Leslie R. Carnahan

Leslie R. Carnahan, PhD, MPH, is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) School of Public Health and a Research Scientist at the University of Illinois Cancer Center’s Community Engagement and Health Equity Office. She also serves as a Faculty Affiliate at the Center for Research on Women and Gender. Her work focuses on addressing cancer health inequities through community-driven research and program evaluation, particularly in underserved populations. Dr. Carnahan has held roles such as Principal Investigator for initiatives like the ENACT 2.0 Community Health Worker Curriculum and the UI Community CAAN program, emphasizing cancer screening and health equity.

Education: She holds a PhD and MPH from UIC’s School of Public Health, with a BGS from Northern Illinois University. Her professional memberships include the American Public Health Association, American Association for Cancer Research, and others.

Research Interests: Cancer disparities, health equity, community-engaged research, program evaluation, mixed-methods approaches, and policy implementation. She specializes in addressing systemic barriers to healthcare access, particularly for Black and rural populations.

Publications & Awards: Over 20 peer-reviewed articles, including impactful studies on clinical trial participation barriers and cancer screening disparities. Received the 2023 UIC School of Public Health Research Article Award Honorable Mention.

Grants & Advising: Principal Investigator on multiple grants from organizations like the CDC and Bristol Myers Squibb. Her work includes developing the Illinois Community Health Worker Certification Program and evaluating statewide cancer programs.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Cancer Center’s Health Equity Office, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and community organizations to advance equity-focused interventions.