PISC Publications and News Features
Researchers from Penn partnered with North10 to design and test a cooling shelter prototype in Hunting Park, addressing the severe heat caused by “heat islands.” Led by Sara Jacoby, the team created a solar-powered, open-air shelter offering shade and radiant cooling. “This collaboration shows how technology and community engagement can improve public health,” Jacoby said. Community feedback will shape future improvements. Read more.
A program led by the School District of Philadelphia and the Penn Community Violence Prevention program aims to reduce gun violence at John Bartram High School. Supported by OJJDP, the initiative will include crisis intervention, case management, and mediation. “The goal is to help students transition to positive lifestyles,” said Denise Johnson. More services include counseling, academic support, and employment assistance. Read more.
Research led by Jeff Ebert, Kit Delgado, Kate McDonald, and colleagues has revealed a promising approach to reducing distracted driving. By combining motivation, positive reinforcement, and financial incentives in a competitive game format, the study achieved a 28% reduction in phone use while driving. The results suggest that gamified strategies could help make roads safer by encouraging drivers to adopt better habits. Read more about this innovative approach here.
The Northwest Philadelphia Technical Assistance Program (NW Philly TAP), a human-centered design initiative, brought together nonprofits focused on community safety and well-being in Northwest Philadelphia. Led by Sara Solomon, Andrew Belfiglio, and Isabella Ntigbu from the Penn Injury Science Center, along with Kara Wentworth, Siani Butler, Caitlin Taylor and their colleagues at the Nonprofit Center at La Salle, the program aimed to enhance technical skills and capacity-building. Learn more about the program’s impact and future directions here.
Desmond Patton highlights the critical rise of online threats and the need for a multifaceted response. He stresses the importance of contextual analysis, mental health involvement, and community-based monitoring. Explore these key insights and recommendations here.
The Penn Injury Science Center (PISC) is proud to spotlight the latest cohort of its Trainee Learning Lab (TLL). This dynamic program and CDC Success Story continues to advance the field of injury and violence prevention by fostering a collaborative and insightful learning environment for emerging researchers and practitioners.
Diverse Perspectives and Networking Opportunities
The TLL shines in its ability to connect trainees with a diverse array of experts and peers. Prarthana Pilla, a research coordinator at the Child Health Equity Center at UMass, appreciates the program’s diversity “amongst both the trainees and presenters,” said Pilla. “As an early-stage researcher, it is valuable and comforting to see that there are several avenues to pursuing injury and violence prevention research.” Emily Dzieniszewski, a Master of Public Health student at UPenn, also valued the interactions with fellow professionals: “Meeting and interacting with other injury and violence prevention professionals and students made every session very insightful and enjoyable.”
“As an early-stage researcher, it is valuable and comforting to see that there are several avenues to pursuing injury and violence prevention research.” -Prarthana Pilla, research coordinator at the Child Health Equity Center at UMass
Deepening Research Knowledge and Skills
The TLL excels in enhancing participants’ research skills and broadening their understanding of various methodologies. Dr. Alisa Shockley, a Penn Provost Postdoctoral Fellow with Dr. Sara Jacoby and Dr. Gina South, found the methodological discussions particularly valuable: “I found the discussions with the authors and directors of the research particularly engaging. While I typically lean towards mixed methods and qualitative research, delving into their methodologies and reasoning offered valuable insights. Among the various approaches explored, I was particularly drawn to the documentary and ethnographic methods.” Jillian Baker, a doctoral candidate at the University of Michigan, appreciated how the program deepened her understanding of injury research: “Interacting with scientists across different institutions presented unique opportunities for discussion, allowing trainees to deepen our understanding of various areas of injury research. I feel much more well-versed in a range of injury topics, and I credit these monthly seminars with increasing my interest in injury science and desire to work in this field.”
“I feel much more well-versed in a range of injury topics, and I credit these monthly seminars with increasing my interest in injury science and desire to work in this field.” -Jillian Baker, doctoral candidate at the University of Michigan
Engaging with Leading Experts
One of the key benefits of the TLL is the chance to engage with leading researchers. Karen Lim Phat, a Clinical Research Coordinator supporting the Driving After Concussion study (DAC), led by Dr. Catherine McDonald at CHOP’s Center of Injury Prevention (CIRP), highlighted the value of “learning about other ongoing research in the field and having discussions with peers with different expertise and backgrounds.” Dr. Anita Wamakima, a general surgery resident at Temple University Hospital, valued the detailed discussions with authors, “being able to break down papers with peers and ultimately talk with the primary author about their thoughts on the paper and their next steps in greater detail.”
“being able to break down papers with peers and ultimately talk with the primary author about their thoughts on the paper and their next steps in greater detail…” -Dr. Anita Wamakima, general surgery resident at Temple University Hospital
Building a Supportive Community
The TLL fosters a supportive community where diverse backgrounds enrich discussions. Dr. Dorothy C. Handfield, a retired educator and researcher, appreciated the thought-provoking nature of the small group discussions: “It was intriguing to discuss with the authors the rationale behind their research. And, our small group discussions were thought-provoking because everyone contributed a wealth of information due to their diverse backgrounds.” Maggie Sarle, a research associate at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, found value in the insights shared by both guest authors and fellow trainees: “My favorite part of the TLL was hearing the insights of the guest authors and my fellow trainees through the monthly discussions.”
“…our small group discussions were thought-provoking because everyone contributed a wealth of information due to their diverse backgrounds.” -Dr. Dorothy C. Handfield, researcher and retired educator from the Newark Board of Education
Broadening Professional Horizons
The TLL also helps participants expand their professional networks and knowledge. Colleen S. Walsh, a doctoral candidate at Virginia Commonwealth University, found the program to be a significant addition to her training: “TLL was a terrific supplement to the final year of my doctoral training. This program bolstered my knowledge of broader violence topics and facilitated a widening of my scientific network. I’ve referred a number of my doctoral student peers to this program as I know they’ll reap the same benefits I have.”
“I’ve referred a number of my doctoral student peers to this program as I know they’ll reap the same benefits I have.” -Colleen S. Walsh, doctoral candidate at Virginia Commonwealth University
The Penn Injury Science Center’s Trainee Learning Lab remains a pivotal experience for emerging professionals in injury and violence prevention. By providing a platform for diverse learning, networking, and engagement with leading experts, the TLL is shaping the future of injury science research and practice.
Thanks to all 2023-24 participants and guest authors, including those not mentioned above, such as Adam Mussell, Dr. Meredith E. Kneavel, Elizabeth Metzger, Dr. Laura Bricklin, and more.
Terry Richmond moderated a panel of top experts in the field of firearm violence, making sense of “what works and what doesn’t” in the prevention of firearm deaths. Federal research dollars are now being reinvested into the topic after a more than 20-year ban effected by the Dickey Amendment.
Inquiry is accepting submissions to a special issue devoted to improving the evidence base for gun violence prevention strategies designed to operate at the neighborhood and community level. This will be a true or “gold” open-access issue that involves author fees, but some funding is available to help authors cover the fee, and we hope that makes it possible to support young scholars, post-docs, doctoral students, etc.
SAFELab, led by Desmond Upton Patton, created an app to avoid misinterpretation of social media data. In a time when law enforcement actively monitors social media and considers activity as evidence, and reporters use social media in storylines, InterpretMe aims to reduce bias from out-of-context interpretations.
Elinore Kaufman recently spoke with Penn LDI about addressing firearm injury at the source. “As a trauma surgeon, I pride myself on fixing problems, and at Penn, we provide state-of-the-art acute care to our injured patients; including 80 people actively enrolled in our recovery program. But violent injury is a structural disease.”
Shoshana Aronowitz was featured in an article in the Inquirer about how the Parker Administration is approaching the opioid crisis. Aronowitz expressed concerns that people affected by the approach would not be able to access quality treatment.
Desmond Patton published an opinion essay in Newsweek on what’s often missing from debates about social media and mental health: gun violence. Patton lays out important considerations when bringing the topic of gun violence into this debate, including how to avoid over-policing or stigmatizing the involved youth who could benefit from mental health support.