Centers
Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities
Improving Health Outcomes and the Wellbeing of Rural and Underserved Communities
The Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities (CAHE-RUC) is dedicated to addressing health disparities in rural and underserved communities.
Center Overview
CAHE-RUC is a unique academic, community-level partnership dedicated to the comprehensive evaluation and implementation of evidence-based, community-level strategies to improve health outcomes in rural and underserved communities. CAHE-RUC works to address a variety of complex public health and health system needs that require multi-disciplinary, multi-methodological approaches to achieve outcomes that benefit individuals and whole communities.
This collaborative model serves as a replicable template of pairing community-level expertise and coalition building with world class research and translational impact.
About the Center
Coalition Building
CAHE-RUC collaborates with and builds capacity with community-based organizations, health systems, county health departments, and federally qualified health centers that serve rural and underserved communities across the country. The Center provides ongoing training, technical assistance, and capacity-building consultation to its formal partners, serving a vital role in the landscape of health equity for rural and underserved communities.
Approach
CAHE-RUC develops academic, community-level partnerships to address health disparities through the following strategies:
Implementation Science
Health Equity Research
Faculty Research Collaborations
Rural Health Initiatives
Resource Sharing and Linkage
Co-Learning and Capacity Building
Systems Evaluation and Change
Culturally and Linguistically Tailored Interventions
Opportunities
Open positions will be posted here as they become available.
The Center's Work
Our Partners
Resources
In partnership with the Asian Health Coalition, the center has many publications available to educate and expand awareness of how to address health disparities prevalent in our communities. Please contact CAHE-RUC at chandapangoda@pennstatehealth.psu.edu for more information.
Center Highlights
News
Leadership
Program Directors
Alia Southworth, MPH
Senior Program Director, Health Promotions, Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities
Siya Qi, MS
Director, Precision Engagement, Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities
Program Managers
Anaiah Simmons, MPH
Program Manager, Behavioral Health, Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities
Kayla Inthabandith, MPH
Program Manager, Chronic & Infectious Diseases, Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities
Lola Knox, MD
Program Researcher, Precision Research, Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities
Madeline Bernard, MPH
Senior Program Manager, Cancer Prevention, Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities
Nishita Conjeevaram, MPH
Senior Program Manager, Behavioral Health, Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities
Yarissa DeJesus, CNA
Rural Clinical Program Manager, Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities
Passang Gonrong, MPH
Senior Program Manager, Cancer Prevention , Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities
Research and Data
Paula Lozano, PhD
Public Health and Quality Research Director, Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities
Susan Perrine, PhD
Senior Researcher; Associate Research Professor of Anthropology, Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities
Chieko Maene, MS
Public Health Research Specialist, Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities
