HERSHEY, Pa. — Dr. Jennifer Kraschnewski has assumed the role of director of Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute effective Feb. 7.
Kraschnewski will be leading the CTSI along with associate directors Susan McHale, Nikolay Dokholyan and Christopher Sciamanna.
Kraschnewski takes over the position from Dr. Larry Sinoway, who will continue to be involved in a leadership role with the CTSI NCATS (National Center for Advancing Translational Science) award and remain on faculty at Penn State College of Medicine.
Since Kraschnewski joined the faculty at Penn State College of Medicine, she has proven to be a strong clinician-investigator with a research focus on behavioral interventions for healthy lifestyles in both clinical and community settings. She has more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, and her research has been presented and awarded at both the regional and national levels.
Kraschnewski has a strong background in research and education of the community, which is most notably demonstrated by her work as the director of Penn State Project ECHO. Under her leadership, Penn State Project ECHO has received robust funding support from the Department of Health and Human Services/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, with two grants focused on opioid use disorder and alcohol use in youth within central Pennsylvania.
Lora Weiss, Penn State senior vice president for Research, said, “Jen has also spent much of her career addressing medical issues in rural and underserved communities. Her exceptional record of investigating the impact of disease in these communities continues to propel advances in this research and its translation to communities. The team that she and Larry have assembled is exceptional, and her medical and scientific accomplishments will ensure that we continue to tackle these critical medical challenges in vulnerable communities.”
Sinoway said: “This is the right time for me to step aside and to allow Dr. Jennifer Kraschnewski to direct the CTSI while still remaining active in a leadership role. Dr. Kraschnewski is a valued colleague and researcher and the CTSI benefits from her insights as well as to continue the forward momentum we have started.”
To learn more about Penn State Clinical Translational Science Institute visit ctsi.psu.edu.