By Meghan McCarthy
Leah Barnes
Earlier this year, the Penn Memory Center (PMC) welcomed Leah Barnes, BS, to the communications team as an outreach coordinator.
At PMC, Barnes’ outreach will focus on clinical research.
“I have always had an interest in bridging the gap between health resources and individuals who are usually least likely to receive care whether that be due to factors such as finances, access, education, transportation, or trust,” Barnes said. “This work allows me to be able to improve access to education and care surrounding Alzheimer’s disease for individuals who are the least likely to be reached due to various barriers.”
Barnes’ connection to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs) is personal.
In college, Barnes was a caretaker for her great aunt, who had Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Witnessing her aunt’s disease progression and altered quality of life exposed Barnes to the impact of ADRDs for patients and caregivers.
Leah with her great aunt
“When this opportunity came about, I thought this would be a great way to connect better with my aunt,” she said. “The work that the PMC outreach team has done so far is amazing, and I only hope to continue to do the work to build trust within our community.”
In her new role, Barnes looks forward to building relationships with Philadelphians and helping community members become excited and informed about clinical research advancements.
Before joining PMC, Barnes worked in public health communications during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aiding local health departments in Maryland, Barnes was responsible for the curation of informational vaccine materials to local communities. She has also worked in Medicare outreach in Jacksonville, Florida.
Looking ahead, Barnes has her sights set on continuing healthcare advocacy through policy and administration work. She is excited to further her knowledge through this role.
“Having a clinical understanding of medicine and seeing the structure of what goes into running a clinic, a research group, and even how decisions are made are integral in how we will continue to understand and improve access to care for all people,” Barnes said.
