Vanesa Karamanian, MD, MPH
Associate Scholar
- Director, Healthier Together | CHOP
- Argentina | Dominican Republic
- Child Health | Community health | Immigrant health | Refugee health
Languages: Spanish (Native), English (Advanced), Armenian (Advanced)
BIO STATEMENT
Dr. Karamanian trained at Universidad Favaloro in Argentina and holds a Master in Public and Global Health from the University of Pennsylvania. She integrates clinical, public health, and research expertise to improve the health of children both locally and globally. As Director of Healthier Together at CHOP, she leads the hospital's largest community health initiative, improving the social, economic, and environmental conditions for families in West Philadelphia. She serves as an Adjunct Faculty in the MPH program at the University of Pennsylvania and President of the Powelton Village Civic Association in West Philadelphia.
Recent Global Health Projects
CHOP Global Health Allies Program: This initiative plays a pivotal role in supporting communities in low- and middle-income countries by enhancing access to clinical care, providing professional development for healthcare staff, and fostering opportunities for collaboration aimed at improving the health of children and families. My contributions to this program include providing education and clinical support to community health workers in the Dominican Republic. By equipping them with up-to-date knowledge and skills, I have empowered these workers to serve as effective intermediaries between the clinic and the community. This collaborative effort has significantly expanded the reach of health services, positively impacting the health outcomes for children and families in need.
CHOP Refugee Clinic: This partnership between the CHOP Office of Community Impact and the Karabots Refugee Clinic seeks to improve healthcare access for refugee children and families by addressing all factors that impact a child's health, including migration, education, and trauma. My involvement in this project centers around building linkages between the clinical and community needs that are culturally and linguistically appropriate including migration, education and trauma.
Select Publications
Ernst A, Lee N, Karamanian V. Building a Policy: Ten Steps to a Breastfeeding-Friendly Shelter. Journal of Human Lactation, 2020 Nov;36(4):795-802. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0890334420935822
Keith, JD, Kang NE, Bodden M, Miller C, Karamanian V, Banks T. Supporting Latina Breast Health with Community-based Navigation. Journal Cancer Education, 2019 Aug;34(4):654-657. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29574540/
Last Updated: 05 May 2025