Jennifer Kraschnewski

Jennifer Kraschnewski is a Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine. She additionally holds professorships in the Department of Public Health Sciences and the Department of Pediatrics. She serves as Director of the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and is affiliated with the Penn State Cancer Institute's Cancer Control program. Dr. Kraschnewski joined the faculty of Penn State College of Medicine in July 2009 and has established herself as a prominent clinician-investigator with over 145 research outputs.

Dr. Kraschnewski's research focuses on behavioral interventions for healthy lifestyles in both clinical and community settings, with particular emphasis on obesity, diabetes, and health disparities. Her work spans multiple areas including primary care, community health, patient-centered care, and health systems research. She is especially known for her work with vulnerable populations, including Hispanic communities in rural Pennsylvania and underserved populations affected by opioid use disorder.

Her research activities have resulted in significant funding, including grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), and the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Kraschnewski's publications demonstrate consistent productivity with a notable increase in output from 2020-2025, reflecting her leadership during the pandemic with multiple COVID-19 related studies focusing on nursing homes, community health workers, and infection control.

• Outstanding Champion of Diversity in Research (2021)
• Outstanding Collaborative Research Team (2017)
• Outstanding Collaborative Research Team (2014)

Dr. Kraschnewski serves as Principal Investigator for multiple significant projects including the REACH Project funded by the CDC, and leads a five-year PCORI-funded study investigating obesity counseling and diabetes outcomes across multiple health systems. She directs Penn State Project ECHO, which has received robust funding from the Department of Health and Human Services/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for initiatives focused on opioid use disorder and alcohol use in youth. Her leadership extends to mentoring and teaching internal medicine resident physicians and medical students, while also maintaining clinical practice in primary care.

Dr. Kraschnewski leads the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), overseeing infrastructure for clinical research across the institution. She previously served as executive director of Penn State PROWellness, where she secured funding from diverse sources including PCORI, HRSA, Merck, Boy Scouts of America, Kohl's Cares, and the Highmark Foundation. Her work with Project ECHO represents a significant effort to democratize medical knowledge and improve healthcare access in rural and underserved communities across Pennsylvania.