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Advancing care through research in Hershey, Pa.

Research in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine focuses on providing better care for our patients.

Our research seeks advance clinical care and quality improvement to improve the health of individuals, families and the broader community.

Explore our research

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Newest Research Faculty

Aleksandra Zgierska, MD, PhD, DFASAM, Department of Family and Community Medicine Vice Chair for Research

Aleksandra Zgierska, MD, PhD, DFASAM

Vice Chair for Research

Dr. Aleksandra Zgierska is the Department of Family and Community Medicine’s new vice chair for research.

She is a family medicine and addiction medicine physician whose work blends primary and specialty addiction care with education and research centered on reducing opioid-related harm, and comes to Hershey from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.

Explore more about Dr. Zgierska’s research

David Rabago, MD

Vice Chair for Faculty Development

Dr. David Rabago is the Department of Family and Community Medicine’s new vice chair for faculty development.

He is a family medicine physician who maintains a full-spectrum continuity and teaching practice with research that focuses on assessing prolotherapy for chronic musculoskeletal pain and on nasal saline irrigation for upper respiratory conditions. He comes to Hershey from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.

Explore more about Dr. Rabago’s research

David Rabago, MD, Department of Family and Community Medicine Vice Chair for Faculty Development

Jennifer Moss, PhD, MSPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine

Jennifer Moss, PhD, MSPH

Assistant Professor

Dr. Jennifer Moss recently received a three-year K22 Transition Career Development Award from the National Cancer Institute. As part of this grant, she will seek additional training in innovative research methods and dissemination of clinical innovations.

In addition, she will develop and test a package of materials to promote self-sampling for cervical and colorectal cancer screening among women in underserved communities in Pennsylvania. The findings from this research can improve cancer detection among people experiencing elevated rates of cervical and colorectal cancer.

Explore more about Dr. Moss’ research

Siddhartha “Sid” Roy, DrPH, MPH

Assistant Professor

Dr. Sid Roy recently received an American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant to examine colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates among African Americans/Blacks. CRC is the third leading cause of cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-­related deaths among men and women in the United States. Dr. Roy’s pilot study is designed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a program that trains barbers and salon stylists to serve as health advisers for their customers and connects their customers to patient navigators to increase CRC screening uptake.

Explore more about Dr. Roy’s research

Siddhartha Roy, DrPH, MPH, Department of Family and Community Medicine Assistant Professor

Susan Veldheer, DEd, RD, Department of Family and Community Medicine Assistant Professor

Susan Veldheer, DEd, RD

Assistant Professor

Using an interdisciplinary and community-engaged research approach, Dr. Susan Veldheer has designed and tested interventions related to improving dietary intake of fruits and vegetables; assessing barriers to treatment for both smoking cessation and obesity; and understanding perceptions of public health interventions among patients, providers and community members.

She recently led a gardening intervention at the Hershey Community garden to improve dietary intake of fruits and vegetables among patients with risk-factors for cardiovascular disease.

Explore more about Dr. Veldheer’s research

Robert Lennon, MD, JD, FAAFP

Associate Professor

Dr. Robert Lennon’s latest research includes developing a study of moral injury in physicians and osteopathic manipulation as a treatment for chronic migraines; a grant pending on a study evaluating multimedia educational modules as a method of teaching research topics; and writing manuscripts for a multisite intervention evaluating curriculum changes to increase resident research output.

He also studies point-of-care ultrasound efficacy and in-field training on humanitarian missions and is collaborating with partners to study health characteristics of Amazon River basin populations.


Explore more about Dr. Lennon’s research

Robert Lennon, MD, JD, FAAFP, Department of Family and Community Medicine Associate Professor

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Contact us

To find out more about research in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine, email
FCMresearch@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or call 717-531-8187.