Gun violence touches people and communities across the country. 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.
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.
This feasibility study is now complete. It provides the justification and foundation for future projects to support individuals and families affected by gun violence.
Researchers from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) have been awarded a grant of $715,774 from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). This funding will support their ongoing work to improve healthcare provider training on gun violence and offer trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to individuals impacted by gun violence at the three PCOM Healthcare Centers in Philadelphia.
The SHELTER Program—or Support and Healing through Empowerment, Learning and Trauma Education in Recovery after gun violence—was developed by Erik Langenau, DO, MS, MAPP, professor and chief academic technology officer, and Michelle Lent, PhD, professor of clinical psychology, who serve as co-project directors for the program. The project team also includes clinical psychologists, Alexa Bonacquisti, PhD, Robert DiTomasso, PhD, and Megan Amatrudo, PsyD, with expertise in cognitive behavioral therapy and trauma-informed care.
Together, they aim to equip healthcare professionals with tools to address gun violence as a public health crisis while broadening access to mental health services for affected patients and community members.
Through the SHELTER program, PCOM will be increasing the support we provide patients and families who have been affected by gun violence. This includes (1) educating our healthcare center staff clinicians and students about communicating with patients and learning about community-based resources and (2) treating our patients who have psychological symptoms after gun violence exposure with trauma-informed cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
PCOM healthcare center patients can visit pcomhealth.org to learn more about PCOM's holistic approach to gun violence.
For researchers, advocates and supporters, please email SHELTER@pcom.edu for more information.
We look forward to helping address the mental health impacts caused by gun violence on our communities.
See also:
PCOM aims to develop innovative approaches to promoting health through basic, translational, clinical, behavioral, education and community research projects.
