Sharee Livingston

Patients R Waiting

Dr. Livingston was born and raised in Harrisburg, PA.  She always knew she wanted to become a physician.  She expressed particular interest in Women’s Health at an early age.  She started working as a candy striper at Community General Osteopathic Hospital at age 9.   Dr. Livingston received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.  She received her medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.  Dr. Livingston completed a rigorous Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at Penn State Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA. In 2006, she began practicing as an Ob/Gyn at UPMC Lititz.  She serves as the Ob/Gyn Department Chair and is a member of the UPMC Lititz Board of Trustees.  She is the highest volume female robotic surgeon in the county of Lancaster.  Living less than a mile away from each other for years, Dr. Hamblin and Dr. Livingston crossed paths in outreach for planning the 3rd annual Diversity in medicine conference. Feeling compelled to do more, Dr. Livingston joined the Patients R Waiting team and is helping to increase the pipeline for young scientists of color to reach their goals of becoming physicians.She is honored to be the president of MOKA moms (Moms of Kids Advancing – Mothers of Color in Medicine/Science). Dr. Livingston gains all of her pride and joy as the wife of Ivan Anderson, her childhood friend and neighbor.  Together, they are blessed to enjoy two daughters, Addison and Ainsley and six year old twin boys Ivan and Troy.

Cherise Hamblin

Patients R Waiting

Dr. Cherise Hamblin was born and raised in the Bronx, NY. She attended Bronx High School of Science and attended at Franklin & Marshall College. During her F&M years she was active on campus, serving as Black Student Union Vice President, Admission office intern for Minority Recruitment, playing rugby and studying abroad in Guadalajara, Mexico. Dr. Hamblin graduated from F&M in 2003 with a double major in Biology & Spanish. She went on to medical school Northwestern University and completed her training in Obstetrics & Gynecology in Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Hamblin is passionate about working with the next generation of physicians and since her return to Lancaster she has worked with advisors, students and community organizers on various mentoring and exposure programs. She is the founder and president of Patients R Waiting, a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating health disparities by increasing diversity in medicine. She is a full time, board certified OBGYN. She enjoys doing surgery, delivering babies and caring for women of all ages. When she is not working, she enjoys family life with her husband, daughter and son.

Damien Myers

Keynote Speaker

Myers is the co-founder and chief executive and medical officer of MedReimagined, helping communities create pipelines of the homegrown aspiring medical professionals they need most—so that every community trusts their health providers and believes they can lead the world in health outcomes.

Kayla Bolden

PhD Student

Kayla is a Public Health Analyst working in the Division of Healthcare Quality and Promotion within the Surveillance Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In this role, she provides education and guidance to healthcare facilities across the U.S. regarding infectious diseases such as COVID-19, Influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Previously, she served as the program director for Patients R Waiting’s Diversifying Doulas Initiative, which aims to address the maternal morbidity and mortality crisis by providing doula care to birthing people of color in Central Pennsylvania. While serving in this role, she has impacted over 300 families by connecting them with subsidized doula care, trained over 30 doulas of color, and raised over $1 million in grant funding for the organization. Kayla’s passion for improving maternal health outcomes and advancing health equity among BIPOC communities also led her to develop the Black Breastfeeding Support Initiative through Patients R Waiting. This initiative promotes improved postpartum outcomes among African American/ Black birthing persons by providing subsidized postpartum doula care. Since implementing the Black Breastfeeding Initiative, it has been recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Human Services and other local agencies. It has also contributed to the state-level discussion about state policies supporting compensating doula services in Medicaid. Kayla will continue her work in maternal health here in Georgia as the program manager for Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE); an organization that addresses breastfeeding disparities for communities of color. Kayla is a proud alumna of Agnes Scott College, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Public Health. She received her Master of Public Health degree from Mercer University. Kayla currently attends Georgia State University, obtaining her doctorate in public health with a concentration in maternal health. She hopes to enhance her public health leadership skills while continuing to work toward improving maternal health outcomes and health equity and reducing racism in medicine.

Christopher Plummer

Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist

Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Dr. Plummer currently works as an Attending Physician in Maternal Fetal Medicine at UPMC Harrisburg. He was born and raised in New York City, and attended medical school at New York College of Osteopathic Medicine to graduate in the year 2000. Dr. Plummer then completed his OB/GYN residency at Nassau University Medical Center in 2004. He worked in Lancaster, PA at Women’s and Babies Hospital as general OB/GYN from 2004-2007. Following this, he completed a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship at the Pinnacle Health-Harrisburg Hospital. Dr. Plummer has worked in private practice for 6 years at Albany Medical Center and StonyBrook Medical Center. He was on the NYS Maternal Mortality Review Board from 2019-2021, and has areas of interest in preeclampsia, preterm birth and maternal mortality and morbidity.

Sabrina Torres

Patients R Waiting

Sabrina Torres serves as the Director of Community Programs for Patients R Waiting and is also a certified doula. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Public Health, which underscores her commitment to promoting well-being and health education within communities. In her role, Sabrina leads initiatives aimed at improving public health outcomes and providing support to underserved populations. Her work as a doula complements her public health expertise, as she offers compassionate care and advocacy for individuals during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum, ensuring holistic support for families.

Tonja Green

Full Service Midwifery Care Provider

Tonja Greene, CNM, MS is the wife of Richard, and the homeschooling mama to 5, soon to be 6 children, aged 11 to 1. She obtained her BSN from Howard University & her MS from Oregon Health & Science University. Her passions include providing holistic care to women and their families throughout the lifespan. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family & church family, and playing games with her hubby!

Sarah Smith

4th Year OB Residency UPMC Magee

Sarah N. Smith, MD was born and raised in Lexington, KY. She graduated medical school from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 2021. Sarah is a current fourth year resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital and plans to pursue generalist practice after completing residency. Sarah is committed to service through leadership and is passionate about working to mitigate women’s health disparities and improving the presence of African Americans in the medical field through mentorship

Amanda Thiele

2nd Year OB Resident UPMC Magee

Amanda Thiele grew up in Central Florida. She obtained her undergraduate degree in cognitive neuroscience from Carnegie Mellon in 2018 and then went on to complete her medical school education at the University of Miami in 2023. She is now a second year OBGYN resident at UPMC Magee Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. Amanda is interested in pursuing a fellowship in complex family planning following residency, and hopes to have a career centered on advocacy and reproductive justice.

Shannon Mason

Nurse, Health Educator, and Author

Shannon began her medical working career in 1998 at (formerly known as Pinnacle Health) UPMC. She obtained her Associates Degree in the Science of Nursing (ASN) in 1999, and furthered her education at Eastern University and obtained her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2014. She continues to be employed at UPMC Central PA to date, celebrating 25 years this year (2023). Over the years she has held positions as a Medical Receptionist (1998-1999), Medical-Surgical Staff/ Charge Nurse (2000-2008), Case Manager(2005), Diabetes Educator (2006-2008), and (2008- present) her current role is a RN-Health Educator II, coordinating Tobacco Cessation Support and providing staffing support for the CARES Team. She additionally currently holds her Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist Certification (CTTS), National Certification in Tobacco Treatment Practice (NCTTP), and National Board Certification in Health and Wellness Coaching (NBC-HWC).

Erica SMITH

Cardiothoracic Surgery Care Navigator

Erica Smith, BSN, RN-BC, PCCN, is a Care Navigator at Cardiothoracic Surgery, Tower Health Medical Group, Reading Hospital, West Reading, Pennsylvania. Erica began her nursing career as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania, where she graduated as a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing; Magna Cum Laude. Erica is currently attaining a Master of Science degree in Nursing at Cedar Crest College, Allentown, Pennsylvania, to become an Acute Care Geriatric Nurse Practitioner. Erica holds certifications in progressive care and cardiac vascular nursing. She has over 15 years of bedside nursing and leadership experience in critical care, progressive care, long-term care, rehabilitation, trauma, neuro-surgical, medical-surgical, and cardiothoracic surgery nursing. She has lectured in cardiac-vascular and medical-surgical certification review courses at Reading Hospital. As co-chair of her organization's Cardiothoracic Surgical Committee, Erica received the Nursing Excellence Award for Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration and the Russel S. Bickel Jr. Award for Excellence in Communication and Caring for patients and their families. She has actively participated in the development of organization policies. She is instrumental in guiding professional nursing practice as a member of the Critical Care Committee, the Diversity and Inclusion Council, the Nursing Professional Recognition and Excellency Program Board, and as a certification exam reviewer for the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.Erica’s personal and professional ethos is a quote by William Durant: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit.” She is passionate about supporting diversity in nursing and has presented organization-wide, inculcating knowledge and awareness of unconscious bias among nursing professionals.Erica has had many opportunities in nursing that she is looking forward to sharing.

Courtnee Jordan-Cox

Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and College House Dean at Franklin & Marshall College

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Courtnee Jordan-Cox, PhD, ICADC, YTT 200, CD has served as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and College House Dean at Franklin & Marshall College for over 5 years. As a part of her career, she engages in work that encourages students to consider how their own identities interact with what makes them feel safe, fulfilled and valued. Her interest in creating emotional, physical, and intellectual safety on campus is also largely shaped by her previous career path as a professional counselor. She received her Bachelors degree in Advertising and Sociology (double major) from Marquette University, her Masters in Strategic Communication from Villanova University, and her Doctorate in Organizational and Industrial Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Washington D.C. Outside of her work as an educator, Dr. Jordan-Cox teaches yoga, and engages in advocacy as a birth doula. She is a proud and active member of the Harrisburg Alumni chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., which she joined in 2006 as an undergraduate at Marquette. She loves to travel all over the world, meet interesting people and eat great food.

Karisa Augustine

Patients R Waiting

After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor's degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a minor in African American Studies, Augustine embarked on a career in non-profits and research, driven by a passion to enrich her community. With expertise in public health, research, education, and the arts, she creates impactful programs and initiatives that address healthcare disparities and support underrepresented communities. She currently serves as the Director of Pipeline Programs at Patients R Waiting (PRW). As co-founder of the Pipeline Dreams High School Health Careers Exploration Program, she leads a 12-week initiative designed to diversify the healthcare workforce in Lancaster City, which is 60% Latinx and 16% Black. To date, she has mentored 117 students, organized 10 medical school tours, and secured over $120,000 in program funding. Collaborating with researcher Dr. Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins, she contributed to impactful studies on race and racism in healthcare, co-authoring peer-reviewed publications. She conducted qualitative analysis for studies at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Corporal Crescenz VA Medical Center. Led focus groups with caregivers of pediatric type-1 diabetes patients under Dr. Terry Lipman, developing a qualitative codebook to provide insights on implicit bias at CHOP Diabetes Center. Additionally, she directed the #VaxUpPhillyFamilies digital canvassing campaign to reduce racial COVID-19 disparities in West Philadelphia. In her spare time, she works with Immortal Vision Studio and the CJ Wolfe Foundation, promoting the arts and photography to combat gun violence, poverty, and addiction in Kensington, Philadelphia. Her work continues to develop strategies that serve the community, build partnerships, and collect data to better the lives of young people across the country.

Susan Farrell

Lebanon Valley Birth Center

Susan, CNM, CRNP-WH, MSN founded Lebanon Valley Midwifery in 2006 and added the Lebanon Valley Birth Center in 2014. She is a graduate of Frontier University and Simmons College. She moved to this area in 1981 and immediately noticed the need for nurse-midwifery care in the area. Once her children were grown, she pursued her midwifery degree and fill this crucial need. Susan is also a Nurse Practitioner specializing in Women’s Health. She and her husband, Bruce, a pastor, have three children and four grandchildren.

Moriah Hathaway

Executive Director of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Women

Moriah Hathaway has been the executive director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women since July 2020. In this position, Moriah works with the commissioners, stakeholders, and legislators from across the state to advocate for women and girls at the executive level. She previously served as the Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, as well as the Executive Assistant to Governor Wolf’s Regional Directors and as a Constituent Affairs Specialist for Governor Wolf. Moriah graduated in 2019 from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in political science. She currently serves as the President-elect on the Shippensburg University Alumni Board of Directors. Governor Shapiro’s Advisory Commission on Women, which was reestablished by Executive Order and consists of volunteer members, is responsible for advising the Governor on policies and legislation that impact women; supporting economic and civic opportunities for women; encouraging mentoring programs for girls and young women; identifying programs and opportunities for the benefit and advancement of women; and serving as a resource center for Pennsylvania women. The Commission also acts as an advocate for policies it feels serves the best interest of women and girls in Pennsylvania.

David Horsey

PhD Student, Biochemistry Cellular and Molecular Biology

PhD Student at Vivien Thomas Scholar in Biochemistry Cellular and Molecular Biology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Brian Lewis

Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology at UMass Chan Medical School

Brian Lewis received his B.S. in Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1991, and his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in 1997. He performed postdoctoral studies at the NIH and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, supported by a Helen Hay Whitney Foundation postdoctoral fellowship. He is currently supported by a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Development Award in the Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Lewis joined the Program in Gene Function and Expression at the University of Massachusetts Medical School as an Assistant Professor in the winter of 2003.

Chijioke Onyeani

PhD Student Biology and Biomedical Sciences

Chijioke Obiwe Onyeani is originally from Nigeria, where he completed his undergraduate degree in Medical Laboratory Science. Currently, he is a second-year PhD student at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in the Behar lab at UMass Chan Medical School , where he studies the role of hypoxia in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Chijioke is particularly drawn to this field of research, having witnessed the devastation infectious diseases cause in resource-limited communities. He aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms behind recrudescence of tuberculosis infection as this could potentially lead to the development of effective therapeutics for this disease. Outside of his scientific pursuits, Chijioke enjoys binge-watching his favorite series, reading thrillers, and wearing traditional Nigerian attire. When asked what inspired him to pursue a career in STEM, he attributes his passion to the desire to explore uncharted territories in medicine. Despite recent advancements, he recognizes the need for continued exploration and discovery in addressing global health challenges. The "eureka" moments from impactful scientific discoveries are what drive his pursuit of a career in STEM.

Reuben Hogan

MD/PhD candidate at UCSF

Reuben Hogan is a current MD/PhD candidate at UCSF. He has just completed his PhD in Biophysics with an emphasis is Complex Biological Systems under Nevan Krogan, PhD and Robert Chalkley, PhD. His work centered around glycoproteomics, which is the study of sugars that get attached to proteins using mass spectrometry. Reuben completed his undergraduate studies at Washington University in Saint Louis where he was a Danforth Scholar and a McLeod Scholar. In addition to his training at UCSF, Reuben has also worked in venture capital as a consultant. He has worked with Artis Ventures and Foresite Capital, where he gained experience in TechBio, startups, and investing. Reuben was raised in a small town outside of New Orleans, Louisiana, and is passionate about the power of science education in unlocking one’s future.

Christine Cahill

Associate Director at Franklin & Marshall College

Experienced College Counselor with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Strong education professional skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Mock Interviews, Microsoft Word, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and Event Management.