Community Sciences and Health Outcomes Core

Welcome


The Community Sciences and Health Outcomes (CSHO) Core is a centralized point of access that facilitates personalized and culturally sensitive cancer research at the population-, community-, and clinic-level in central Pennsylvania.  The Core provides services that add value to the research of the Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute (PSHCI) by allowing PSHCI investigators to focus upon the science of their study rather than technical and developmental activities such as preparing data for background sections of grant applications, managing participant data and sample collection, and building community trust.  The Core collaborates with PSHCI investigators to develop research proposals for extramural funding in cancer etiology, prevention, early detection, treatment, and survivorship.  The Core participates in descriptive, analytic and interventional studies.  While the Core can assist investigators at any stage of a study, investigators are encouraged to contact the Core while in the planning stages of a study so that Core expertise and resources can be strategically incorporated into study design, protocol development, and method selection.  Though the Core operates through three primary centers, Core faculty and staff interact extensively with one another.


Data and Informatics Center

  • Maintains and analyzes data from surveys, registries, and claims
  • Links health records across data systems
  • Develops data collection systems and forms
  • Quantifies the economics of cancer prevention and treatment

Research Participant Center

  • Trains and supervises interviewers of participants in non-therapeutic studies
  • Develops systems for biomarker and sample collection
  • Identifies and recommends instruments, such as quality of life, for collection of participant data
  • Abstracts medical charts

Health Disparities and Community Engagement Center

  • Supports the Harrisburg Community Cancer Network and the Northern Appalachia Cancer Network
  • Assures cultural sensitivity and appropriate reading level for study materials and methods
  • Conducts focus groups and collects other qualitative data
  • Enhances recruitment and retention of minority and underserved participants to non-therapeutic studies
  • Disseminates the results of studies and evidence-based practice

In addition to supporting cancer research, the CSHO Core also:

  • Directs PSHCI community outreach and education, which includes numerous educational programs throughout central Pennsylvania
  • Maintains a PSHCI Resource Directory, a PSHCI Services Directory, and a Community Cancer Directory
  • Develops and provides materials that help investigators develop culturally sensitive materials and methods

To facilitate communication with PSHCI investigators, the Core holds working seminars in the Cancer Institute at 10:30 am on the second Tuesday of every month.

 

Leadership and Location

The CSHO Core is directed by Eugene J. Lengerich, VMD, MS, Professor of Public Health Sciences, with expertise in cancer epidemiology and community-based research.  The Co-Director is Pamela Farley Short, PhD, Professor, Health Policy and Administration, with expertise in health economics and cancer survivorships.  Roger Anderson, PhD, leads the Data and Informatics Center and Elana Farace, PhD, leads the Research Participant Center.  In addition to being CSHO Core Director, Dr. Lengerich leads the Health Disparities and Community Engagement Center.  Fabian Camacho, MS, MA, provides support to the Data and Informatics Center.  Robin Perry-Smith, MHA, directs the Harrisburg Community Cancer Network.

While the primary offices of the CSHO are on the third floor of the PSHCI Building on the campus of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, the CSHO has an extensive network of community and health care partners in central Pennsylvania.  These partners allow the Core, and the research that it assists, to effectively reach diverse populations in divers settings.

Contacts

Investigators can request the assistance of the CSHO Core by completing a request form.  Click to view the CSHO Core Online Request Form.  Questions about the CSHO Core can be directed to Dr. Lengerich at 717-531-7178 or elengerich@psu.edu.

Click to view the CSHO Links page