Allison Werner-Lin, PhD, MSW, EdM, LCSW, is an associate professor at the School of Social Policy and Practice (SP2) at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also faculty director of Social Work in Health Care Specialization and a senior advisor to the National Cancer Institute. Her work explores the intersection of genomic discovery and family life, with a particular focus on adolescents and young adults from families with genetic predisposition to cancer. Dr. Werner-Lin collaborates with investigators at the Abramson Cancer Center to investigate barriers to accessing genomic medicine.
Dr. Werner-Lin also holds an appointment with the Clinical Genetics Branch of the National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics where she oversees an interprofessional team conducting psychosocial and behavioral research on hereditary cancer syndromes. She is a licensed practicing social worker with experience in community-based organizations providing individual, family, and group counseling to families affected by cancer, and maintains a small private practice for parentally bereaved children and teens.
Dr. Werner-Lin received her PhD from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. She holds a master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of Chicago and a master’s degree in human development and psychology from the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University.