Contributions to Public Health
- During my service as the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, we were able to tackle several long-standing public health challenges: healthcare associated infections, childhood obesity and exposure to secondhand smoke. My most significant contribution was leading the negotiation, passage and implementation of Pennsylvania’s first Clean Indoor Air Act. This law prohibits smoking in enclosed areas used by the public, including restaurants, bars, offices, healthcare facilities, public transportation and daycare centers and has saved thousands of lives.
- Our Medicaid Research Center (MRC) has conducted ground-breaking research that informs Medicaid policy and the program administration. Medicaid is a critical government health program that provides access to healthcare and home and community-based services to 3 million Pennsylvania children and adults (and 71.2m nationally). Among the public health challenges the MRC has impacted are maternal and child morbidity, access to mental health services, housing insecurity and long-term services and support for older adults.
- While 90% of older adults prefer to remain in their homes and age-in-place, significant public health barriers exist to achieving this goal. Nationally, less than 10% of homes are “aging-ready” and access to home modifications for vulnerable older adults is limited. We built the Healthy Home Lab (HHL) to develop novel solutions to increase the safety and independence of older adults. The interdisciplinary HHL team has patented new mobility devices for bathroom and stair-climbing safety.
Education
1985 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC | BA, Art History
1990 | Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago Kent College of Law, Chicago, IL | JD
1990 | Illinois Institute of Technology, Stuart School of Business, Chicago, IL | MBA, Business Administration
