Kent D. Bream

Kent D. Bream, MD, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Family Medicine and Community Health at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. He is actively involved with the Center for Global Health, where he leads international initiatives in Guatemala, focusing on community engagement, diabetes care, and health disparities. His work bridges academic medicine and underserved communities through sustainable partnerships.

Dr. Bream's research and practice emphasize community-based solutions and interprofessional collaboration. His primary areas of interest include non-communicable diseases, particularly diabetes, and international medical education. He is committed to empowering communities through health worker training and large-scale screening programs, especially in Solola, Guatemala.

His recent publications highlight innovative public health models, including community-led vaccine clinics in Philadelphia and binational academic partnerships between Penn and the University of San Carlos. These works reflect a strong commitment to equity, education, and sustainable health systems.

• Community-Based COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics in Medically Underserved Neighborhoods to Improve Access and Equity, Philadelphia, 2021-2022
• The Guatemala-Penn Partners: An Innovative Inter-Institutional Model for Scientific Capacity-Building, Healthcare Education, and Public Health

Dr. Bream mentors students and trainees through the Global Health Mentorship program and leads the Guatemala Health Initiative, which he co-founded in 2004. He has secured multi-year funding from the World Diabetes Foundation to support diabetes screening and education, training over 200 community health workers. He is restarting the Global Health Fellowship in Community Medicine and recently launched a Geriatric Caregiving Training program at Hospitalito Atitlán.

He leads the Guatemala Penn Partners program and has facilitated over 25 student exchanges between Penn and Guatemalan institutions. His work fosters long-term academic and clinical collaborations, emphasizing mutual learning and community autonomy.