Gun violence touches people and communities across the country. The U.S. Surgeon General has declared gun violence a national public health crisis with calls to increase prevention, surveillance, support, and treatment for individuals, families and communities affected by gun violence.
PCOM research is focused on understanding the prevalence of gun violence, improving clinician-patient communications and increasing awareness of community resources.
The Holistic Approach to Address Gun Violence (HAAGV) special interest group at PCOM focuses on four areas:
PCOM is well-suited to address the devastating impact of gun impact through its healthcare centers, behavioral and mental health services, educators, researchers, students, and a deeply rooted commitment to supporting families and communities.
Gun violence is now the number one cause of death in children and young adults according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Causes of death by gun violence included suicides by gun injury, homicides, mass shootings, law enforcement confrontations, and accidental shootings. PCOM is conducting research to mitigate the impact of this public health crisis through a holistic and multifaceted approach. Specific initiatives include:
Researchers in this quality improvement study at two urban healthcare centers in Philadelphia—Lancaster Avenue and Cambria Division—investigated an educational program designed to help clinicians confer with their patients about gun violence, prevention, and available resources for support and treatment.
The project has completed its initial phases, including the quality improvement study, poster presentation, and fellowship evaluation. A manuscript titled "Feasibility study: Investigation of the impact of a clinician-directed educational program about gun violence, prevention and available community resources in two community urban healthcare centers" is currently in progress, led by Dr. Erik Langenau with team members Alexa Kaminsky and Dr. Michael Roberts.
PCOM’s Holistic Approach to Addressing Gun VIolence (HAAGV) Special Interest Group is examining gun violence in Philadelphia communities under the leadership of Erik Langenau, DO, MS, MAPP.
PCOM aims to develop innovative approaches to promoting health through basic, translational, clinical, behavioral, education and community research projects.
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