PA Health Funders Collaborative Recognizes Leadership and Accomplishments of Founding Chairs Russ Johnson and Karen Wolk Feinstein

Dr. Karen Feinstein and Russ Johnson cheers to their time of service at PHFC.

The Pennsylvania Health Funders Collaborative (PHFC) held their 16^th annual meeting, highlighting key issues facing the health of Pennsylvanians and recognizing the service of founding chairs Russ Johnson and Karen Wolk Feinstein, PhD who are both stepping down from leadership positions at PHFC.

In 2007, health funders across Pennsylvania came together to set priorities and facilitate collaborations in areas of shared interest and high need throughout the Commonwealth. This meeting led to the formation of the PHFC, a collaborative that strives to improve the effectiveness of health funders' initiatives by collaborating, networking, sharing best practices, and creating a unified voice among funders working in Pennsylvania communities.

Johnson, president and CEO of the HealthSpark Foundation in Colmar, PA, and Dr. Feinstein have been co-chairs of the PHFC since its founding in 2008.

As part of the PHFC two-day conference Nov. 29-30 at the Harrisburg Hilton. JHF chief policy officer Robert Ferguson, MPH presented a tribute to Johnson and Dr. Feinstein's PHFC leadership over the past 14 years. PHFC also discussed a robust policy agenda heading into the new year.

Under the leadership of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) and HealthSpark Foundation, PHFC has become a respected source of non-partisan information for enhancing vulnerable populations' access to high-quality and cost-effective health services. PHFC has tackled issues integrating behavioral health into primary and oral care, federal and state policy, economic impact of Medicaid expansion in Pennsylvania, ACA enrollment, racial disparities and health equity, technology, and improving the effectiveness of local health funding by working collaboratively across the state.

Ann S. Torregrossa remains the executive director of PHFC and JHF will remain its fiscal agent for 2023 unless it can pass the baton sooner. Ferguson will be co-chair of the PHFC in the new year.