Upcoming Healthcare Panel Discussion

The Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Myers, Brier & Kelly, LLP, and Maternal and Family Health Services, Inc. invite you to the 2023 HealthCare Panel Discussion.

Rep. Joanna McClinton, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will engage in a dynamic and informed dialogue with Dr. Julie Byerley, the Dean of the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, and Maria Montoro Edwards, Ph.D., President of Maternal and Family Health, which serves over 90,000 citizens annually in 17 counties.

The panel will discuss workforce challenges and maternal family health issues. The panel will be moderated by WVIA’s Tracey Matisak.

Learn More

Maternal and Family Health Services Circle of Care Now Open

Maternal and Family Health Services held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for its Circle of Care, a one-stop healthcare and nutrition location in Scranton. Congressman Matt Cartwright was honored at the event with the Distinguished Public Service Award in recognition of securing $2.1 million in community project funding for the new facility.

MFHS Circle of Care offers a maternal home model of care, which includes the following services in one location:

  • Pregnancy Care
  • Reproductive Health Care
  • The WIC Nutrition Program
  • The Nurse-Family Partnership
  • Dental Care
  • Mammograms and Cancer Screening
  • Primary Care (well and sick visits)
  • Pediatric Care (well and sick visits, vaccinations)
  • Behavioral Health Care

For more information go to https://www.mfhs.org/ or to schedule an appointment, call 1-570-961-5550.

Geisinger to Continue Maternity Needs for NEPA

With the recent announcement that Wilkes-Barre General Hospital will close its labor and delivery services, Geisinger wants to assure the communities of northeastern Pennsylvania that Geisinger will work hard to fill that care gap.

Rest assured that labor and delivery services will continue at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre and Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton.

Leaders from both Geisinger facilities are holding recruitment events in hopes of filling staff vacancies and bolstering our OB-GYN services throughout the northeast. Teams are finding ways to create additional space to accommodate a potential volume increase in births. Logistical plans for providing transportation quickly and effectively for a mother and child are also being put in place.

Geisinger accepts all major insurances, including Aetna, Cigna, Highmark, United Healthcare and Medicare.

Geisinger will stay true to its mission to make better health easier for families in the communities we serve. Mothers-to-be who need to make a birthing plan can contact Geisinger to schedule an appointment by calling 570-808-7916.

Geisinger also offers full OB-GYN and Women’s Health services at our outpatient Women’s Health clinics in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. To find a provider near you, visit providers.geisinger.org, type in your zip code and search women’s health or pregnancy.

2022 ATHENA Leadership Award Recipient Announced

The Chamber is pleased to announce Maria Montoro Edwards, Ph.D., president & CEO of Maternal and Family Health Services, Inc., as the 2022 ATHENA Leadership Award recipient.

The ATHENA Award, sponsored locally by Michael A. Barbetti LLC Certified Public Accountants, honors an exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in their business or profession, has served the community in a meaningful way, and has assisted women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills. Dr. Montoro Edwards embodies these characteristics whole-heartedly.

For more than 25 years Dr. Montoro Edwards has made significant strides as a non-profit and education leader, including success in securing, implementing, and stewarding public and private funding. In 2018, she was instrumental in connecting community partners and securing funding for Healthy MOMS (Maternal Opiate Medical Support) program in support of neonatal abstinence syndrome – which has served more than 100 expectant and new mothers across the region.

At her current role as president of Maternal and Family Health Services, she is unafraid to meet the needs of the community’s most underserved members through innovation. She is currently working to bring new care models to our region for pregnancy and depression. She leads with a focus on equity and inclusion as the organization meets changing community needs and is connecting with staff and community members to find new opportunities to have a positive impact on women, children, and families.

Dr. Montoro Edwards has been involved with more than 25 organizations locally for over 15 years. Currently, she serves on the boards for the Community Intervention Center, NEPA Rainbow Alliance, and Northeast Pennsylvania Nonprofit Community Assistance Center. She was also among those honored at the 2021 IHM Sisters Celebration for her work in the community and is the 2021 recipient of the Women in Philanthropy Margaretta Belin Chamberlin award.

“Dr. Montoro Edwards is no doubt making positive and inspiring advances in the local non-profit sector and to the care of individuals in our community who need it most,” says Bob Durkin, president of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. “We commend her for the work she has done so far and congratulate her as the 2022 recipient of this prestigious award.”

The ATHENA Award will be presented to Dr. Montoro Edwards at the Chamber’s International Women’s Day Luncheon on March 8, held at Marywood University and sponsored by Honesdale National Bank. Tickets can be purchased here.

The ATHENA Award was first presented in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan and has grown to include presentations to more than 5,000 individuals in hundreds of cities in the United States as well as in Canada, China, Russia and the United Kingdom. The award takes the form of a hand-cast bronze sculpture symbolizing the strength, courage and wisdom of the recipient.

The ATHENA Award® Program is nationally underwritten by General Motors and National City Bank.

Maternal and Family Health Services Celebrates 50th Anniversary with New Logo

As part of its 50th anniversary of serving those in need, Maternal and Family Health Services (MFHS) launched a new brand identity and website this week. The rebrand is designed to enhance recognition of the organization and array of services it offers, particularly during this difficult period for the thousands of women, children and families who rely on it for care. MFHS began its mission of care in 1971, with a vision to improve the quality of life of families in Northeast PA through preventative healthcare services.

“Our 50th anniversary was the perfect time to revisit our logo. MFHS continues to adapt to the needs of our community, and our new logo and website reflect those changes,” said Maria Montoro Edwards, Ph.D., President & CEO of Maternal and Family Health Services. “As we continue to add services such as behavioral healthcare, we wanted to create a logo that is fresh and modern, but still connected to our history of creating a ‘circle of care’ of services for our clients.”

The new Maternal and Family Health Services logo is accompanied by a new website, which highlights the services the agency offers the community. The site is designed to be welcoming and easy to navigate. The improved location finder enables the community to search by zip code to find services like the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition program and reproductive health care near them.

“We also wanted to rebrand now, during the pandemic, because there is so much need in the community. While our name remains the same, our logo and website are a clearer reminder that MFHS is here to help families struggling during such a difficult time,” commented Jim Schilling, MFHS Development and Communications Officer. “The layered, circular design represents the different people we serve: children, adults, parents, families, and our entire community. Our new website reflects this as well, with an updated look and a focus on easily connecting our community with vital healthcare information.”

MFHS encourages the community to see its new look by visiting the new website at: MFHS.org.