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
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
Cáncer de Seno: Mujeres latinas luchan por salvar vidas. By José Martínez. Oct, 2021.
Science Meets Community: Cancer in the Delaware Valley. Abramson Cancer Center Publication, May, 2015.
Promoting Cancer Equity and Inclusion Through Navigation Efforts
Genetic Testing Saves Lives. So Why Aren’t More Women Of Color Doing It? by Lauren Pluckett-Pope. 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.
The Reality of Cancer Risk….and Bacon. Interview by Sandy Bauers from the Philadelphia Inquirer. October 30, 2015.
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, October, 2018
Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
American Cancer Society Get Screened PSA (in English)
The Cancer Screening Crisis, KYW Philadelphia, Oct 1, 2022
Why Cancer Screenings — Even in the Middle of a Pandemic — Are Still Vitally Important. Philadelphia Magazine. Oct 31, 2020.
#WomenofPenn: Seeds of Inspiration Rooted in Childhood. Penn Medicine Blog. May 9, 2019.
"Diversity in Clinical Trials," Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Health Summit, Nov 17, 2021
An American Tale: Making a difficult journey easier for others. Carmen Guerra, M.D. Philadelphia Magazine, April 28, 2018.
Stories of Innovation, Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Innovation. Jan, 2019.
Philadelphia Magazine Think Pink Breast Cancer - you can help save lives. October, 2015.
Philadelphia Magazine's Think Pink 2017
Aware for all Northeast. April 15, 2021.
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
"Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Cancer Screening" Philadelphia Magazine, 12/5/2020
Avoiding Getting Colorectal Cancer by Getting Screened at 45, KYW Briding Philadelphia interview
Cancer Inequities. 2021 Mercy Douglas Lectureship, Feb 17, 2021.
Drive, Walk, Mail, Text: How to Connect Communities to Colorectal Cancer Screening
Becker's Hospital Review: Why Penn Medicine Prioritized Mobile Mammography
National Comprehensive Cancer Network Health Equity Report Card
The reality of cancer risks - and bacon by Sandy Bauers
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, Join the Fight Against Breast Cancer. October, 2016.
Oncolink Brown Bag Webchat: Advances in Colorectal Cancer Screening. March 11, 2011.
Inquirer Live: Cancer Care for All
Increasing Participation of Patients from Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations in Cancer Clinical Trials: An ASCO-ACCC Collaboration
6 Things All Black Women Need to Know About Breast Cancer by Rozalyn Frasier. Nov, 2021.
AACR Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
Preventing Colorectal Cancer in Vulnerable Populations: A Former Harold Amos Scholar Searches for Solutions: A Grantee Story of Carmen E. Guerra, MD, MSCE
Colon Cancer Alliance rings the NASDAQ closing bell in promotion of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Times Square, New York, March 1, 2011
Delays in mammography screening during the pandemic. Oct 14, 2020 ABC7 News Chicago.
American Cancer Society Get Screened (in Spanish)
"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.
American Board of Internal Medicine Blog, Apr 6, 2018.
Art of Aging: Screening Saves Lives. WABC, Philadelphia, January 7, 2016.
Breast Cancer: What all Latinas should know. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Breast Cancer Town Hall. WDAS, Philadelphia. October 20, 2015
You were diagnosed with DCIS. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Harvard Medical School Health Disparities Resources for Providers
Pennsylvania Senator Art Haywood: Ask Art Live Series on Affordable Healthcare Open Enrollment, Dec 15, 2022
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.
American Cancer Society has new guidelines on when to start mammograms. CBS-3 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.
A Primary Care Physician Explores Barriers to Cancer Prevention and Clinical Trial Accrual. ASCO Post. Oct 20, 2020.
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.
More Black patients are participating in clinical trials for cancer treatment at Penn thanks to this effort | 5 Questions by Sandy Bauers
Caner del seno? No dejes que to conuma el panico. El Diaro NY. Oct 18, 2017.
La detección temprana del cáncer de seno salva vidas. Oct 12, 2020 Univision 41 NYC
Lack of Broadband, Rise of Anti-Vaxxer Rhetoric Threaten Black Community During Pandemic
Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer: Communication is Key
Search PubMed for articles
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
Cáncer de Seno: Mujeres latinas luchan por salvar vidas. By José Martínez. Oct, 2021.
Science Meets Community: Cancer in the Delaware Valley. Abramson Cancer Center Publication, May, 2015.
Promoting Cancer Equity and Inclusion Through Navigation Efforts
Genetic Testing Saves Lives. So Why Aren’t More Women Of Color Doing It? by Lauren Pluckett-Pope. 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.
The Reality of Cancer Risk….and Bacon. Interview by Sandy Bauers from the Philadelphia Inquirer. October 30, 2015.
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, October, 2018
Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
American Cancer Society Get Screened PSA (in English)
The Cancer Screening Crisis, KYW Philadelphia, Oct 1, 2022
Why Cancer Screenings — Even in the Middle of a Pandemic — Are Still Vitally Important. Philadelphia Magazine. Oct 31, 2020.
#WomenofPenn: Seeds of Inspiration Rooted in Childhood. Penn Medicine Blog. May 9, 2019.
"Diversity in Clinical Trials," Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Health Summit, Nov 17, 2021
An American Tale: Making a difficult journey easier for others. Carmen Guerra, M.D. Philadelphia Magazine, April 28, 2018.
Stories of Innovation, Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Innovation. Jan, 2019.
Philadelphia Magazine Think Pink Breast Cancer - you can help save lives. October, 2015.
Philadelphia Magazine's Think Pink 2017
Aware for all Northeast. April 15, 2021.
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
"Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Cancer Screening" Philadelphia Magazine, 12/5/2020
Avoiding Getting Colorectal Cancer by Getting Screened at 45, KYW Briding Philadelphia interview
Cancer Inequities. 2021 Mercy Douglas Lectureship, Feb 17, 2021.
Drive, Walk, Mail, Text: How to Connect Communities to Colorectal Cancer Screening
Becker's Hospital Review: Why Penn Medicine Prioritized Mobile Mammography
National Comprehensive Cancer Network Health Equity Report Card
The reality of cancer risks - and bacon by Sandy Bauers
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, Join the Fight Against Breast Cancer. October, 2016.
Oncolink Brown Bag Webchat: Advances in Colorectal Cancer Screening. March 11, 2011.
Inquirer Live: Cancer Care for All
Increasing Participation of Patients from Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations in Cancer Clinical Trials: An ASCO-ACCC Collaboration
6 Things All Black Women Need to Know About Breast Cancer by Rozalyn Frasier. Nov, 2021.
AACR Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
Preventing Colorectal Cancer in Vulnerable Populations: A Former Harold Amos Scholar Searches for Solutions: A Grantee Story of Carmen E. Guerra, MD, MSCE
Colon Cancer Alliance rings the NASDAQ closing bell in promotion of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Times Square, New York, March 1, 2011
Delays in mammography screening during the pandemic. Oct 14, 2020 ABC7 News Chicago.
American Cancer Society Get Screened (in Spanish)
"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.
American Board of Internal Medicine Blog, Apr 6, 2018.
Art of Aging: Screening Saves Lives. WABC, Philadelphia, January 7, 2016.
Breast Cancer: What all Latinas should know. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Breast Cancer Town Hall. WDAS, Philadelphia. October 20, 2015
You were diagnosed with DCIS. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Harvard Medical School Health Disparities Resources for Providers
Pennsylvania Senator Art Haywood: Ask Art Live Series on Affordable Healthcare Open Enrollment, Dec 15, 2022
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.
American Cancer Society has new guidelines on when to start mammograms. CBS-3 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.
A Primary Care Physician Explores Barriers to Cancer Prevention and Clinical Trial Accrual. ASCO Post. Oct 20, 2020.
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.
More Black patients are participating in clinical trials for cancer treatment at Penn thanks to this effort | 5 Questions by Sandy Bauers
Caner del seno? No dejes que to conuma el panico. El Diaro NY. Oct 18, 2017.
La detección temprana del cáncer de seno salva vidas. Oct 12, 2020 Univision 41 NYC
Lack of Broadband, Rise of Anti-Vaxxer Rhetoric Threaten Black Community During Pandemic
Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer: Communication is Key
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.
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.
Certifications
American Board of Internal Medicine, 1996.
American Board of Internal Medicine, 2007.
American Board of Internal Medicine, 2017.
Permanent linkAmerican Board of Internal Medicine, 1996.
American Board of Internal Medicine, 2007.
American Board of Internal Medicine, 2017.
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
Perkins RB, Wolf AMD, Church TR, Elkin EB, Skates SJ, Etzioni RD, Guerra CE, Herzig A, Hoffman RM, Oeffinger KC, Raoof S, Shih YT, Walter LC, Zeigler-Johnson C, Manassaram‐Baptiste D, Smith RA: Self-Collected Vaginal Specimens for Human Papillomavirus Testing and Guidance on Screening Exit: An Update to the American Cancer Society Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines. CA Cancer J Clin 76(1): e70041. Jan-Feb 2026.Islami F, Arias G, Lee D, Wiese D, Baeker Bispo J, Yabroff KR, Siegel RK, Bandi P, Nargis N, Patel AV, Thienprayoon PP, Kamal AH, Daniels EC, Annunziata CM, Sloan K, Lacasse LA, Winn RA, Brawley OW, Guerra CE, Dahut WL, Jemal A. : American Cancer Society’s Report on the Status of Cancer Disparities in the United States, 2025. CA Cancer J Clin 76(1): e70045, Jan-Feb 2026.
Kaparis S, Eshaghi K, Paruzzo L, Doshi J, Ruella M, Guerra CE: CAR-T for all? Barriers, facilitators, and interventions to commercial CAR T-cell therapy access. Blood Rev Page: 01358, Dec 2025.
Gong IY, Soto MJ, Rafinejad-Farahani B, Unger JM, Conti RM, Guerra CE, Oza A, Rosenthal M, Rodin D.: Disparities in clinical trial participation among older adult Medicare beneficiaries with hematologic malignancies from 2006 to 2019: a SEER-Medicare analysis. Cancer 131(24): e70204, Dec 2025.
Alan Mozes: Routine Liquid Biopsies Could Cut Advanced Cancer Diagnoses. \{Routine Liquid Biopsies Could Cut Advanced Cancer Diagnoses} Nov 2025 Notes: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/routine-liquid-biopsies-could-cut-advanced-cancer-diagnoses-2025a1000vsm?form=fpf.
Gong IY, Rafinejad-Farahani B, Majeed H, Soto MJ, Oza A, Ehrlich T, Fernandez Lynch H, Guerra CE, Lofters A, Unger JM, Conti RM, Rosenthal M, Rodin D.: Reporting and enrollment disparities in hematologic malignancy trials between 2000-2023. Accepted for publication. Leukemia and Lymphoma 3: 1-14, Nov 2025.
Alan Mozes: Routine Liquid Biopsies Could Cut Advanced Cancer Diagnoses. \{Routine Liquid Biopsies Could Cut Advanced Cancer Diagnoses} Nov 2025 Notes: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/routine-liquid-biopsies-could-cut-advanced-cancer-diagnoses-2025a1000vsm?form=fpf.
Alan Mozes: Routine Liquid Biopsies Could Cut Advanced Cancer Diagnoses. \{Routine Liquid Biopsies Could Cut Advanced Cancer Diagnoses} Nov 2025 Notes: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/routine-liquid-biopsies-could-cut-advanced-cancer-diagnoses-2025a1000vsm?form=fpf.
Alan Mozes: Routine Liquid Biopsies Could Cut Advanced Cancer Diagnoses. \{Routine Liquid Biopsies Could Cut Advanced Cancer Diagnoses} Nov 2025 Notes: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/routine-liquid-biopsies-could-cut-advanced-cancer-diagnoses-2025a1000vsm?form=fpf.
Alan Mozes: Routine Liquid Biopsies Could Cut Advanced Cancer Diagnoses. Medscape Nov 2025 Notes: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/routine-liquid-biopsies-could-cut-advanced-cancer-diagnoses-2025a1000vsm?form=fpf.