Public Hearing on Women's Health in Rural Pennsylvania

Women's Health in Rural Pennsylvania

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  • For Immediate Release
  • Oct 19, 2026

MEDIA ADVISORY

Public Hearing on Women's Health in Rural Pennsylvania

What: The Center for Rural Pennsylvania's Board of Directors is holding a public hearing on women's health in rural Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, October 20th, the Board will convene to hear testimony from researchers, health care providers, and health system leaders from across the Commonwealth, as well as written testimony from the Pennsylvania Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Who:
The Center for Rural Pennsylvania Board of Directors

  • Senator Gene Yaw, Chair
  • Representative Eddie Day Pashinski, Vice Chair
  • Dr. Nancy Falvo, Pennsylvania Western University Clarion, Secretary
  • Mr. Stephen M. Brame, Governor's Representative, Treasurer
  • Senator Judy Schwank
  • Representative Dan Moul
  • Dr. David Abler, The Pennsylvania State University
  • Mr. Richard Esch, University of Pittsburgh
  • Dr. Jeffrey Hyde, Penn State Extension
  • Ms. Shannon M. Munro, Pennsylvania College of Technology
  • Dr. Charles Patterson, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
  • Ms. Susan Snelick, Northern Pennsylvania Regional College
  • Mr. Darrin Youker, Governor's Representative

Anticipated Testifiers:

Panel 1: The Current State of Women's Health Outcomes and Research
  • Tara Trego, Director of the Bureau of Family Health, Pennsylvania Department of Health
  • Dr. Kristin Sznajder, Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State University (Testimony)
  • Dr. Margaret Rosenzweig, Nancy Glunt Hoffman Endowed Chair in Oncology Nursing, Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh (Testimony)
Panel 2: Maternal Health in Rural Pennsylvania
  • Dr. Christina MacDowell, Chief Operating Officer, Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers (Testimony)
  • Melissa Patti, Director of Maternal and Infant Health Initiatives, March of Dimes (Testimony)
  • Dr. Emily McGahey, Clinical Director, The Midwife Center for Birth & Women's Health (Testimony)
Panel 3: Regional and Innovative Approaches to Women's Health Care
  • Dr. Geneva Ballard, Chair of Radiology, Guthrie Health System (Testimony)
  • Dr. Maria Montoro Edwards, President and CEO, Maternal and Family Health Services, Inc. (Testimony)
  • Karyn Wallace, President and CEO, WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital (Testimony)
Written Testimony:
  • Pennsylvania Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (Testimony)
  • Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania (Testimony)
  • Maternity Care Coalition (Testimony)
  • Wyoming County Healthcare Center (Testimony)

When: Tuesday, October 20 at 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Where: Hearing Room 8-EA at the Pennsylvania State Capitol

Livestream: www.SenatorGeneYaw.com and www.Facebook.com/SenatorGeneYaw .

Contact: Stasik Winderbaum, Communications Manager (717) 787-9555, swinderbaum@rural.pa.gov

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania is a bipartisan, bicameral legislative agency that serves as a resource for rural policy within the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The Center works with the legislature, educators, state and federal executive branch agencies, and national, statewide, regional and local organizations to maximize resources and strategies that can better serve Pennsylvania's nearly 3.4 million rural residents.

Contact

Stasik Winderbaum, Communications Manager
Center for Rural Pennsylvania
717.787.9555