Maternal & Family Health Services Held Inaugural Education Seminar

On June 12, more than 100 healthcare professionals, advocates, and community leaders from across northeastern and central Pennsylvania gathered at the Hilton Scranton for the first-ever Regional Maternal Health Coalition Educational Seminar, hosted by Maternal and Family Health Services (MFHS) in partnership with The Institute.

The seminar marked the official launch of the Regional Maternal Health Coalition (RMHC), a multi-county initiative designed to address maternal health disparities and improve maternal health outcomes through local collaboration. The event brought together 110 registrants representing at least 14 counties and a wide array of organizations, including healthcare providers, public health agencies, academic institutions, nonprofits, and community advocates.

The seminar focused on the Coalition’s five priority areas, aligned with the Pennsylvania Maternal Health Strategic Plan, and served as the first step in building a unified regional response to pressing maternal health challenges.

Notable speakers and attendees included:

  • Dr. Maria Montoro Edwards, President & CEO, MFHS
  • Jill Avery-Stoss, President, The Institute
  • Sara Goulet, Special Advisor to the PA Secretary of Human Services
  • Dr. Aasta Mehta, Director, Division of Maternal, Child, and Family Health, Philadelphia Department of Public Health
  • Dr. Marc Rabin, MFHS and Physicians Health Alliance
  • Dr. Amanda Flicker, Lehigh Valley Health Network
  • Dr. Imanni Sheppard, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
  • Claudia Streets Cramer, Maternal Health Advocate
  • Representative Bridget Kosierowski, PA 114th District

Attendees had the opportunity to hear expert presentations, share ideas, and contribute to the development of strategies that will drive local action and advocacy moving forward. Resources from the event, including speaker presentations, are available at mfhs.org/rmhc.

The Wright Center and WVIA-TV Seeking Audience Members for Panel Discussion

The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education and WVIA-TV 44 are collaborating on the panel discussion, “Conversations for the Common Good: Shaping Tomorrow’s Health Workforce,” on Tuesday, June 17, beginning at 6:15 p.m. at Scranton Preparatory High School’s Bellarmine Theater. The free program is open to the public.

The program is being recorded and will be aired live on WVIA-TV 44 in June and July. The show explores how education programs and partnerships are transforming the future of health care by training the next generation of health care professionals.

Panelists include Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education; Dr. Katie Pittelli, president and CEO of Johnson College; Jill Avery-Stoss, president of The Institute; and Pennsylvania State Representative Bridget M. Kosierowski. Tracey Matisak of WVIA will moderate the panel discussion.

The show will air on WVIA-TV 44 on June 26, 9 p.m.; June 27, 2 p.m.; June 29, 1 p.m.; July 10, 7 p.m.; July 11, 4 p.m.; and July 13, noon.

To participate in the live recording, you must register for free tickets in advance. Go here for more information or to reserve your ticket.