July 2022 | Issue 42

THIS MONTH IN INJURY SCIENCE AT PENN

PISC welcomes CDC interns, the CDC releases the Injury Control Research Centers (ICRCs) Report update for the program's 35th anniversary, and a PISC Scholar is officially announced as a White House policy advisor.
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FEATURED

Meet PISC's CDC summer interns!

As one of the nine CDC-funded Injury Control Research Centers (ICRCs), the Penn Injury Science Center is committed to the three core areas to advance the field of injury and violence prevention: research, outreach, and training.

The training core, which aims to build the field by "training and developing the current and next generation of researchers and public health professionals," is thrilled to welcome Masha Morozov and Nitya Devisetti as part of the 2022 CDC/NCIPC ICRC Summer Internship Program!

Masha Morozov

MOROZOV
Masha is a rising second year MPH candidate at Penn on the Global Health track. Having attained a BSc in Integrative Neuroscience and a BA in Russian Studies from Binghamton University, Masha has been involved in various research projects related to developmental disabilities, HIV, and domestic violence, and currently serves on the Penn Center for AIDS Research Community Advisory Board.

"Global Violence Against Children and Youth"

Masha joins Dr. Greta Massetti with the CDC’s Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS), to create a module on online violence for the Jamaica Violence Against Children and Youth Survey and populate data from the Guatemala VACS project for future Data to Action Workshops and implementation. The experience and training at PISC will build upon Masha's MPH fieldwork on teen dating violence prevention in Northwest Philadelphia through the Lutheran Settlement House's STAR program.
Nitya is a student in the 7-year BS/MD Program with Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and was previously part of PISC's Trainee Learning Lab. Passionate about increasing her knowledge of injury science for her future career path, Nitya is particularly interested in examining Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) prevention efforts and hopes to reduce mortality related to violence and unintentional injury.

Nitya joins Dr. Ekta Choudhary in the ICRC Unit's Program Implementation and Evaluation Branch on a pilot project to assess the awareness of research contributions and other products (e.g., research tools, outreach tools) developed by funded ICRCs.

Nitya Devisetti

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"Putting Research into Action to Prevent Injuries/Violence"

In this pilot project, Nitya will support the ICRC team, in collaboration with the Applied Sciences Branch, in using Porter Novelli Styles (Styles) data to assess awareness of research conducted by ICRCs from 2012-2019 and better understand the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the targeted audience on four injury topics. The team will use DocStyles data, which garners information from ~1,000 primary care physicians, to provide insight on health care providers on four injury topic areas.

Welcome Masha and Nitya!

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Peace Walk for Ahmad Morales July 2 2022

Peace Walk

Saturday, July 2nd, 2022
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Starting at 20th & Federal, Ending at 24th & Wharton (Wharton Square Playground)

The Beloved Care Project (267-401-2990) and loving mother Tamika Morales (215-987-9305) are hosting a peace walk in memory of Ahmad Morales who was lost to gun violence.

The organizers extend an invitation to all friends, family, and neighbors, and especially to those who have lost children to gun violence. If you are unable to do the walk, you can line up in your car to be a part of this event.
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Summer Media Institute from Nationwide Children's Center for Injury Research & Policy

July 12th-14th, 2022
1:00pm - 5:00pm
Virtual

Effective communication in public health has never been more important. In today's crowded media climate, it can be challenging to break through to the audience you are trying to reach. Come learn the skills you need to share research, promote programs, and create safer, healthier communities through the media and social media. (CHES credits available)

Go to www.NationwideChildrens.org/CIRP-Media-Workshop for details and registration.
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Neighborhoods Together: Welcome to the Hood

Saturday, July 16th, 2022
1:00pm - 7:00pm
2000 Block of S. 60th St.

The Beloved Care Project is hosting a community memorial event to remember loved ones lost to gun violence in Philadelphia. The event will celebrate the lives of loved ones with activities for children and youth, while also bringing resources and speakers directly to the community.
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Webinar: Gun Violence: A National Priority of Nurse Researchers

Wednesday, July 20th, 2022
12:00pm - 1:30pm
Virtual

The panel of national leaders in gun violence research will be discussing their research trajectories, funding opportunities, policy implications, the importance of interprofessional teams when researching gun violence, and how to live safely in world with guns.

Learn more and register for free
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American Indian / Alaska Native Injury and Violence Prevention Conference

July 26th-28th
Virtual

Registration is now open for the 2nd National Conference on American Indian and Alaska Native Injury and Violence Prevention! Join the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Indian Health Service, virtually, from July 26-28, 2022 as we “Reconnect to Promote Health Equity and Advance Practice and Science.” Abstract submissions are now closed, but registration is free and open to the public.
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National Research Conference on Firearm Injury

November 29th-December 1st
Washington, DC

The 2022 National Research Conference on Firearm Injury Prevention will highlight the current state of the science and research on firearm injury prevention across the lifespan.
Abstract submissions are now closed, but registration is open!

LATEST IN RESEARCH & NEWS

Call for Papers: Special Issue, Prevention Science

The NIH Office of Disease Prevention (ODP) is sponsoring a special issue in Prevention Science, entitled "Design and Analytic Methods to Evaluate Multilevel Interventions to Reduce Health Disparities.”

The deadline to submit a two-page manuscript precis is September 1, 2022. Selected authors will be invited to submit a full manuscript for which an initial draft is due February 1, 2023.
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PISC featured in CDC's latest report of key ICRC achievements

Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, the CDC ICRC program released an update on the biggest impacts Injury Control Research Centers have had on the field of injury and violence prevention from 2012-2019. Various research, outreach, and training highlights from PISC were included, as well as innovative tools, resources, and collaborations.
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Op-Ed: The Cycle of Gun Violence in Philadelphia

Zaffer Qasim and Chidinma Nwakanma penned an op-ed for The Inquirer, combining their firsthand experiences as emergency physicians and trauma surgeons at Penn Presby, the nation's stark reality of gun violence, a path forward through common ground, and a call to action.
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Op-Ed: Social Media Challenges Can Be Deadly

Dan Romer relays the story of 10-year-old girl who died in 2021 and the broader landscape of dangerous “challenges” and algorithms that feed users harmful content, arguing for greater accountability and a policy means of achieving that.
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White House Senior Policy Advisor on Housing

Vincent Reina has been named a senior policy advisor on housing and urban policy in the White House Domestic Policy Council, with a focus on fair, affordable housing and equitable development and community investment.
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Affective Symptoms and Anxiety after Sport-Related Concussion (SRC)

Bernadette D'Alonzo led a study with Abby Bretzin and Doug Wiebe to examine the relationship between affective symptom reporting and return-to-play (RTP) progression after SRC among a cohort of Division 1 student-athletes. They found that student-athletes with affective symptoms and nervous-anxious symptoms exhibited delayed clinical recovery and RTP timelines.
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Changes in Firearm Mortality Over Space and Time

A team of PISC Scholars assessed rates of firearm mortality at the county level across the United States over two five year periods. The study, led by Michelle Degli Esposti and the team of Doug Wiebe, Jason Gravel, Elinore Kaufman, Kit Delgado, and Terry Richmond, makes a novel contribution to the literature which previously lacked in terms of characterizing firearm mortality over space and time. These findings of geographic hotspots and high/low "outlier" counties can inform targeted prevention efforts and local policy responses.
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Costs Associated with Assault Injuries

Sara Jacoby calls researchers, policymakers, advocates, and health systems to action in an invited commentary on the burden of assault injuries. After a recent contribution by Barry et al, Jacoby says now is the time to shift attention to the implementation and effectiveness of population health interventions to prevent violence.
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Reducing Distracted Driving in Young Adults

Kate McDonald, Kit Delgado, and colleagues tested the efficacy of a 6-week text message program to reduce texting while driving for young adults, which was more effective as reducing self-reported texting while driving at 12 weeks compared to the control group.
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Improving Identification of Crash Injuries

Allison Curry and a team of researchers at CHOP and Penn aimed to link hospital discharge data with police crash reports to more accurately account for crash injuries. They found that each data source in isolation misses approximately one-third of injured individuals and undercounts certain groups, raising awareness that using one source may not allow for tailored prevention and intervention efforts.
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Medical Schools as Racialized Organizations

Gina South and colleagues provide a narrative review on the role of race and racism in medical training, highlighting organizational factors from the entrance into medical through the residency application process, and how it impacts trainees and medical schools' recruitment, retention, diversity, and inclusion efforts.
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RESOURCES

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Let's Connect - Mentoring from Nationwide Children's

Let’s Connect is a free consultation and mentoring service for injury professionals and trainees to connect with faculty and senior staff in the Center for Injury Research and Policy (CIRP) at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, OH. Injury professionals and students are often looking for a coach, mentor, or consultation outside of their institution. Let’s Connect provides an opportunity for them to connect via phone or Zoom with CIRP faculty and senior staff as part of the Center's professional mentoring and collaboration process.
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Statistical Consultation for PISC-Affiliated Postdocs, Clinical Fellows, and Early Stage Faculty

With our commitment to develop future generations of injury scientists across disciplines, PISC is now providing statistics support for projects that are focused on the core mission of PISC and for which extramural resources are not currently available. This program offers statistical consultation through the BECCA (Biostatistics, Evaluation, Collaboration, Consultation, and Analysis) at Penn Nursing.
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Coming Soon... PISC BOX!

We are developing a shared folder in Penn Box with curated resources for PISC scholars and affiliates. This will include fun things like Zoom and LinkedIn backgrounds, as well as helpful instructions for new employee orientation, how to obtain software, arranging travel and conference registration, and more. If you have ideas for what to include in PISC Box, please contact andrew.belfiglio@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

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Faculty Positions at the University of Washington

The University of Washington's Department of Epidemiology is currently looking for two new faculty members, specifically tenure-track Assistant Professors. They are dedicated to hiring faculty who are eager to contribute to interdisciplinary work, offer new approaches that enhance and sustain population health and well-being, and model the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism in their work.
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Assistant Commissioner, NYC Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use Prevention, Care, and Treatment

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Health Department) is seeking an Assistant Commissioner to lead the Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use Prevention, Care and Treatment (BADUPCT). The Assistant Commissioner of BADUPCT will be responsible for leading a large and diverse team in the strategic development, implementation, and oversight of a comprehensive public health, racial justice, and health equity approach to reducing morbidity and mortality related to alcohol and drug use in New York City.
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Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Iowa College of Public Health

The Department of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health is looking for a highly qualified and motivated scholar to join a research program in the areas of injury epidemiology and road traffic safety. The initial appointment is a full-time postdoctoral research scholar position for two years, with the possibility to extend to a third year, subject to performance and funding availability.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Understanding Suicide Risk and Protective Factors among Black Youth (R01)

The National Institutes of Health has released RFA-MH-22-140, Understanding Suicide Risk and Protective Factors among Black Youth (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) aims to advance translational research to better understand factors that confer risk and resilience for suicide among Black youth. This FOA encourages research that is designed to identify neurobiological, behavioral, social, and structural/systemic mechanisms underlying risk and protective factors for suicide among Black youth, with consideration for the identification of novel targets for future development of prevention and intervention efforts.

Understanding Suicide Risk and Protective Factors among Black Youth (R21)

The National Institutes of Health has released RFA-MH-22-141, Understanding Suicide Risk and Protective Factors among Black Youth (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). This FOA aims to advance translational research to better understand factors that confer risk and resilience for suicide among Black youth. R21 exploratory grant awards in response to this FOA are intended to conduct preliminary work regarding the assessment and characterization of risk and protective factors, with consideration for the identification of novel targets for the future development of prevention and intervention efforts.

LDI Funding for Health Research-Focused Events at Penn

The Leonard Davis Institute is seeking proposals to fund working groups or other convenings at Penn that will help catalyze and support new research across Penn’s health policy and health services research community. They are accepting applications from LDI Senior Fellows on a rolling basis, with preference given to proposals that include the involvement of Senior Fellows who are junior faculty and bring together Senior Fellows from across schools and disciplines. Proposals should seek to develop sustained new collaborations or lines of inquiry at Penn or develop new partnerships or collaborations for research outside of Penn.

Funds of up to $10,000 are available, although lower-budget proposals are more likely to be funded. Funds may be combined with other sources of funding.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

SHARING SCIENCE

"Scientific communication is the process of distilling technical information about science-related topics into understandable [and attractive] messages and stories for public consumption."

Radio Segment: Does Hollywood Have a Gun Problem?

Following the latest mass shootings in Buffalo, Uvalde, and Tulsa, Dan Romer joins Madeleine Brand on NPR member station KCRW to discuss the rising prevalence and sanitization of violence in media, arguing that the use of guns as props in Hollywood should be considered more seriously.
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About Us

The Penn Injury Science Center is funded by a grant from the CDC and brings together university, community, and government partners around injury and violence intervention programs with the greatest potential for impact. We promote and perform the highest quality research, training and translation of scientific discoveries into practice and policy in order to reduce injuries, violence, and their impact to our region, the US, and locations around the world.
Question, Comments, or Suggestions?

Email andrew.belfiglio@pennmedicine.upenn.edu about any concerns or content you’d like to see in the next newsletter.