Penn researchers and community partners are working to reframe violence prevention as a public health initiative, emphasizing connection and support for youth. A July 7 mass shooting in Philadelphia’s Grays Ferry neighborhood left three dead and 10 injured at a block...
Project Unloaded is engaging directly with those most affected to shape the future of emerging technologies. Desmond Upton Patton highlights the project’s commitment to understanding community needs and preferences. Discover how this initiative is driving...
Dr. Christen Rexing, PhD, MPH is the Executive Director for the Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research (SAVIR), a professional organization that provides leadership and fosters excellence in the science of violence and injury prevention and care. Dr....
Dr. Cheryl Bettigole served as the Health Commissioner for the City of Philadelphia from 2021-2024 and recently joined the University of Pennsylvania as a Professor of Clinical Family Medicine and Community Health. At Penn, she is working on developing collaborative...
Anish Agarwal, MD, MPH, MS is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. His research interests lay at the intersection of emergency care, digital health, and workforce well-being. Dr. Agarwal’s work has been published in JAMA,...
A qualitative study led by Hillary Kapa and Rachel Myers published preprint on Research Square evaluates Beyond the Bars, a community-based music program aimed at reducing youth violence. The program’s participatory approach has shown promising impacts on...
A new survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center finds that 37% of U.S. adults living in households with guns do not store all of them in a locked location. The study highlights ongoing concerns about firearm safety, particularly given that gun injuries remain the...
In a recent op-ed for The Guardian, trauma surgeon Elinore Kaufman warns that federal funding cuts and policy rollbacks threaten to derail crucial gun violence research. After years of progress, recent moves to dismantle public health efforts risk worsening a...
A new scoping review co-authored by Joel Fein examines emergency department (ED)-based interventions for youth with assault-related injuries. The study found that most interventions—such as case management, psychosocial support, and mentorship—were resource-intensive...
A WHYY article highlights the growing intersection of youth mental health challenges and firearm access, citing a rise in gun suicides among Gen Z. Desmond Patton, Director of SAFELab at Penn, notes that young people are increasingly open about mental health,...
