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
#WomenofPenn: Seeds of Inspiration Rooted in Childhood. Penn Medicine Blog. May 9, 2019.
More Black patients are participating in clinical trials for cancer treatment at Penn thanks to this effort | 5 Questions by Sandy Bauers
Amplifying Scientific Innovation Podcast: Clinical Trial Diversity Panel Session. Jan 11, 2021.
American Board of Internal Medicine Blog, Apr 6, 2018.
The reality of cancer risks - and bacon by Sandy Bauers
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
Science Meets Community: Cancer in the Delaware Valley. Abramson Cancer Center Publication, May, 2015.
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 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.
6 Things All Black Women Need to Know About Breast Cancer by Rozalyn Frasier. Nov, 2021.
Lack of Broadband, Rise of Anti-Vaxxer Rhetoric Threaten Black Community During Pandemic
Drive, Walk, Mail, Text: How to Connect Communities to Colorectal Cancer Screening
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, Join the Fight Against Breast Cancer. October, 2016.
Caner del seno? No dejes que to conuma el panico. El Diaro NY. Oct 18, 2017.
Health Care Organization Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
Genetic Testing Saves Lives. So Why Aren’t More Women Of Color Doing It? by Lauren Pluckett-Pope. Oct, 2021.
Cáncer de Seno: Mujeres latinas luchan por salvar vidas. By José Martínez. Oct, 2021.
Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer: Communication is Key
You were diagnosed with DCIS. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Oncolink Brown Bag Webchat: Advances in Colorectal Cancer Screening. March 11, 2011.
Aware for all Northeast. April 15, 2021.
Inquirer Live: Cancer Care for All
Preventing Colorectal Cancer in Vulnerable Populations: A Former Harold Amos Scholar Searches for Solutions: A Grantee Story of Carmen E. Guerra, MD, MSCE
Breast Cancer: What all Latinas should know. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, October, 2018
American Cancer Society Get Screened (in Spanish)
Pennsylvania Senator Art Haywood: Ask Art Live Series on Affordable Healthcare Open Enrollment, Dec 15, 2022
ASCO podcast: Social Determinants of Health - Access to Care. Oct, 2021.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
Increasing Participation of Patients from Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations in Cancer Clinical Trials: An ASCO-ACCC Collaboration
"Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Cancer Screening" Philadelphia Magazine, 12/5/2020
"Diversity in Clinical Trials," Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Health Summit, Nov 17, 2021
Philadelphia Magazine's Think Pink 2017
Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
Harvard Medical School Health Disparities Resources for Providers
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.
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
Cancer Inequities. 2021 Mercy Douglas Lectureship, Feb 17, 2021.
AACR Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
"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.
Search PubMed for articles
#WomenofPenn: Seeds of Inspiration Rooted in Childhood. Penn Medicine Blog. May 9, 2019.
More Black patients are participating in clinical trials for cancer treatment at Penn thanks to this effort | 5 Questions by Sandy Bauers
Amplifying Scientific Innovation Podcast: Clinical Trial Diversity Panel Session. Jan 11, 2021.
American Board of Internal Medicine Blog, Apr 6, 2018.
The reality of cancer risks - and bacon by Sandy Bauers
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
Science Meets Community: Cancer in the Delaware Valley. Abramson Cancer Center Publication, May, 2015.
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 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.
6 Things All Black Women Need to Know About Breast Cancer by Rozalyn Frasier. Nov, 2021.
Lack of Broadband, Rise of Anti-Vaxxer Rhetoric Threaten Black Community During Pandemic
Drive, Walk, Mail, Text: How to Connect Communities to Colorectal Cancer Screening
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, Join the Fight Against Breast Cancer. October, 2016.
Caner del seno? No dejes que to conuma el panico. El Diaro NY. Oct 18, 2017.
Health Care Organization Exemplars in Community Engagement as a Strategy in Building Trust
Genetic Testing Saves Lives. So Why Aren’t More Women Of Color Doing It? by Lauren Pluckett-Pope. Oct, 2021.
Cáncer de Seno: Mujeres latinas luchan por salvar vidas. By José Martínez. Oct, 2021.
Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer: Communication is Key
You were diagnosed with DCIS. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Oncolink Brown Bag Webchat: Advances in Colorectal Cancer Screening. March 11, 2011.
Aware for all Northeast. April 15, 2021.
Inquirer Live: Cancer Care for All
Preventing Colorectal Cancer in Vulnerable Populations: A Former Harold Amos Scholar Searches for Solutions: A Grantee Story of Carmen E. Guerra, MD, MSCE
Breast Cancer: What all Latinas should know. El Diario. October 19, 2016.
Philadelphia Magazine, Think Pink, October, 2018
American Cancer Society Get Screened (in Spanish)
Pennsylvania Senator Art Haywood: Ask Art Live Series on Affordable Healthcare Open Enrollment, Dec 15, 2022
ASCO podcast: Social Determinants of Health - Access to Care. Oct, 2021.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
Increasing Participation of Patients from Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations in Cancer Clinical Trials: An ASCO-ACCC Collaboration
"Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Cancer Screening" Philadelphia Magazine, 12/5/2020
"Diversity in Clinical Trials," Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Health Summit, Nov 17, 2021
Philadelphia Magazine's Think Pink 2017
Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
Harvard Medical School Health Disparities Resources for Providers
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.
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
Cancer Inequities. 2021 Mercy Douglas Lectureship, Feb 17, 2021.
AACR Colorectal Cancer Screening During the Pandemic
"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.
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
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.
Health Equity Workgroup, MCED Consortium: MCED Health Equity Workgroup Research Study Development Considerations MCED Consortium 2023.
Health Equity Workgroup, MCED Consortium: MCED Health Equity Workgroup Landscape Analysis of Patient Barriers to Care MCED Consortium 2023.
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. 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.
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. In press. Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations. Nov 2022.
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.
Gerber DE, Tirol JA, McNeill L, Williams EL, Zhu H, Craddock SJ, Leavey PJ, Sadeghil N, Kapinos K, Dornsife DL, Nguyen V, Wileyto EP, Guerra CE. : Enhancing access to and diversity in cancer clinical trials through a financial reimbursement program: Protocol to evaluate a novel program. Contemporary Clinical Trials 121, Oct 2022.