Leslie R. Carnahan, PhD, MPH
Clinical Assistant Professor
Research Scientist, Cancer Center Community Engagement and Health Equity Office; Faculty Affiliate, Center for Research on Women and Gender
Community Health Sciences
Pronouns: She/They
Contact
Building & Room:
SPHPI, Rm. 658
Address:
1603 W. Taylor St.
Office Phone:
University of Illinois Cancer Center
Building & Room:
SCW, Rm. 527
Address:
818 S. Wolcott Ave.
Office Phone:
Email:
CV Download:
Related Sites:
Office (drop-in) hours (Spring 2024)
| Sunday | ||
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| Monday | 12:30pm – 01:30pm | |
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About
Leslie Carnahan, PhD, MPH, a health disparities population researcher, is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the UIC School of Public Health in the Division of Community Health Sciences and a Research Scientist at the Office of Community Engagement and Health Equity at the University of Illinois Cancer Center. Their work is focused on understanding and addressing cancer health inequities in screening, diagnosis, and treatment through engaging in community-driven research. She also serves as a public health consultant and evaluator for statewide cancer-related programs in Illinois. More recently, she has been working with the Illinois Department of Public Health to build out the legislatively-mandated Community Health Worker Certification and Reimbursement Program. Their research specialties include expertise in quantitative (survival analysis, latent class analysis), qualitative, and mixed methods, program evaluation, and community-engaged research. Leslie started her career in public health nearly 20 years ago working as a case manager and financial counselor at a federally qualified health center before transitioning to research and academia.
Selected Publications
Hippalgaonkar N, Nguyen RH, Cohn EB, Horowitz J, Williams Waite A, Mersha T, Sandoval C, Khan S, Salum K, Thomas P, Murphy AM, Brent B, Coleman L, Khosla P, Hoskins K, Henderson V, Carnahan LR. Are we the problem? A call to action for addressing institutional challenges to engaging community partners in research to address under- representation in clinical trials among Black women diagnosed with breast cancer. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2024;21(2):236. Published 2024 Feb 17. doi:10.3390/ijerph21020236
Zimmermann K, Cui L, Kaur R, Ford C, Carnahan LR, Jefferies P, Curtis P, Khare MM. Implementation and reach of health coaching using motivational interviewing to reduce cardiovascular disease risk in uninsured Illinois women. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice. 2024;30:S152-S161. doi:10.1097/PHH.0000000000001926
Zumba E, Watson K, Torres P, Williams B, Mannan N, Green L, Owen B, Gastala N, Bueno R, Carnahan L, Molina Y, Henderson V. Expanding outcomes in cancer screening safety net programs: strategies to promote sustainability and policy reform. Health Education & Behavior. 2024;51(3):352-358. doi:10.1177/10901981241231502
Carnahan LR, Hallock C, Soto B, et al. Creating and Implementing a Community Engagement Strategy for the 2022-2027 Illinois Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan Through an Academic-State Public Health Department Partnership. Preventing Chronic Disease. 2023;20:E69. doi:10.5888/pcd20.220422
Zimmermann K, Muramatsu N, Molina Y, Carnahan LR, Geller. Application of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to understand implementation context of a cardiovascular disease risk-reduction intervention in rural churches. Translational Behavioral Medicine. 2023;13(3):236-244. Doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibac110 *
*Selected as “Editor’s Choice” for the issue in which article was published
* 2023 UIC School of Public Health Research Article Award Honorable Mention
Olagoke A, Carnahan LR, Olagoke O, Molina Y. (2021). Shared determinants for human papillomavirus and COVID- 19 vaccination intention: An opportunity for resource consolidation. American Journal of Health Promotion. Advance online publication.
Carnahan LC, Rauscher GH, Watson KS, Altfeld S, Zimmermann K, Ferrans CE, Molina Y. (2020). Comparing the roles of social context, networks, and perceived social functioning with health-related quality of life among rural female cancer survivors. Supportive Care in Cancer. Advance online publication. Doi: 10.1007/s00520-020-05497-8
Hallgren E, Hastert TA, Carnahan LR, Eberth JM, Mama S, Watson K, Molina Y. (2020). Cancer-related debt and mental health-related quality of life among rural cancer survivors: Do social networks moderate the relationship? Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 61(1), 113-130.
Carnahan L, Jones L, Brewer K, Watts E, Peterson C, Ferrans C, Cipriano T, Polite B, Maker A, Chowdhery R, Molina Y, Rauscher G. (2019). Race and gender differences in awareness of colorectal cancer screening tests and guidelines among recently diagnosed colon cancer patients in an urban setting. Journal of Cancer Education. Advance online publication. doi.org/10.1007/s13187-019-01666-4
Carnahan LR, Zimmermann K, Khare, MM, Paulsey E, Molina Y, Wilbur J, Geller SE. (2018). Physical activity and masculinity in rural men: A qualitative study of men recruited from churches. Health Education Research, 33(2), 145-154
Education
Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health, Division of Community Health Sciences
M.P.H., University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health, Division of Community Health Sciences
B.G.S., Northern Illinois University, Liberal Arts & Sciences
Professional Memberships
- American Public Health Association
- Illinois Rural Health Association
- American Association for Cancer Research
- Cancer Disparities Research Network, GMaP Region 4
- American Society of Preventive Oncology
Selected Presentations
Carnahan L, Stoller A, Barshop W, Rizzo G, Handler A. Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a statewide breast and cervical cancer safety net screening and diagnostic program: Are there differences by rural –urban geography? American Association for Cancer Research, 15th Annual Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved Conference, Philadelphia, PA, September 2022.
Carnahan L, Abalsalim C, González, Goudy M, Holt H, Madrigal J, McKinnor T, Mersha T, Mobley T, Olivero M, Rider M, Williams B, Henderson V. “Access to these screenings have been a gift”: A mixed methods assessment of a community navigation program for breast and cervical cancer in the era of COVID-19. American Association for Cancer Research, 15th Annual Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved Conference, Philadelphia, PA, September 2022.
Henderson V, Carnahan L, Nguyen R, Khosla P, Murphy A, Brent B, Hoskins K. The For Me (Fostering Opportunities in Research through Messaging and Education) Study: Developing a culturally sensitive narrative intervention to promote equity in clinical trials. American Association for Cancer Research, 15th Annual Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved Conference, Philadelphia, PA, September 2022.
Carnahan L, González J, Abasilim C, Mersha T, Williams B, McKinnor T, Rinder M, Goudy M, Martinez. Sociodemographic Characteristics Associated with COVID-19 Related Delays in Cancer Screenings and Decreased Trust in the Healthcare System among an Urban Cancer Center's Catchment Area Population. American Society of Preventive Oncology 46th Annual Meeting, Tucson, AZ, March 2022.
Carnahan LR, Newsome J, Christian S, Hallock C, Soto B, Ghdey Y, Kasebier L, Khare M, Martinez E, Henderson V. Community conversations on cancer: Creating and implementing a community engagement strategy for the 2022-2027 Illinois Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan through an academic –state public health department partnership. American Association for Cancer Research, 14th Annual Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, Virtual Conference, October 2021.
Rizzo G, Abdelrahim R, Carnahan L, Zimmermann K, Holicky A, Mujic E, Doi S, Handler A. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a breast and cervical cancer safety net program for uninsured women. American Public Health Association 149th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, October 2021.
Carnahan LR, Molina Y, Watson KS, Altfeld S, Ferrans CE, Rauscher GH. Colon cancer death and associations with clinical and non-clinical support among non-Hispanic Black and White urban colon cancer patients. American Association for Cancer Research, 14th Annual Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, Virtual Conference, October 2021.
Research Currently in Progress
ENACT 2.0 Community Health Worker Curriculum Instruction and Evaluation Partner
- Role: Principal Investigator
- Source: Illinois Department of Public Health
- Period: 7/1/24-6/30/25
Creation of a Culturally Sensitive Narrative Intervention to Promote Participation in Clinical Trials (PI: Hoskins)
- Role: Co-investigator
- Funding source: American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant
- Period: 1/1/22-12/31/26
University of Illinois Cancer Center Cancer Screening; Access; Awareness; Navigation (UI Community CAAN)
- Role: Principal Investigator
- Funding source: Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- Period: 1/1/19-12/31/22
Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program: Community Navigation Toolkit
- Role: Principal Investigator
- Funding source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Sub-contract from IDPH
- Period: 7/1/20-6/30/22
Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program: Health Systems Intervention
- Role: Principal Investigator
- Funding source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Sub-contract from IDPH
- Period: 7/1/20-6/30/22