Past Research Projects
Project Description
Addressing community health needs with a regional effort between Northeast Ohio Health Systems and CHW training programs, County Pathway HUBs, and other county and community partners. The overall goal of this collaborative effort is to recruit, train, and employee CHWs in urban and rural underserved communities, and increase diversity in the public health workforce.
Goal 1: Expand the public health workforce by training new and existing CHWs and health support workers with specialized training and financial support. We will recruit and train a minimum of 240 trainees over three years.
Goal 2 : Enhance, expand and adapt existing training programs and courses to promote health equity and increase the skills of existing CHWs/HSWs and trainees to respond to public health needs and emergencies with an emphasis on the 10 roles of a CHW from the CHW Core Consensus Project.
Goal 3: Increase employment readiness by partnering with the CHWCBC to provide field placements and apprenticeship programs that will allow CHWS to support the needs of the populations they represent and provide them with employment opportunities that offer competitive salaries and benefits.
Key Findings
290 participants, surpassing our original goal of 240, have successfully completed the program, each receiving comprehensive support that included tuition and stipend assistance, didactic training provided by our educational partners, and hands-on experience through on-site field placements. Building on this momentum, the program has also established a statewide apprenticeship program in partnership with the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), expanding workforce development opportunities across Ohio.
In addition to core training, the program has delivered a robust and growing continuing education (CE) curriculum, consistently drawing between 35 and 90 participants per session. These offerings have been led by a distinguished group of clinical faculty and subject matter experts, covering a broad range of pressing public health topics. Dr. Christina Antenucci facilitated a 4-part series on Substance Use Disorder, while Dr. Eileen Seeholzer led both a 3-part series on Tobacco Cessation Support and a 2-part series on Resiliency. Dr. James Campbell contributed a 3-part series on Aging, and Dr. Shanail Berry presented a session on Healthy Eating as a Family. Rounding out the curriculum, Dr. Susan De Luca delivered a 2-part series on Suicide Prevention, and Dr. Vanessa Ho led a 2-part series on Firearm Injury Recovery. Together, these sessions reflect the program's commitment to building a well-rounded, clinically informed workforce equipped to address the most critical health challenges facing communities today.
A May 2024 alumni survey of 13 graduates from the Kent State University College of Public Health Community Health Worker (CHW) HRSA cohort revealed strong program outcomes across credentialing, employment, competency, and satisfaction. The vast majority of respondents (92%) enrolled as guest students rather than existing KSU degree-seekers, reflecting the program's success in reaching working adults and community members new to higher education. Regarding credentialing, 62% had already applied to the Ohio Board of Nursing for the Certified Community Health Worker credential, with an additional 23% reporting their application was in process — indicating that 85% of respondents were on a credentialing pathway. Alumni reported high levels of readiness across core CHW competencies, with particularly strong confidence in service coordination (67%), interprofessional practice (62%), organizational skills (62%), promotion of healthy lifestyles (62%), and public health practice (62%). Program satisfaction was equally strong, with 77–85% of respondents reporting high satisfaction across all measured dimensions, including internship experience, instruction quality, support for certification, job readiness, and job placement assistance. Notably, 69% of respondents were hired directly at their internship site upon completing the CHW II experience, and 100% of those who sought employment found it within three months, with placements across a range of community-based organizations in Youngstown, Akron, Canton, and surrounding Ohio communities serving populations including children and adolescents, older adults, geographically isolated residents, and racial and ethnic minority communities. Post-program, 50% of alumni remained employed within their current organization, while 17% each became newly employed as a CHW, transitioned to a non-CHW role, or continued in a CHW/HSW position. With 54% of alumni expressing interest in continuing education (CE) to maintain their Ohio certification and a strong preference for hybrid delivery formats (46%), the survey underscores both the program's demonstrated workforce impact and the ongoing demand for structured, accessible professional development opportunities.
Principal Investigator(s)
Aleece Caron, PhD, Katie Davis Bellamy, MSN, RN
Co-Investigator(s)
Ifeolorundbode A. Adebambo, MD
Sonia Alemagno, PhD
Christina Antenucci, MD
James W. Campbell, MD, MS, AGSF
Joseph K. Daprano, MD
Rita Horwitz, RN
Kate Nagel, DrPH, MPH
Alan K. Nevel, MBA
Adam T. Perzynski, PhD
Marquita Rockamore
Mark Rodney, PA-C
Eileen L. Seeholzer, MD, MS
Joan Thoman, PhD
Marie Velez, MPA
Project Contact
Name: Aleece Caron, PD
Email: acaron@metrohealth.org
Date Submitted: 7/24/26
Project Description
To design, produce and test a spine board for its ability to reduce pressure at the sacral region, shoulder, heel, and head. Pressure from laying on a spine board for 60 minutes or more, can cause deep tissue injury, which can eventually result in a pressure ulcer. For persons with spinal cord injury, pressure injury is a major health-care burden and a negative impact on a patient’s quality of life. To have a spine board that could prevent early pressure ulcer development will reduce the health-care burden from pressure injury.
Key Findings
The average pressures on the new Skin Safe Spine Board were significantly lower than on the standard spine board for the head, shoulders, sacral and heel areas.
Manuscript is under review at Assistive Technology.
Funding Agency
National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research
Principal Investigators
Greg Nemunaitis, MD
Mary Joan Roach, PhD
Project Contact
Mary Joan Roach, MD
mroach@metrohealth.org
Project Description
Launched in 2019, the Medicaid Technical Assistance and Policy Program (MEDTAPP) Diabetes Quality Improvement Project (QIP) is the second statewide quality improvement project that is a part of the Ohio Department of Medicaid’s (ODM) Chronic Conditions Quality Collaborative. The Diabetes QIP, funded by the Ohio Department of Medicaid, promotes the use of evidence-based strategies known to improve diabetes management. The aim of the project is for participating primary care practices to increase the percentage of patients with better blood sugar control (hemoglobin A1c <9) by 15% overall and by 20% in Hispanic and African American populations. Information and best practices related to the QIP are shared in monthly interactive webinars referred to as Action Period calls. With coaching from quality improvement guides, the 22 high volume Medicaid primary care practices across multiple health systems in Ohio are testing strategies related to implementing best clinical practices, such as timely follow-up in staff-led diabetes visits, effective treatment, and outreach to patients with elevated sugars. In addition, all six of ODM’s contracted managed care plans are using quality improvement science tools to test payer-based strategies for improving blood sugar control which are under development.
Key Early Findings (if available)
Blood sugar control improved in 21 practices across the state from 25% of patients with diabetes having an elevated sugar (A1c >9) to 20% having an elevated sugar by project end. Additional information can be found at www.cardi-oh.org/qip.
Principal Investigators
Michael W. Konstan, MD
Shari Bolen MD, MPH
Co-Investigators (alphabetical listing by last name):
David Aron, MD, MPH
Joseph DaPrano, MD, FAAP, MACP
Douglas Einstadter, MD, MPH
Rose Gubitosi-Klug, MD, PhD
Siran Koroukian, PhD
Jonathan Lever, MPH, NRP
Thomas Love, PhD
Lolita McDavid, MD
Adam Perzynski, PhD
Elizabeth Pfoh, PhD
Cristina Sanders, MSN, BA, APRN-CNP
Eileen Seeholzer, MD
Kurt Stange, MD, PhD
Mark Votruba, PhD
Sharon Watts, DNP, FNP-BC, CDE
Other collaborators on this project exist within the other 6 medical schools across Ohio, Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center and Ohio Department of Medicaid.
Project Contact
Cathy Sullivan, MS, RD
csullivan1@metrohealth.org
Project Description
The Medicaid Technical Assistance and Policy Program (MEDTAPP) Hypertension Quality Improvement Project (QIP) is the first quality improvement project that is a part of the Ohio Department of Medicaid’s (ODM) Chronic Conditions Quality Collaborative. The Hypertension QIP, funded by the Ohio Department of Medicaid, promotes the use of evidence-based strategies known to improve hypertension management. The aims of the project are for participating primary care practices to increase the percentages of patients with controlled hypertension by 15% and African American patients with controlled hypertension by 20%. Information and best practices related to the QIP are shared via monthly interactive webinars, referred to as Action Period calls. With coaching from quality improvement guides, the 8 Wave 1 primary care practices across multiple health systems in Ohio tested strategies related to implementing best clinical practices, such as accurate blood pressure measurement, timely follow-up in staff-led hypertension visits, and effective treatment. In addition, all six of ODM’s contracted managed care plans utilize quality improvement science tools to test payer-based strategies for improving hypertension control, such as facilitation of medication adherence and home blood pressure monitoring. Wave 2 is underway with 13 additional primary care practices.
Key Early Findings (if available)
- The 8 initial primary care practices improved overall blood pressure control by 14.2%.
- Additional information can be found at: https://www.cardi-oh.org/qip/hypertension-quality-improvement-project-summary.
Principal Investigators
Michael W. Konstan, MD
Shari Bolen. MD, MPH
Co-Investigators (alphabetical listing by last name)
Douglas Einstadter, MD, MPH
Douglas Gunzler, PhD
Siran Koroukian, PhD
Adam Perzynski, PhD
Jackson T. Wright, Jr., MD, PhD
Other collaborators include Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center and Ohio Department of Medicaid.
Project Contact
Cathy Sullivan, MS, RD
csullivan1@metrohealth.org
Project Description
Implementing a Peer Mentorship program for persons with traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in the acute hospital stay through community re-integration. It is expected that this project will reduce the anxiety and depression persons with SCI and their families experience initially and provide emotional support that can improve patient’s social psychological well-being .
Funding Agency
National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research
Key Early Findings (if available)
None
Principal Investigator
Mary Joan Roach, PhD
Project Contact
Mary Joan Roach, PhD
mroach@metrohealth.org
Project Description
Overview: The goal of our work is to optimize job satisfaction and retention rates, strengthen the primary care workforce and reduce burnout, and recruit new providers to urban underserved primary care sites.
Goals and Objectives: This proposal has 4 specific aims emphasizing content and skills critical to current and future primary care team members that provide care for an underserved population. These aims are:
- improving care of the underserved with training in social, political, economic, cultural, legal and ethical theories with a central focus on reducing health disparities;
- improving knowledge and skills in practice transformation with specific emphasis on (a) quality improvement (QI) training and application of QI methods, (b) leadership training, including the development of a business case for practice transformation, c) improving data literacy of healthcare teams, and (d) patient centered care;
- applying the training outlined above by mentoring practice teams, along with their identified primary care champion trainee, to identify, design, implement and evaluate a practice transformation project, and
- enhancing teaching skills by providing mentoring of learners to teach the topics outlined above.
Key Early Findings (if available)
None
Principal Investigators
Aleece Caron, PhD
Co-Investigators
Christina Antenucci, MD
Nathan Beachy, MD
James Campbell, MD
Cynthia Lord, PA
Adam Perzynski, MD
Project Contact
Aleece Caron, PhD
acaron@metrohealth.org