Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center
The Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center (PSARC) was established in 2011 to meet the forensic and medical needs of sexual assault victims who are 16 years of age and older. PSARC is a private, not-for-profit center whose mission is to provide expertise in the assessment and evaluation of sexual assault victims in Philadelphia. All services are provided in a private, medical office setting located adjacent to the Special Victims Unit of the Philadelphia Police Department. This unique setting allows for private, confidential, victim-centered care.
The center is staffed 24/7, by on-call, specially trained and experienced Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) who provide forensic rape examinations and evidence collection to both females and males. Our staff are all highly-trained and compassionate nurses with years of experience in the care of sexually assaulted patients.
PSARC works closely with the Philadelphia Police Department's Special Victims Unit, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence (formerly Women Organized Against Rape or WOAR), and the Philadelphia Sexual Assault Advisory Committee to provide a survivor-centered approach to sexual assault.
We care for victims regardless of their cooperation with law enforcement. Accompaniment services, if desired, are provided by Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence.
Services provided at PSARC include:
- Forensic medical evaluation
- Injury documentation
- Forensic photography
- Pregnancy prevention
- Sexually transmitted infection prevention
- HIV prevention
- Follow-up care
- Court testimony
- Victim advocacy linkage
Faculty
Allison Denman MS, BSN, RN, SANE-A (ald376@drexel.edu) is the clinical director and nurse manager of the Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center. Denman is a board-certified forensic nurse examiner who is passionate about evidence-based practice, accessible and inclusive community outreach, and creative collaboration for sexual assault response resources.
Richard Hamilton, MD, FAAEM, FACEP, FACMT, is the medical director for the Philadelphia Sexual Response Center. He is board certified in emergency medicine and medical toxicology. Hamilton has been involved with PSARC since 2011 and has also served as the Chair of Emergency Medicine at Drexel University.
Sugkora Brown, LPN, is the program coordinator for the Philadelphia Sexual Response Center. She is pursuing a dual master's degree at Widener University in social work (MSW) and education (MEd) with a focus on human sexuality therapy. She twelve years of experience as an licensed practical nurse serving within all aspects of community health.