Public Health Practice
In collaboration with the Worcester Division of Public Health and the Central Massachusetts Public Health Alliance, this community wide survey assesses the experiences of Greater Worcester residents with the SARS CoV-2 pandemic, including physical, emotional and social impacts.
PRC Investigator: Stephenie C. Lemon, PhD
Partners: Worcester Division of Public Health and Massachusetts Public Health Alliance
Funder: Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund (PI: MPI) Sharina Person, PhD
Dates: 2020-2022
This contract with the City of Worcester’s Division of Public Health supports our team to conduct daily case counts for COVID-19 cases and vaccines for the Greater Worcester area.
PRC Investigator: Stephenie C. Lemon, PhD
Funder: City of Worcester Division of Public Health (Contract)
Dates: 2020-2023
The Prevention Research Center at UMass Chan Medical School promoted confidence and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among youth and families in Worcester, Massachusetts. There are three components to this approach 1) COVID-19 Vaccine Ambassadors Public Health Media Campaign, 2) COVID-19 Vaccine Family Ambassador Model, and 3) Preparing Clinicians for Effective COVID-19 Vaccine Conversations.
PRC Investigator: Stephenie C. Lemon, PhD
Funder: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Dates: 2020-2022
The PRC at UMass Chan Medical School is conducting a series of focus group in collaboration with community organizations and populations that experienced COVID-19 disparities, including members of African, African American, American Indian/Native American, Latinx, sexual orientation minority, transgender and non-binary and Vietnamese communities. These focus groups gathered and presented in-depth information about Massachusetts residents’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular emphasis on the social determinants of health. These include factors such as mental and behavioral health, access to care, financial impact, employment, housing, safety and social support. The populations of focus were selected in collaboration with the MDPH by using the results of the COVID Community Impact Survey (CCIS) to identify populations with high disparities and/or challenges.
PRC Investigator: Stephenie C. Lemon, PhD
Partners: Trusted messengers for specific populations
Funder: Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) (contract)
Dates: 2021-2022
The purpose of this project was to garner a better understanding of current models of patient navigation for breast cancer treatment that are being implemented in Boston hospitals/cancer treatment centers. This was accomplished by employing a mixed methods evaluation in six Boston hospitals that currently employ breast cancer patient navigators.
UMass Chan PRC Investigator: Stephenie C. Lemon, PhD
Partners: American Cancer Society, New England Division
Dates: 2018-2019
This project investigated the determinants of recent declines and widening disparities in childhood obesity among public school students in Massachusetts.
UMass Chan PRC Investigator: Wenjun Li, PhD
Funder: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Dates: 2016-2018
This project provided evaluation of the outcomes and progress of Massachusetts Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund worksite wellness programs.
UMass Chan PRC Investigator: Wenjun Li, PhD
Funder: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Dates: 2015-2016
The goal of this study was to systematically assess the food and nutrition environment in high risk Worcester neighborhoods to supplement data collected through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
UMass Chan PRC Investigator: Wenjun Li, PhD
Partner: Worcester Division of Public Health
Funder: UMW-PRC pilot program
Dates: 2013-2014
The UMW-PRC and Health Statistics and Geography Lab co-led the evaluation of progress made in the Worcester Community Health Improvement Plan in regard to healthy eating and physical activity.
UMass Chan PRC Investigators: Stephenie Lemon, PhD, Wenjun Li, PhD
Partner: Worcester Division of Public Health
Funder: Worcester Division of Public Health
Dates: 2013-2014
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the availability of unsupervised tanning in urban and rural areas of two different regions in the US (Northeast and Southeast), proximity to schools, the characteristics of users, and patterns and reasons for use.
UMass Chan PRC Investigator: Sherry Pagoto, PhD
Partner: Worcester Division of Public Health
Funder: CDC SIP
Dates: 2012-2014
The purpose of this project was to evaluate the feasibility of an after-school program to empower elementary school children to enhance their family’s diet and level of physical activity.
UMass Chan PRC Investigators: Lori Pbert, PhD, Monica Wang, ScD, MS
Partners: Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center
Funder: UMW-PRC pilot program
Dates: 2012-2013