Contact: 

Betsy Ardizoni, Director of Development 

Maternal and Family Health Services 

570-899-5103  

eardizoni@mfhs.org     

For Immediate Release                         

Regional Maternal Health Coalition Hosts Inaugural Educational Seminar 

Scranton, PA – June 17, 2025 — 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. 

About Maternal Family Health Services: Maternal and Family Health Services is a non-profit health and human service organization working to improve the health of Pennsylvania women and children by offering programs that prevent disease, promote wellness, and empower individuals to make healthy choices. The agency oversees a network of health and nutrition centers in 17 Pennsylvania counties serving over 100,000 individuals each year through the following core programs: WIC Nutrition Program, Family Planning Program, Nurse-Family Partnership, breast and cervical cancer screenings, and the Healthy Beginnings Plus Prenatal Program.  For more information, call 1-800-367-6347, or visit www.mfhs.org. 

About the Regional Maternal Health Coalition (RMHC): The RMHC is a collaborative initiative led by MFHS which aims to improve maternal health outcomes at the local level. The RMHC aims to improve maternal health outcomes and prevent pregnancy-related deaths by addressing maternal health issues at the local level by enhancing maternal health services, fostering collaboration among healthcare providers, and empowering communities with knowledge and resources. 

###