruinooge S, Hurley S, Williams JH, Guerra CE.: An Assessment of the Feasibility and Utility of an ACCC-ASCO Implicit Bias Training Program to Enhance Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Cancer Clinical Trials. JCO Oncol Pract. In press. 2023.
Guerra CE, Pressman A, Hurley P, Garrett-Meyer E, Bruinooge SS, Howson A, Kaltenbaugh K, Williams JH, Boehmer L, Bernick LA, Byatt L, Charlot M, Crews J, Fashoyin-Aje L, McCaskill-Stevens W, Merrill J, Nowakowski G, Patel MI, Ramirez A, Zwicker V, Oyer RA, Pierce LJ.: Increasing Racial and Ethnic Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Cancer Treatment Trials: Evaluation of an ASCO-ACCC Site Self-Assessment. JCO Oncol Pract. In press. 2023.
Joung RH, Mullett TW, Kurtzman SH, Shafir S, Harris JB, Yao KA, Bilimoria KY, Cance WG, Nelson H. : Evaluation of a National Quality Improvement Collaborative for Improving Cancer Screening. JAMA Netw Open 5(11): e2242354, Nov 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 37(13): 3444-3452, Oct 2022 Notes: doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07574-6. Online ahead of print.