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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 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.
Dedicated to addressing health disparities in rural and underserved communities
About the Center
Coalition Building
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
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
Leadership
Leadership
Fornessa T. Randal, EdD, MCRP
Center DirectorDr. Randal is associate professor of medicine and public health sciences, associate director of research diversity and health equity for Penn State Cancer Institute, and director of the Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities (CAHE-RUC) at Penn State College of Medicine. Dr. Randal has over 20 years of experience in health systems innovation and minority and community health planning. Her background extends to cancer disparities research, public health, outreach, and administrative leadership. She is recognized both locally and nationally for innovative approaches to program design and implementation. Dr. Randal has disseminated and transformed local health initiatives into statewide and national models and developed prototypes recognized by the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Opportunities
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
Leadership
Fornessa T. Randal, EdD, MCRP
Center Director
Dr. Randal is associate professor of medicine and public health sciences, associate director of research diversity and health equity for Penn State Cancer Institute, and director of the Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities (CAHE-RUC) at Penn State College of Medicine. Dr. Randal has over 20 years of experience in health systems innovation and minority and community health planning. Her background extends to cancer disparities research, public health, outreach, and administrative leadership. She is recognized both locally and nationally for innovative approaches to program design and implementation. Dr. Randal has disseminated and transformed local health initiatives into statewide and national models and developed prototypes recognized by the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CAHE-RUC Staff
Leadership
Leadership
Program Directors
Program Directors
Program Managers
Program Managers
Research and Data
Research and Data
Operations
Operations
Leadership
Program Directors
Program Managers
Research and Data
Operations
The Center's Work
Program Initiatives
Program Initiatives
Cancer Screening & Prevention
Utilizing implementation strategies to enhance screening and early detection of colorectal, prostate, liver, breast, and cervical cancers.
Chronic & Infectious Diseases
Screening, education, and prevention of common diseases, such as hepatitis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, as well as vital programs to address health literacy, vaccine confidence, and language access.
Mental & Behavioral Health
Increasing awareness about mental health, substance use and social justice issues among communities of color and connection to culturally tailored resources.
Precision Medicine Engagement
National biomedical research engagement and recruitment for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
Publications
Publications
- Lozano, P., Peters, A., Southworth, A., Mo, Y., Lam, H., Randal, F. T., & Kim, K. E. (2024). Smoking behavior among Asian Americans during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: The influence of pandemic stressors and depression. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 22.
- Sharp, M., Lozano, P., Southworth, A., Peters, A., Lam, H., Randal, F. T., … & Kim, K. E. (2024). Mixed methods approach to understanding COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among immigrants in the Chicago. Vaccine.
- Lozano, P., Veitch, Z., Sharp, M., Southworth, A., Randal, F. T., & Kim, K. E. (2024). A Mixed-methods Approach to Understanding Language Interpretation Services in Health Care Settings among Asian American Immigrants from Diverse Ethnic Backgrounds. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 35(3), 85-101.
- Randal, F. T., Lozano, P., Qi, S., Maene, C., Shah, S., Mo, Y., … & Kim, K. E. (2023). Achieving a Representative Sample of Asian Americans in Biomedical Research Through Community-Based Approaches: Comparing Demographic Data in the All of Us Research Program with the American Community Survey. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 34(1), 59-67.
- Lozano, P., Randal, F. T., Peters, A., Aschebrook-Kilfoy, B., Kibriya, M. G., Luo, J., … & Kim, K. E. (2023). The impact of neighborhood disadvantage on colorectal cancer screening among African Americans in Chicago. Preventive Medicine Reports, 34, 102235.
- Lozano, P., Rueger, S. Y., Lam, H., Louie, N., Southworth, A., Maene, C., … & Kim, K. (2022). Prevalence of depression symptoms before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among two Asian American ethnic groups. Journal of immigrant and minority health, 1-9.
- Randal, Fornessa T., et al. (2022). Establishing a national engagement strategy for recruiting Asian Americans and other minorities into biomedical research. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action 16.3, 349-359.
- Randal, F. T., Lozano, P., Qi, S., Mo, Y., Lam, H., Kim, K. (2021). Do the Demographic Characteristics of the Asian American Cohort in the All of Us Research Program achieve a representative sample of Asian Americans? Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (REHD-D-20-00715).
- Kim, K. E., et al. (2020). Implementing a Multilevel Intervention to Accelerate Colorectal Cancer Screening and Follow-up in Federally Qualified Health Centers Using a Stepped Wedge Design: A Study Protocol. Implementation Science 15: 96.
Resources
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.
Program Initiatives
Cancer Screening & Prevention
Utilizing implementation strategies to enhance screening and early detection of colorectal, prostate, liver, breast, and cervical cancers.
Chronic & Infectious Diseases
Screening, education, and prevention of common diseases, such as hepatitis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, as well as vital programs to address health literacy, vaccine confidence, and language access.
Mental & Behavioral Health
Increasing awareness about mental health, substance use and social justice issues among communities of color and connection to culturally tailored resources.
Precision Medicine Engagement
National biomedical research engagement and recruitment for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
Publications
- Lozano, P., Peters, A., Southworth, A., Mo, Y., Lam, H., Randal, F. T., & Kim, K. E. (2024). Smoking behavior among Asian Americans during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: The influence of pandemic stressors and depression. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 22.
- Sharp, M., Lozano, P., Southworth, A., Peters, A., Lam, H., Randal, F. T., … & Kim, K. E. (2024). Mixed methods approach to understanding COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among immigrants in the Chicago. Vaccine.
- Lozano, P., Veitch, Z., Sharp, M., Southworth, A., Randal, F. T., & Kim, K. E. (2024). A Mixed-methods Approach to Understanding Language Interpretation Services in Health Care Settings among Asian American Immigrants from Diverse Ethnic Backgrounds. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 35(3), 85-101.
- Randal, F. T., Lozano, P., Qi, S., Maene, C., Shah, S., Mo, Y., … & Kim, K. E. (2023). Achieving a Representative Sample of Asian Americans in Biomedical Research Through Community-Based Approaches: Comparing Demographic Data in the All of Us Research Program with the American Community Survey. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 34(1), 59-67.
- Lozano, P., Randal, F. T., Peters, A., Aschebrook-Kilfoy, B., Kibriya, M. G., Luo, J., … & Kim, K. E. (2023). The impact of neighborhood disadvantage on colorectal cancer screening among African Americans in Chicago. Preventive Medicine Reports, 34, 102235.
- Lozano, P., Rueger, S. Y., Lam, H., Louie, N., Southworth, A., Maene, C., … & Kim, K. (2022). Prevalence of depression symptoms before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among two Asian American ethnic groups. Journal of immigrant and minority health, 1-9.
- Randal, Fornessa T., et al. (2022). Establishing a national engagement strategy for recruiting Asian Americans and other minorities into biomedical research. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action 16.3, 349-359.
- Randal, F. T., Lozano, P., Qi, S., Mo, Y., Lam, H., Kim, K. (2021). Do the Demographic Characteristics of the Asian American Cohort in the All of Us Research Program achieve a representative sample of Asian Americans? Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (REHD-D-20-00715).
- Kim, K. E., et al. (2020). Implementing a Multilevel Intervention to Accelerate Colorectal Cancer Screening and Follow-up in Federally Qualified Health Centers Using a Stepped Wedge Design: A Study Protocol. Implementation Science 15: 96.
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.
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Contact Us
Center for Advancing Health Equity
in Rural and Underserved Communities
Penn State College of Medicine
700 HMC Crescent Rd.
Hershey, PA 17033