About

Douglas J Wiebe, PhD, is an Adjunct Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. He holds multiple roles including Senior Fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Faculty Associate at the Institute for Urban Research, and Senior Scholar at the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics. His affiliations extend to the Center for Public Health Initiatives, the Penn Institute for Urban Research, and the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he also serves as the Director of the Penn Injury Science Center. Dr. Wiebe's educational background includes a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Calgary, an M.A. in Criminology from Indiana State University, and a Ph.D. in Social Ecology from the University of California, Irvine. His research focuses on epidemiology, injury prevention, public health, and health economics, with active involvement in various committees and working groups related to injury management, violence prevention, and health behavior research. He is recognized for his contributions to understanding drug interactions, firearm policy, concussion management, and injury prevention, contributing to the advancement of public health initiatives and epidemiological research.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Medical emergency
• Political Science
• Computer Security
• Computer Science
• Law
• Engineering
• Public relations
• Nursing
• Business
• Psychiatry
• Family medicine
• Geography
• Gerontology
• Psychology
• Demography
• Social psychology

Selected publications

• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change is associated with highest stage limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy

  Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology · 2026-03-31

  articleOpen access

  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is recognized as a major risk factor for neurodegenerative disease (NDD). Autopsy studies frequently describe chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change (CTE-NC) in individuals with histories of repetitive head impact (RHI) exposure, often with accompanying comorbid neurodegenerative proteinopathies. Of these, deposition of abnormally phosphorylated TDP-43 (pTDP-43) has been reported but the prevalence and distribution of pTDP-43 in CTE-NC and its distinction from that encountered in wider NDD are uncertain. Here, patients with a history of RHI and documented NDD (n = 30), and age-matched controls with no known TBI or RHI exposure, either with (n = 24) or without (n = 18) NDD, were identified within the CONNECT-TBI archive. Standardized brain tissue sections stained for pTDP-43 were assessed. pTDP-43 pathology prevalence was similar among RHI patients (40%) and controls with NDD (33%). pTDP-43 was typically localized (limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change [LATE-NC] stage 1 to 2) in amygdala and hippocampus in controls with NDD and following RHI exposure without CTE-NC. In contrast, this pathology was often widespread and of high stage (LATE-NC stage 3; P = .0045) in patients with CTE-NC. Thus, CTE-NC may be associated with more widespread pTDP-43 pathology than encountered in aging or those with NDD and no history of TBI/RHI.

  PublisherDOI

• Population-based risk adjusted outcomes for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

  npj Cardiovascular Health · 2026-03-02

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) impacts public health, with variable survival across the US. This study used a population-based risk adjustment model to understand factors influencing regional variability in OHCA survival to hospital discharge. We evaluated 202,406 OHCA cases from 2013-2015 Medicare Fee-For-Service claims across 205 hospital regions. A matched cohort from the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) and Medicare claims was used to develop logistic regression models predicting survival. Standardized Incidence Ratios (SIRs) identified regions performing better or worse than expected. Of 205 regions, 101 (49.3%) demonstrated lower-than-expected risk-adjusted survival, while only 9 (4.4%) had higher-than-expected survival. Overperforming regions had smaller populations, higher proportions of residents aged 65 + , and more large hospitals (400+ beds). Hospitals with ≥100 beds were more likely in overperforming regions, while cardiac catheterization capability showed inverse association. These nationwide disparities highlight the need for targeted interventions and regionalized care approaches to improve survival rates.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Geographic Accessibility of Deceased Organ Donor Care Units

  JAMA Network Open · 2026-03-13

  articleOpen access

  Importance: Transfers of deceased organ donors from acute care hospitals to specialized donor care units (DCUs) offer operational and outcome advantages; however, current access to DCUs is limited and geographically uneven. Expanding access to DCUs may improve donation system efficiency. Objective: To evaluate the geographic distribution of operating DCUs relative to acute care hospitals and explore how to most efficiently operationalize recommendations that a DCU operate in every donation region. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study analyzed deceased organ donor and hospital data captured in the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network and American Hospital Association survey databases from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2023. Acute-care hospitals and DCUs operating in the continental US and adult (aged ≥18 years) organ donors with brain death managed in acute care hospitals located in 2203 zip codes were included. The data analysis was performed between October 1, 2024, and December 1, 2025. Exposures: Geographic location of organ donor hospitals. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was the optimal number of DCUs required to enable transportation of all cohort donors from acute care hospitals to DCUs via ambulance (within a 180-minute drive). The number of additional DCUs needed to operationalize recommendations of a DCU in every donation region was quantified with and without consideration for donation service area boundaries using location-allocation modeling. Results: Between 2018 and 2023, 53 093 deceased donors met the inclusion criteria (mean [SD] age, 44.3 years [15.0]; 60.0% male). Among the cohort, 61.9% of donors were managed in acute care hospitals within driving distance of 34 operating DCUs. In the current system with distinct donation service area boundaries, an additional 38 DCUs were estimated to provide plausible access to 92.7% of donors. If donation service area boundaries were ignored, 22 new DCUs were estimated to provide a referral facility for a larger proportion of donors (96.5%). Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study found that despite their reported advantages and consensus endorsement, heterogeneous adoption of DCUs has left a substantial proportion of deceased donors after brain death more than a 180-minute drive from a DCU. Given inefficiencies introduced by donation service area boundaries, opening additional DCUs in acute care hospitals and donor transport across these existing boundaries may be 2 potential approaches to improve system efficiency and donation outcomes.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Patterns and determinants of intentional and unintentional drowning mortality in Michigan: 2006–2024

  Injury Prevention · 2026-04-14

  articleSenior author

  INTRODUCTION: Drowning is the third leading cause of injury-related death worldwide but remains understudied, particularly in the Great Lakes region of North America. This research examines the epidemiology of unintentional and intentional drowning deaths using municipal records from Michigan, a temperate region of the USA. METHODS: We analysed municipal death records from 2006 to 2024 using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision drowning code (T75.X) and injury-specific fields. We produced descriptive summaries of sex, race, age and location for unintentional and intentional deaths and compared population-adjusted mortality rates across demographic groups. To assess social and environmental determinants, we tested for associations between drowning mortality and US Census-based indicators as well as climate data using regression methods. RESULTS: There were N=3041 deaths. Most unintentional and intentional drowning deaths occurred among whites (75.5 %) and men (74.5 %). Age/population adjusted estimates showed substantially higher drowning mortality among black males between 15-44 compared with white males. Females were at higher risk for intentional drowning mortality, including homicide. Increased social disadvantage (relative risk (RR) 1.185 (95% CI 1.141 to 1.229)) and percent black population (RR 1.813 (95% CI 1.624 to 2.003)) were positively associated with drowning mortality. Sustained freezing temperatures for 2 weeks were associated with reduced winter drowning risk. CONCLUSIONS: Drowning mortality displays pronounced sex, racial and social disparities. Prevention should extend beyond education and safety efforts to address broader social and mental health factors that shape both unintentional and intentional drowning risk.

  PublisherDOI

• Reluctant Owners and Unwanted Guns: Exploring Motivations for Relinquishing Firearms at Gun Buybacks in Michigan

  medRxiv · 2026-03-31

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  ABSTRACT Background Firearms are frequently transferred through inheritance and other non-purchase pathways, leaving many individuals in possession of unwanted guns and limited options for safe disposal. This study examined the characteristics and motivations of individuals relinquishing firearms at community gun buyback and destruction events in Michigan to inform understanding of firearm divestment and disposal pathways. Methods We conducted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study of six faith-based gun buyback and destruction events held in southeastern Michigan between June and October 2024. Quantitative surveys (n = 109) captured participant demographics and firearm characteristics. Follow-up qualitative interviews (n = 7) explored participants’ experiences and motivations using inductive–deductive thematic analysis. Results Across six events, 151 individuals relinquished 318 firearms, most of which were handguns. Nearly one third of participants disposed of firearms on behalf of others, and two thirds of personally owned guns had been obtained through non-purchase transfers, most commonly inheritance. Participants frequently expressed anxiety about storing unwanted firearms and relief after safe disposal. The most common motivations were concern about misuse (59%) and fear of theft (54%). Interviews identified five intersecting themes: inheritance and unwanted firearms, safety and family protection, evolving views on ownership, barriers to legal disposal, and emotional relief and closure after relinquishment. Conclusions Many individuals become firearm owners through inheritance or other non-purchase transfers rather than intentional acquisition. Their experiences reveal that unwanted firearms can generate sustained unease and moral responsibility, motivating voluntary divestment when safe, non-punitive options are available.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• 144. Daily Screen Time, Sleep, and Emotional Symptoms in Adolescents: The Role of Mental Health and Smartphone Attachment

  Journal of Adolescent Health · 2026-02-13

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Adolescent and parent dyad perceptions on the utility and implementation ability to use cellphone-based technology to reduce distracted driving in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

  Injury Prevention · 2026-03-11

  articleOpen access

  INTRODUCTION: Losing focus while driving, including cellphone-based distractions (phone calls, text messages, other apps), is a prominent problem for adolescent drivers. Internal cellphone-based technologies designed to reduce distractions are prominent, but little is known about how parents and their children feel about their ability to successfully reduce distracted driving. This study interviews parents and adolescents to understand the utility and what is needed for implementation of these technologies. METHODS: Twenty (20) adolescent-parent dyads participated in semistructured qualitative interviews. Participants reflected adolescent drivers and their parents who previously had been documented as ranging from 'very low' risk drivers to 'very high' risk drivers. RESULTS: Three themes emerged from the interviews: (1) Cellphone-based technologies can be feasibly implemented as distracted driving interventions. (2) Cellphone-based technologies can be a learning tool for newly licensed adolescent drivers to form better habits. (3) Cellphone-based technologies by themselves are not sufficient for long-term behaviour change. CONCLUSIONS: Cellphone-based technologies have their purpose, especially for younger drivers, to help form good habits and reduce distractions. By themselves, they are not going to be the reason for eliminating distracted driving in adolescents or have long-term behaviour change. They can be most successful when combined with other interventions aimed at reducing distracted driving.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Short-term temperature and precipitation patterns associated with firearm discharge incidents in Detroit, MI, USA 2021–2025: A time-stratified case-crossover study

  Environmental Research · 2026-04-22

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Establishing the Reliability and Validity of A Novel Ecological Momentary Assessment Tool in Healthy College-Aged Athletes: A Foundation for Future Concussion Research

  Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation · 2026-03-13

  article

  OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the psychometric properties and clinical feasibility of administering a post-concussion symptom checklist and real-time assessments of psychological health-related quality of life (PHRQoL) in healthy college-aged individuals via a mobile, ecological momentary assessment text messaging platform, Recovering Concussion Update on Progression of Symptoms (ReCoUPS). SETTING: University laboratory setting. PARTICIPANTS: Healthy college-aged athletes (n = 93; 64 female, 29 male; µ age = 21.37 ± 2.63 years) who currently play or recently (i.e., within the past year) played a sport and had not sustained a concussion within the past 6 months. DESIGN: Test-retest reliability design. MAIN MEASURES: Healthy participants enrolled in the ReCoUPS platform using their cell phone number completed daily, randomly timed text message surveys for 7 consecutive days. Each survey included 30 questions from the Sport Concussion Tool, Version 6 (SCAT6) symptom checklist and modified momentary versions of the PROMIS Emotional Distress Short Forms for Anxiety and Depression (PROMIS-SF Anxiety and PROMIS-SF Depression). Eight days after enrollment, participants completed recalled PROMIS-SF inventories ("within the past 7 days"). Response rates to ReCoUPS surveys were calculated to assess feasibility. Reliability and validity of momentary PROMIS-SF measures were evaluated using Cronbach's alpha, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI), Cohen's kappa ( κ ), and Spearman's rho correlation coefficients (r s ). RESULTS: Most participants (n = 80, 86.0%) completed over 70% of daily ReCoUPS surveys. Momentary assessments of PROMIS-SFs demonstrated acceptable reliability (Anxiety α = .80; Depression α = .91) and moderate to excellent agreement with their original recalled measures (Anxiety: ICC = 0.99(95%CI, 0.99-1.00), κ = 0.44; Expected: 51.73%, Actual: 73.12%, P < .001; Depression: ICC = 0.99(95%CI, 0.99-1.00), κ = 0.58; Expected: 50.99%, Actual: 79.57%, P < .001). Momentary assessments of PROMIS-SFs were significantly correlated with each other, all SCAT6 symptom clusters, and total SCAT6 symptom severity (r s = 0.28-0.92, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: ReCoUPS performed reliably and as a feasible tool for remotely monitoring concussion symptoms and momentary PHRQoL in healthy individuals, providing a foundation for future work in a concussion population to improve stakeholders' understanding of post-concussion outcomes and optimize treatments.

  PublisherDOI

• Abstract Sat603: Benchmarking the Impact of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Treatment on All-Cause Mortality in the United States

  Circulation · 2025-11-03

  articleSenior author

  Introduction: Our understanding of the epidemiology of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has increased with the establishment of national registries. However, the use of EMS-treated OHCA as the indicator of incidence and the denominator for outcomes underestimates the burden of disease, limits the ability to benchmark EMS system performance regionally and over time, and does not inform the overall population health impact of OHCA care. Goals: The goal of this analysis is to create a methodology to quantify the public health impact of OHCA care in the United States. Methods: Publicly available national and state data from the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER database for the years 2020 to 2024 were used. CARES data included population covered, total population, incidence of EMS treated OHCA, and survival rate. CDC data included the annual number of all-cause deaths. These data were used to calculate the percent of total deaths that were EMS treated OHCA, and the percent reduction in all-cause mortality attributable to EMS OHCA treatment (Tables 1-3). Results: Between 2020 and 2024, and estimated 7.9% of all-cause deaths in the United States were EMS-treated OHCAs. EMS-treated OHCA survival rate averaged 9.6% resulting in an 0.8% reduction in all-cause mortality attributable to OHCA treatment or an average of 27,312 annual deaths prevented. State level variability in all-cause deaths treated as OHCA ranged from 5.5% to 10.5%. EMS treated OHCA survival rates ranged from 6.6% to 15.2%. The reduction in all-cause mortality attributable to OHCA treatment ranged from 0.4% to 1.3%. Notably, variability in both survival rate and the percent of all-cause deaths treated as OHCA contributed to the state level variability in all-cause mortality reduction attributable to OHCA care. At the national level, the reduction in all cause mortality attributable to OHCA care increased from 0.8% in 2020 to 0.9% in 2024. The greatest improvement occurred in Alaska (1.1% to 1.4%) Delaware (1.1% to 1.5%), Hawaii (1.0 to 1.5%) and Utah (0.6% to 1.3%). These improvements were predominantly driven by improved survival rates rather than changes in the percent of all-cause deaths treated as OHCA. Conclusion: These results provide a novel and informative methodology to benchmark the public health impact of OHCA treatment, compare systems of care, and monitor trends over time.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant R01HS02361401

  NIH · $955k · 2018

• CE19-001, The Penn Injury Science Center

  NIH · $4.4M · 2019–2024

• NIH Grant R01AA014944

  NIH · $2.6M · 2010

• NIH Grant K02AA017974

  NIH · $666k · 2014

• The Penn Violence and Injury Control Research Center

  NIH · $2.2M · 2014–2019

Frequent coauthors

• Brendan G. Carr

  Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

  132 shared

• Charles C. Branas

  University of Otago

  132 shared

• Therese S. Richmond

  University of Pennsylvania

  75 shared

• Elinore J. Kaufman

  University of Pennsylvania

  71 shared

• Christopher N. Morrison

  Columbia University

  56 shared

• Catherine Wolff

  Université Jean Moulin Lyon III

  52 shared

• M. Kit Delgado

  University of Pennsylvania

  52 shared

• Michael T. Mullen

  Temple University

  49 shared