The Pennsylvania Healthcare Power 100: 51-100
Modern Medicine Computer Concept Raker/ Shutterstock
51. Kevin Mahoney
CEO, University of Pennsylvania Health System
Kevin Mahoney is leading one of the nation’s best and ever-growing health systems. Mahoney had been in Penn Medicine leadership for 23 years before being named CEO in 2019. He’s been recognized as an architect in the development of the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine and the Roberts Proton Therapy Center, and spurred Penn Medicine’s growth into the nationally renowned institution it is today.
52. Alecia Manley & Nancy Brisbon
Executive Operating Officer; Executive Medical Officer, Mazzoni Center
Alecia Manely and Dr. Nancy Brisbon make up the interim leadership team at the Mazzoni Center, overseeing the organization’s compassionate LGBTQ-focused health and wellness services. Manley, who’s been with the Mazzoni Center since 2001, has years of social service experience and is responsible for medical case management and care coordination, among other services. As executive medical officer, Bribson brings plenty of family medicine expertise to the role.
53. Stephen Fera
Executive Vice President, Public Affairs, Independence Blue Cross
Stephen Fera has led Independence Blue Cross’s government and community affairs and health policy initiatives since 2011. Having been with the company since 1990, Fera has served in several executive-level positions and is now responsible for its interests with state and federal legislators and advocates. He received a bachelor’s and master’s degree from St. Joseph’s University and currently serves on the board of directors for the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation and is co-chair of the Urban Affairs Coalition's Ending Racism Partnership.
54. Todd Shamash
President and CEO, Capital Blue Cross
Taking over the top leadership role last year, Todd Shamash has helped Capital Blue Cross continue to grow as a leading health plan. He previously served as senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary, overseeing legal, regulatory and governance teams. His government experience includes time as deputy chief of staff for the Pennsylvania governor’s office. He’s also served on multiple banking, insurance, community and health-related boards throughout the Commonwealth.
55. Natalie Levkovich
Chief Executive Officer, Health Federation of Philadelphia
Having served in the position for more than three decades, Natalie Levkovich has led the organization’s growth from a budget of less than $200,000 to more than $20 million. Her leadership through various community-oriented initiatives helped bring together health centers and payers to form a successful integrated care model. Earlier this year, Levkovich was a finalist for the Not for Profit Social Impact Innovators Award during the Greater Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal Awards.
56. James Bernardo
President and CEO, Presbyterian Senior Living
Since 1985, James Bernardo has been working for Presbyterian Senior Living, starting as an administrator and climbing all the way up to CEO. His career in aging services includes time as a social worker and gerontologist, in addition to serving as LeadingAge’s treasurer. The not-for-profit organization now provides health care services and residential living to roughly 6,000 seniors at 30 locations throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio and Delaware.
57. Frank Igwe
Founder and President, Moravia Health
Frank Igwe founded Moravia Health, a full-service Medicare and Medicaid home health agency licensed by the state of Pennsylvania, in 2012. Based in Philadelphia, Moravia provides care to more than 200 elderly and/or disabled patients in their homes. Igwe has conducted research on how African Americans are shaping technology to create new social support systems. He also teaches a course on media relations and messaging at one of his alma maters, the University of Pennsylvania.
58. Diane Menio
Executive Director, Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Eldery (CARIE)
Diane Menio joined CARIE in 1989 before assuming the role of executive director in 1995. During her tenure, she worked with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services on abuse prevention training for practitioners. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Menio and CARIE have been at the forefront of the push to fix the safety and care issues in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
59. Roxanna Gapstur
President and CEO, WellSpan Health
Roxanna Gapstur brought her extensive experience in strategic planning, business development and operational leadership in health care settings to the position when she assumed the role of WellSpan’s president and CEO in 2019. She now oversees operations of this comprehensive care delivery system leader in south central Pennsylvania and its 20,000 employees. Most recently, Gapstur was recognized as one of the nation’s 50 most influential clinical executives by Modern Healthcare.
60. Adam Marles
President and CEO, LeadingAge PA
A trusted principal and advocate in aging services, Adam Marles leads the statewide nonprofit organization that works on behalf of operators of long-term care facilities for older adults and those with disabilities. He is dedicated to not only promoting senior services, but also creating affordable and ethical care for seniors. He and LeadingAge PA were among the first to draw attention to low reimbursement care rates during the pandemic.
61. Sherri Landis
Executive Director, The Arc of Pennsylvania
Sherri Landis leads The Arc of Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth’s chapter of the largest disability rights organization in the nation. Based just outside Harrisburg, The Arc’s systems advocacy and government affairs work is often seen in the Capitol. As executive director, Landis has testified in front of the legislature several times, including last year, on how the state should safely reopen schools and support those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
62. Martin Raniowski
Executive Vice President, Pennsylvania Medical Society
Prior to taking over as executive vice president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED), Martin Raniowski was deputy secretary for health planning and assessment at the Pennsylvania Department of Health. At PAMED, the largest physician-run association focused on state level health issues, he uses his policy, academic and management experience to oversee the nearly 18,000-member association. Raniowski and PAMED have been vocal throughout the pandemic, most recently championing the passing of informed consent legislation.
63. Laura Duncan
President, National Association of Health Services Executives, Pittsburgh Chapter
Laura Duncan leads the Pittsburgh chapter of the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE), a non-profit organization of Black health care executives dedicated to the advancement of Black health care leaders and to elevating the quality of care in underserved communities. She’s also the senior administrator for UPMC’s Department of Medicine, driving efforts to enhance access to care through telemedicine, clinical operations and analytics.
64. Drew Weissman
Infectious Disease Physician, Penn Medicine
Dr. Drew Weissman is an acclaimed immunologist who's best known for developing the modified mRNA techniques used in the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. He began at the University of Pennsylvania in 1997, studying RNA and innate immunity, where he and Katalin Karikó used synthetic nucleotides to modify RNA to make it viable as a therapy. Their groundbreaking discoveries have won them multiple awards and may one day lead to a Nobel Prize.
65. Dale Adair
Medical Director, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS)
Dr. Dale Adair is the state’s leader in clinical mental health and substance abuse services within the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. He acts as the chief medical officer of the state mental hospital and chief clinical officer for providers, giving oversight to community services. He previously served as acting deputy secretary within OMHSAS and was applauded for his work bringing the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics pilot to the state.
66. Nilda Ruiz
President and CEO, Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha, Inc. (APM)
Nilda Ruiz, who had been a financier and staff member of APM for years, became the organization’s second president and CEO in 2005. She’s been leading the Latino-based health, human services and community development organization in Philadelphia ever since. During her tenure, she has spearheaded housing, education and community projects and assisted in getting billions of dollars invested into North Philadelphia. She serves on several boards and has received various awards for her work.
67. Edith Peterson Mitchell
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of the National Medical Association (NMA), Past President, NMA
A retired Air Force Brigadier General, board certified oncologist and professor of medicine at Thomas Jefferson University, Dr. Edith Peterson Mitchell has worn too many hats to include in one title. She’s been dedicated to helping underserved areas throughout her career while researching cancer and chemotherapy. Mitchell has also held leadership positions in the American Society of Clinical Oncology and National Medical Association and continues to teach at Jefferson while working as Editor-in-chief of NMA’s journal.
68. Sandra Brooks
Executive Vice President, Chief Community Health Equity Officer, Jefferson Health
Dr. Sandra Brooks has dedicated her career in medicine focusing on combating health disparities and improving population health outcomes. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania before serving as a professor and director of gynecologic oncology at the University of Maryland. She now sits on the Aspira Women’s Health board of directors, and in her work with Jefferson Health, led free “Trusted Messenger” educational sessions on vaccines.
69. Bert Bruce
Regional President, Rare Disease, Pfizer Biopharmaceuticals Group
Bert Bruce brings extensive pharmaceutical development experience to Pfizer. He oversees the rare disease portfolio for the company, leading sales and marketing strategies and commercial development in North America. In the Philadelphia region, he sits on the President’s Leadership Council at Jefferson Health. He’s also played a critical role as chair of the Pfizer Global Black Community, supporting the company’s efforts to respond to racial inequities and spearheading its equity commitments.
70. Raina Merchant
Associate Vice President, University of Pennsylvania Health System
As an expert in emergency medicine, Dr. Raina Merchant melds digital media and health knowledge and her work has had widespread impacts in Philadelphia. She’s the director of the Center for Digital Health at Penn Medicine and an associate professor of emergency medicine. She led a citywide effort to connect Philadelphians to automated external defibrillators through her app. And her research continues to bridge new technologies into the medical field.
71. Stephen Tang
President and CEO, OraSure Technologies
After serving on OraSure’s board of directors for roughly seven years, Stephen Tang was named OraSure’s next president and CEO in 2018 – and the Bethlehem-based medical device company has seen numerous successes under his watch. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tang announced an expansion slated to create 177 new jobs, and this year, OraSure received three emergency use authorizations for its “InteliSwab” rapid antigen COVID-19 tests, one of which will provide patients with an over-the-counter COVID-19 test.
72. Marianne Fray
CEO, Maternity Care Coalition
As CEO of the Maternity Care Coalition, Marianne Fray spearheads the organization’s efforts to provide support to current and expecting mothers throughout the southeastern part of the state. The Maternity Care Coalition provides new parents and families with educational resources, runs early childhood development programs and provides cribs and sleep education to those in the Philadelphia area. Fray also is a founding member of the Women of Color in the Pharmaceutical Industry.
73. Laval Miller-Wilson
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Health Law Project
For Laval Miller-Wilson, looking out for Pennsylvania’s more vulnerable communities is always on his radar. As an advocate for lower income people and seniors, he frequently represents consumers in Harrisburg on the state’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee and promotes policies and practices that get underserved populations essential health care services. Recently, Miller-Wilson worked in conjunction with protective services to rescue several patients from neglect in their current situations, according to published reports.
74. Maria Collett & Judy Ward
State Senators
State Sens. Maria Collett and Judy Ward both entered the General Assembly with extensive experience in health care. Collett has worked as both a Level 1 trauma nurse and long-term care nurse, while Ward is a registered nurse herself and also worked as a wellness coordinator for Ward Transport and Logistics. The duo has even worked together on legislation to update the state’s Family Caregiver Support Act, as well as the Child Protective Services Law.
75. Richard Fisher
President, CEO and Cancer Center Director, Fox Chase Cancer Center
Dr. Richard Fisher oversees nearly all operations of Fox Chase Cancer Center, where he is president, CEO and Cancer Center Director. He’s been awarded for his expertise in medical oncology and is the senior associate dean for cancer programs at Temple’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine. Fisher has been widely recognized by the oncology community, and under his watch, Fox Chase Cancer Center has repeatedly been recognized by U.S. News & World Report.
76. Robert Vonderheide
Director, Abramson Cancer Center
Internationally known for his work on immunotherapy and translational cancer research, Dr. Robert Vonderheide has been director of Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center since 2017. Vonderheide has particular expertise in immunotherapies for pancreatic cancer, and also is the John H. Glick, MD Abramson Cancer Center’s director professor. Vonderheide’s lab focuses on tumor immunology and developing new immunotherapies for cancer treatment. He was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and graduated from Harvard Medical School.
77. Karen Feinstein
President and CEO, Jewish Healthcare Foundation
As President and CEO of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Dr. Karen Feinstein oversees the organization’s three arms: the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative, Health Careers Futures and the Women’s Health Activist Movement Global. Feinstein founded Health Careers Futures as a way to help the Pittsburgh region attract and keep employees, while WHAMglobal was founded to empower women in the health care field. As a whole, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation is a philanthropic organization dedicated to promoting advancements in health care relative to Pennsylvania's aging and underserved populations.
78. Victoria Elliot
CEO, Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association
Victoria Elliot came to the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association with experience in management and training as a pharmacist, most recently serving as CEO for the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care. She also spent time as executive director of the American Neurological Association, and worked as a pediatric pharmacist for Jefferson Health System. She spent an additional two years as assistant director of pharmacy at Hahnemann University Hospital, and received her pharmacy degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy.
79. Dhanalakshmi Ramasamy
Executive Committee President, Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society
A child and adolescent psychologist with Lehigh Valley Health Network, Ramasamy also is the executive committee president of the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society. Ramasamy splits her time between locations in Allentown and Bethlehem and treats teenagers for behavioral and mental health issues. Ramasamy received degrees in medicine and surgery from Coimbatore Medical College in India, and she completed her residency in psychiatry at Temple University Hospital.
80. Meredith Buettner
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition
As the Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition’s executive director, Meredith Buettner works on behalf of Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana permit holders to lobby and advocate for their needs, while also pushing for a regulated, adult-use cannabis law in the Commonwealth as Pennsylvania’s neighbors begin to do the same. Buettner was previously labeled one of Pennsylvania’s “rising stars” by PoliticsPA for her work as former U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan’s finance director.
81. Peter Castagna, Jr.
CEO and President, Miller-Keystone Blood Center
Since 2013, Peter Castagna, Jr. has led Miller-Keystone Blood Center’s efforts to supply blood throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, while also serving as president and CEO of Hospital Central Services, of which Miller Keystone Blood Center is an affiliate. Miller-Keystone Blood Center is the exclusive blood provider for 29 hospitals in eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey, and under Castagna’s leadership, the center received the Air Products Leonard Parker Pool Impact Award in 2018.
82. Paul DeAngelo Jr.
CEO, Mission Autism Clinics
As CEO of Mission Autism Clinics, Paul DeAngelo Jr. oversees the organization’s efforts to provide tailored therapy services for children with autism. Mission Autism Clinics provides day programs and after-school programs that offer specialized therapy sessions for young children and teens, respectively. Under DeAngelo’s watch, the organization has outlined plans to expand this year, with Mission Autism Clinics scheduled to open up locations in Wilson Borough, Saucon Valley and Shamokin Dam.
83. Cheri Rinehart
President and CEO, Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers
As president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers, Cheri Rinehart leads the 300-member strong association with a wealth of experience in healthcare at her disposal. Rinehart is tasked with developing the direction of the organization, which represents federally qualified health centers, rural health centers and others. Rinehart is a registered nurse and serves on the board of the National Association of Community Health Centers.
84. Margie Zelenak
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Assisted Living Association
Margie Zelenak leads efforts at the Pennsylvania Assisted Living Association to advocate for the state’s assisted living community by seeking to improve care, accessibility and options for Pennsylvania’s seniors. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Zelenak has been a vocal advocate for seniors, encouraging prioritized vaccinations for the state’s elderly community, while routinely stressing the importance of increased funding for personal care homes and assisted living facilities.
85. Lisa Giovanni
President, Pennsylvania Homecare Association
Lisa Giovanni represents nearly 700 member-organizations that provide home-based health care as president of the Pennsylvania Homecare Association. The PHA blends advocacy work and legislative and regulatory efforts to support its members, which include home care and hospice providers who provide home-based services such as nursing and wound care, occupational therapy and end-of-life care. Giovanni is also president of St. Luke’s Home Health and Hospice, based in Bethlehem.
86. Antoinette Kraus
Director, Pennsylvania Health Access Network
With more than a decade of investment at the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, Antoinette Kraus has centered her work around increasing access to affordable health care in Pennsylvania, with a particular focus on patient protections and health-related reforms. During her time as director, PHAN has helped enroll nearly 5,000 Pennsylvanians in health insurance coverage. Kraus is also a member of the governor’s Health Innovation in Pennsylvania Steering Committee.
87. Peri Jude Radecic
CEO, Disability Rights Pennsylvania
Peri Jude Radecic has a long history of advocating for women, the LGBTQ community and the disabled, experience that has taken her from Maryland, to Arizona and now the Keystone State. As the CEO for Disability Rights Pennsylvania, Radecic puts both her legal background and advocacy experience to use to support Pennsylvanians with disabilities – as Disability Rights Pennsylvania provides legal, advocacy and policy services to people all across the state.
88. Betsy Snook
CEO, Pennsylvania State Nurses Association
As CEO of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, Betsy Snook manages an association made up of more than 200,000 nurses across the state. This legislative session, Snook and the PSNA are advocating for measures that would set “safe staffing” levels for nurses, capping the number of patients that a nurse can be assigned. The PSNA supports legislation that would establish multistate nursing licenses, which would allow nurses in Pennsylvania to practice in 34 other states.
89. Maureen May
President, Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals
Since 2018, Maureen May has led PASNAP, a statewide union of nurses and other health professionals. May came to PASNAP with more than 30 years of experience as a registered nurse and previously served as president of the Temple University Hospital Nurses Association. As an union, PASNAP is supportive of safe staffing protocols, universal health care and measures to protect health care workers from harassment.
90. Adrian Shanker
Commissioner, Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs and Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
Adrian Shanker currently is a commissioner on both the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, and serves on the health committee of the latter, working closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to make health care more inclusive for those in the LGBTQ community. Shanker is also the founder and executive director of the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, which is based in the Lehigh Valley. He also previously served as board president for Equality Pennsylvania.
91. Richard Cohen
President and CEO, Public Health Management Corporation
Richard Cohen has led the Public Health Management Corporation for more than 40 years, managing more than 3,500 employees and 350 health programs. The Public Health Management Corporation runs programs with PHMC affiliates, as well, which provide services ranging from behavioral health and primary care to health care services for those who are experiencing homelessness. Cohen oversees a budget of more than $325 million and has consulted with the federal government for his expertise in the area of substance abuse.
92. Tammy Taylor
President, Commonwealth Prevention Alliance
Elected president in 2017, Tammy Taylor heads efforts at the Commonwealth Prevention Alliance, a nonprofit, member-driven organization that strives to eliminate substance abuse by Pennsylvania’s youth. In recent years and under Taylor’s direction, the Commonwealth Prevention Alliance has expressed skepticism at the idea of legalizing recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania, and has warned state lawmakers about the potential impacts of expanding availability of to-go cocktails.
93. William Stauffer
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Recovery Organizations Alliance
With extensive experience in drug and alcohol recovery work, William Stauffer has led the Pennsylvania Recovery Organizations Alliance since 2012. In his current role, Stauffer oversees the nonprofit’s efforts to support those overcoming addiction and educate the public and key stakeholders about how best to support those in recovery through public policy. He also serves as co-chair of the public policy committee for Faces & Voices of Recovery and has routinely been awarded for his efforts in this field.
94. Ward Blackwell
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Dental Association
Ward Blackwell joined the Pennsylvania Dental Association in 2020 after a 20-year career at the Louisiana Dental Association as executive director. Now, Blackwell oversees the PDA’s day-to-day operations, which include efforts to influence public policy for the benefit of association members, management of association staff, management of the association's budget, while also advocating for the dentistry field and its practitioners in Pennsylvania. Blackwell’s work in the dental field was celebrated in 2019, when he received an honorary fellowship at the Pierre Fauchard Academy.
95. Jerry Grant
CEO, Acts Retirement-Life Communities
For nearly three decades, Jerry Grant has been a critical component at Montgomery County’s Acts organization, one of the largest non-profit continuing care retirement communities in the nation. Grant oversees 26 Acts operations in nine states, which house 10,000 residents and employ more than 7,000 people. He served as executive vice president and chief financial officer at Acts prior to his role as CEO.
96. Mark Mattioli & Jessica Natali
Shareholders, Greenberg Traurig
Combined, Mark Mattioli and Jessica Natali share more than 50 years’ experience when they represent clients at the Greenberg Traurig law firm, which has worldwide reach. Mattioli specializes in counseling physicians during transactions with health systems for compliance with fraud and abuse, antitrust, Medicare privacy and more. Natali’s focus is in cases involving health care fraud, and she formerly served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for more than a decade, prosecuting a wide variety of criminal cases.
97. Deborah Duenyas
President, Pennsylvania Counseling Association
Licensed in Pennsylvania and Ohio as a professional counselor, Deborah Duenyas was elected Pennsylvania Counseling Association’s 53rd president last year. In addition to her work promoting ethical and culturally inclusive counseling practices throughout the Commonwealth, Duenyas is also an assistant professor at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. She has held a number of leadership roles in clinical counseling settings with a focus on behavioral and mental health. At one point in her career, she taught English to children in Osaka, Japan.
98. Scott Stevenson
President and CEO, Phoebe Ministries
A trusted name in the Lehigh Valley, Phoebe Ministries is a non-profit senior living organization with four retirement communities, eight affordable housing facilities and four pharmacies across seven counties. For the past 13 years, Scott Stevenson has led this operation, which generates more than $125 million annually in revenue. His nearly three decades of financial and operational experience spans the health care continuum, including acute care, long-term care and community based services.
99. Shawn Patrick O’Brien & Kip Olmstead
CEO; President, Genomind
Shawn Patrick O’Brien and Kip Olmstead are CEO and president of Genomind, respectively. They are responsible for strategic planning, finances, development and sales for the King of Prussia-based company that is a leader in pharmacogenetics. Genomind is innovating mental health care by advancing precision medicine, such as their Genecept Assay and Mindful DNA, which is designed to identify genetic variations in a person’s brain and help providers deliver personalized care to each patient.
100. Joshua Brooker
Founder and Principal, PA Health Advocates
Designed to make understanding health care options easier, PA Health Advocates is a Lancaster-based health insurance agency specializing in employee benefits, Medicare, Medicaid and individual health. At the helm is Joshua Brooker, who works with many policy groups around the Commonwealth, as well as the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, in order to find answers to complicated health care questions for his clients.
NEXT STORY: The Pennsylvania Healthcare Power 100: 11-50