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Ana E. Núñez is the director of the Center of Excellence, director of the Women’s Health Education Program, and associate professor of medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine formerly MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine. Núñez received her medical degree and completed her residency training and chief residency at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her post-graduate training includes a fellowship in medical education at the Michigan State University Primary Care Faculty Development in 1993, a fellowship in Health Services Research at the Association of American Medical Colleges in 1995, and an Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Fellowship from the Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership, Drexel University College of Medicine in 2005.
She is a nationally recognized medical educator in women’s health, curricular reform and cultural competency, and has served as the Principal Investigator in a number of educational and health services research grants in women’s health and culturally effective health care. She has received funding by the U.S. Department of Education Fund for Improvement of Post-Secondary Education Grant for Disseminating Proven Reforms for her work in Women’s Health education. She has developed and implemented novel curriculum for all levels of medical training - from first through four year students, as well as residents, faculty and for other health professional disciplines.
She has developed varied educational interventions including a women's health education series that has been successfully integrated and evaluated within the medical school's curricular tracks. She serves as the editor of a comprehensive women's health case studies series entitled, "Healthy Women, Healthy Lives: Women's Health Across the Lifespan." She has served on HRSA study sections for health professional education. She served as a Health Policy Fellow to the Secretary of Health, Tommy Thompson and was one of thirty primary care health experts selected for this fellowship. Núñez has presented nationally at conferences addressing women’s health, curricular reform, women and minorities in medicine and cultural issues in health care delivery and practice. These include presentations at the Association of American Medical Colleges, the US Department of Health’s Conference for Cross-Cultural Issues and Women’s Health Education in Medical Schools and The Women’s Health Congress.
She has served as a consultant in integrating women’s health and cross-cultural issues in medical education for a number of institutions including the American Association of Medical College, the University of Pennsylvania, Meharry School of Medicine, University of Kentucky School of Medicine, Louisiana State University School of Medicine and St. Louis University School of Medicine. Her expertise in cross-cultural health care includes her nationally replicated workshop that is part of her cross cultural seminar series for healthcare professionals, a core component in the Physician's Assistant program curricula. She is an invited member of a national expert panel for developing tools to measuring cultural competence, a program supported by the Commonwealth Fund and spearheaded by the AAMC, and has been an invited reviewer to the United States Medical Licensing Education for cultural competence.
She has nationally presented at numerous conferences on culture, its impact on health care and cross-cultural communication. Her work was recently cited as an example of an effective curricular intervention in the Institute of Medicine’s report on Disparities of Health Care. She has trained a wide range of health professionals including residents and faculty. Within the scope of cross-cultural communication, she has nationally recognized expertise in negotiation skills and mentorship issues especially for women and minorities. She serves on the medical school's curriculum and admission committees, and participates in the mentoring program for minority students. She is currently an invited member to the National Advisory to the Robert Wood Johnson Minority Medical Education Program. Her research interests are in girls and women’s health, minority women’s health and culturally effective care.
She has developed a curriculum for mothers and daughters to explore healthy lifestyle choices. She has also created curriculum for health care providers to be better able to address the needs of minority women living with HIV/AIDs. She is a practicing general internist and is the Medical Director for the University's Physician Assistant Program, has served as a Board Member of Congreso de Latinos Unidos, and is a member of the American Medical Association, Society for General Internal Medicine, American Medical Women's Association and the National Academy on Women's Health Education.
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Candace Robertson-James is the research manager at the Women's Health Education Program, as well as an instructor in the Department of Medicine. She received her Bachelor of Science in biology from Villanova University and her Master of Public Health from MCP Hahnemann University, and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Public Health at Drexel University.
Robertson-James has participated in research focused on the epidemiology of adolescent violence in urban centers such as Philadelphia; hypertension in Pacific Islanders; menopause education and health risks associated with the menopausal transition; cultural competence; health disparities, particularly those issues affecting women, minorities and adolescents; barriers to the inclusion of minorities in research; dating and domestic violence; and health promotion interventions. Robertson-James has also lead community participatory research initiatives promoting health in diverse and underserved communities.
She received recognition as the recipient of the Exemplary Community Based Master's Project Award (2002) for her work on a project addressing adolescent violence, specifically, exploring the role of school commitment as a protective factor in adolescent experiences with violence. Robertson-James also received a citation from State Senator Constance Williams for programming regarding “Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day” in Pennsylvania (July 2004), the Exemplary Instruction and Service award from Eastern University, People for People Institute (April 2010) and the 2010 Villanova University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Alumni Medallion (November 2010) for demonstrating excellence in her professional endeavors and commitment to the values and ideals of Villanova.
Robertson-James has also been involved with projects mentoring high school students interested in math and science. She has worked as a science teacher at Cornerstone Christian Academy, where she enhanced the school’s science program, introduced an experiential lab component, provided curricular guidance, and served as a consultant two years after teaching.
In addition, Robertson-James ensures that all Drexel University College of Medicine third-year clerks, as well as first-year students, receive training on intimate partner violence screening strategies in clinical venues. She has conducted workshops on several women’s health topics in various community settings, including a workshop series at the Riverside Correctional Facility, the women’s prison in the Philadelphia Prison System. Robertson-James is a member of the American Public Health Association and serves as health chair for the NAACP Pennsylvania State Conference. She has also developed evaluation tools and has presented at regional and national conferences.
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Mikelle Nickens is a University of Pennsylvania graduate with a degree in Communications. She is the new Academic Coordinator for the Women's Health Education Program at DUCOM working with Pathway students as well as supporting Dr. Nunez and Dr. Kahng
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Kim U. Kahng, M.D., received her medical degree from Jefferson Medical College. She received her clinical training in general surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center in NY, NY followed by a fellowship in surgical research at SUNY-Brooklyn (Downstate). She then accepted a full-time faculty position in the Department of Surgery at SUNY-Brooklyn, where she ultimately became a tenured Associate Professor of Surgery. She was recruited to the Medical College of Pennsylvania (MCP) to become the Co-Director of the Surgery Residency Program and Vice-Chair for Administrative Affairs in the Department of Surgery. As part of the merger between MCP and Hahnemann University, she played a key role in the integration of the two surgery residency programs. Following the bankruptcy of Allegheny (MCP-HU) University, Kahng accepted a position at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) as Vice-Chair for Veterans’ Affairs in the Department of Surgery and Chief, Surgical Subspecialties at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center. A few years after retiring from academic surgery and returning to Philadelphia, she accepted an offer to join the Women’s Health Education Program as Associate Director.
In addition to her clinical training, she was a fellow in the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program in ‘97-‘98 and a fellow in the MCW Faculty Leadership Development Program ’00-’01. She is a senior/retired member of several surgical societes including the American College of Surgeons, the Association for Academic Surgery, the Society of University Surgeons, and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.
She brings her experience in surgical post-graduate education and clinical medical student education to the Women’s Health Education Program. She has also had significant experience in the role of mentor for medical students, residents, and faculty in her previous academic career. As Associate Director of WHEP, she is primarily involved in the curricular and student advisory missions of the program. She is also involved with WHEP’s health education and health care delivery research programs.
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Winnie Jones is the executive secretary for the Women’s Health Education Program. She has been with WHEP almost six years. She is a trained medical assistant, but the majority of her time is spent doing administrative work for the department.
Winnie brings to WHEP an extensive background in administration. She has earned many certificates in training from the Pan-African Studies Community Education Program at Temple University. These include certificates in Excel, Introduction to PowerPoint and Desk Top Publishing: Using Microsoft Publisher. She has recently completed courses at Drexel University in Medical Terminology and Physician-Based Medical Coding. Before entering the medical spectrum, she served as a warehouse analyst for the General Electric RE-Entry Systems Department where she held a Department of Defense secret security position for 17 years.
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Serita M. Reels, MPH, received her BS degree in biological sciences from Drexel University College of Arts and Sciences and her Master degree from Drexel School of Public Health. Serita has extensive experience in the planning, analysis, implementation, and evaluation of public health programs for underserved and vulnerable populations. She brings expertise in the ability to integrate public health concepts into research and practice and manage public health programs.
Prior to working as a Research Assistant for the Women’s Health Education Program, Serita worked as a project manager and marketing coordinator for Mercy Circle of Care – A Healthy Community Access Program, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration. As marketing coordinator, she assumed full responsibility for the planning and implementation of a social marketing campaign to increase the awareness of the importance of prevention and wellness and facilitate the usage of services. As project manager she managed several health promotion programs to improve health outcomes for the uninsured and underinsured. Serita has participated in numerous research projects throughout the Philadelphia area focused on health disparities, nutrition, and obesity. Her research interests include creating a network of care for uninsured and underinsured populations, the relationship between social capital and health, social marketing, and adolescent health and behaviors.
Serita's Community Based Master Project entitled "Healthier Snacks for Healthier Kids: development of a social marketing campaign for and by adolescents in South Philadelphia" led to funding from the Robert Woods Foundation and was accepted as a poster presentation by the American Public Health Association. She successfully initiated the design and implementation of a corner store campaign to reduce the incidence of diet-related disease and obesity by improving the snack food choices made by adolescents at corner stores. Most recently, Serita served a consultant for the Mayor’s Office of Health and Fitness, William Penn School District, 52nd Street Business Association, and Philadelphia Beauty Showcase National Historical Museum. Serita has been involved with numerous mentoring and skills development programs with the School District of Philadelphia and is currently the Executive Director of Angels of Faith Ministry – a Christian-based mentoring and youth development for girls in Darby, Pennsylvania.
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