Pennsylvania Mountains Rural Health Conference

Thursday, November 20, 2025
Kovalchick Center & Athletic Complex, Indiana, PA

Agenda

  • 7:30 – 8:30 AM: Registration, Light Breakfast, and Networking - DeChurch Lobby
  • 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Morning Sessions - Toretti Auditorium
  • 8:30 - 9:00 AM: Welcome Remarks - Toretti Auditorium
    • Bonni Dunlap, PhD, Indiana County Commissioner
    • Michael Driscoll, PhD, President, IUP
    • Steve Wolfe, RPh, President and CEO, IRMC
  • 9:00 – 10:00 AM: Implications of H.R.1 and Opportunities Under the Rural Health Transformation Plan - Toretti Auditorium
    • Moderator: Miko Rose, DO, Founding Dean, IUP Proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine
      • Valerie Arkoosh, MD, Secretary, Department of Human Services
      • Debra Bogen, MD, Secretary, Department of Health
      • Michael Humphreys, Pennsylvania Commissioner of Insurance
      • Jason Kavulich, Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging
  • 10:00 - 10:15 AM: BREAK
  • 10:15 – 11:00 AM: Keynote Address - Toretti Auditorium
    • Nicole Stallings, President, Hospital and Healthcare System of Pennsylvania
  • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Panel: Government Impact on Rural Health - Toretti Auditorium
    • Moderator: Christina Koren, DEd, Director of Strategic Partnerships, IUP
    • Panelists
      • Michele Brooks, Senator, 50th Senatorial District
      • Lindsey Mauldin, Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor of Pennsylvania, Deputy
      • Joe Pittman, Pennsylvania General Assembly, Senator and Senate Majority Leader
      • Jim Struzzi, Pennsylvania General Assembly, Representative and Chair, Appropriations Committee, 62nd Legislative District
      • Arvind Venkat, MD, PA State Representative, 30th Legislative District
  • 12:00 - 1:00 PM: Networking Lunch - PNC Room
    • Poster display - Phi Sigma Kappa Rooms 6 & 7
    • Research Posters will be displayed throughout the day, offering an opportunity to explore innovative ideas and findings at your convenience. From 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, the researchers will be present for a live Q&A session to discuss their work and answer your questions
  • 1:00 – 2:00 PM: Panel: Healthcare Innovations in PA - Toretti Auditorium
    • Moderator: Hilliary Creely, JD, PhD, Assistant Vice Provost, IUP
    • Panelists:
      • Michael Roth, Director of Innovation, PA Department of Agriculture, Office of the Secretary
      • Larry Nulton, PhD, President, Nulton Diagnostic and Treatment Center
      • Jeff Long, CEO Graystone
      • Mandi Paronish, Founder and CEO, Small Town Hope's Treehouse
      • Zane Gates, MD, Founder and CEO, Gloria Gates CARE
  • 2:00 - 2:15 PM: BREAK
    • Please don’t forget to visit the research poster display, presented by IUP faculty and students, held in the Phi Sigma Kappa Rooms 6 & 7 rooms. Snacks will be available.
  • 2:15 – 3:15 PM: Concurrent Sessions A
    • Breakout Session #1 - Theme: Budget constraints, healthcare/mental–substance abuse funding, AI cost-cutting tools, rural health policy (e.g., AACOM/Tom Moore, Steve Davis on rural redesign), federal reimbursement programs, educator/provider crisis intervention strategies. – Toretti Auditorium
      • Moderator: Clark Simpson, MD, President and CMO, Punxsutawney Area Hospital
      • Panelists: NEED NAMES
    • Breakout Session #2 - Rural Health Innovation to the Classroom: K-12 Educator Workshop - PNC Room
      • Moderator: Susan Griffith, DEd, Director of Curriculum and Educational Technology, ARIN IU28
      • Panelists:
        • Mariha Shields, DEd, Training and Consultation, ARIN IU28
        • Lacie Cook, MS, Curriculum Specialist, ARIN IU28
    • STUDENT ONLY SESSION - Breakout Session #3 – Advancement League Speakers – DeChurch LOBBY AREA? Or Phi Sigma Kappa Room???
      • Moderator: Lisa Newell, Ph.D.
      • Panelists:
        • Alex Maiersperger, Advancement League Founder
        • Antwan Williams, Advancement League Founder
  • 3:15 – 3:30 PM: BREAK
    • Please don’t forget to visit the research poster display, presented by IUP faculty and students, held in the Phi Sigma Kappa Rooms 6 & 7 rooms. Snacks will be available.
  • 3:30 – 4:30 PM: Concurrent Sessions B
    • Breakout Session #1 – Rethinking Rural Health – Preparing for the Future - Toretti Auditorium
      • Moderator: Richard Neff, MD, Chief Medical Officer, IRMC
      • Panelists:
        • Travis Eckles, Senior Manager, Employee Benefits and Wellness at Sheetz
        • Wayne Maynard, Angel Flight, Indiana County, PA
        • Jacqueline McGinty, PhD, IUP Professor, College of Education and Human Services
        • Jake Muskovitz, Special Projects, PA Health Care Cost Containment Council
        • Janice Walters, Executive Director, Rural Health Redesign Center
    • Breakout Session #2 – Pediatric Readiness in Rural Communities - PNC Room
      • Moderator: Amanda Vaglia, DO, Inaugural Program Director, IRMC, Family Medicine Residency Program 
      • Presenter: Kristin Juhasz, DO, UPMC Hammit, Emergency Medicine
    • Breakout Session #3 - Mobilize & Execute: Post DHS/DOH Regional Rural Health Summit Action Session for Rural Health Leadership - Phi Sigma Kappa Rooms 6 & 7
      • Moderators:
        • Karin Rhoades, MD, Special Assistant to PA DHS Secretary Valerie Arkoosh, MD
        • Miko Rose, DO, Founding Dean, IUP Proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • 4:30 – 5:00 PM: Closing Remarks, Research Poster Awards, Hero Awards, Door Prizes - Toretti Auditorium
    • Moderators:
      • Jim Kinneer, PhD, Chief Human Resources Officer, IRMC
      • Lara Luetkehans, PhD, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, IUP