Welcome to a new year and some great news!
PSR PA Updates
Announcing Our Statewide Expansion!
It's official... we are pleased to introduce you to the new PSR PA! Over the past year, PSR Philadelphia and PSR Harrisburg merged to form a statewide chapter of PSR Pennsylvania (PSR PA).

This transition came naturally, as it became increasingly clear that the issues we care about do not stop at county lines. As PSR PA, we will be able to address statewide health crises, such as fracking, nuclear energy and gun laws, that affect the daily lives of our patients. We look forward to engaging more health professionals across the state and becoming a more powerful advocacy organization on key public health issues.

In the coming months, we have many renewed goals for our organization. We hope to advertise and lobby for health, keeping our statewide presence in mind. To support this effort, we will work to grow our membership and diversify our board, thereby increasing support of our mission. Our goal is to become a respected resource and voice on climate change and environmental health. We will continue events that are unique to our organizations, like Harrisburg’s Speaker Events, and launch initiatives together, such as Concerned Health Professionals of Pennsylvania (CHPPA). We believe this merger will serve to make all of our efforts stronger! 

Warmly, 
PSR PA Board 
Meet our new Executive Director: Tonyehn Verkitus!
We are pleased to announce that Tonyehn Verkitus has accepted the role as PSR PA’s new Executive Director. We are excited to see how she builds PSR PA and leads us forward in 2021!

In the past, Tonyehn has served as a passionate and effective leader across PA. She lives in Scranton and her work in the nonprofit sector has focused on food, health and community empowerment. As Executive Director of the Lackawanna and Luzerne County Medical Societies, she develops programs for physician members and supports many community initiatives around substance use. She has been chosen by the Luzerne County District Attorney to Chair the Stigma Reduction and Professional Education Committee for the Luzerne County STOP Coalition and sits on the boards of the Lackawanna County Arts, Education and Culture Department; and the WVIA Community Advisory Board.

Globally, Tonyehn founded the nonprofit organization Africa Community Exchange. Its mission is to provide a model of education for youth that helps to meet basic needs and cope with the impact of disaster and conflict in Liberia. She explores healing through self-care as a Wholistic Life Coach and speaker. Currently, she is also a Television Host at Keystone Edition Health. Tonyehn’s wide-ranging expertise will surely be an asset to our organization.

Please join us in welcoming Tonyehn into this position at PSRPA!
I am both honored and excited to take on the role of executive director at Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania and to lead such a passionate, dedicated team of professionals. I want to thank everyone for the warm welcome, as well as the board of directors for their faith in my ability to lead this esteemed organization.

I look forward to working and learning from you our donors and supporters, and believe that together, we can decrease the negative impacts that affect the health of our communities. I welcome the opportunity to hear from you, whether to share your thoughts and ideas on how to improve the work we do, or just to say “Hello”.

To begin what I hope will be a fruitful partnership please participate in this survey: Click here for a link to the survey!
PSRPA Upcoming Events
PA Health Check-Up
When: Thursday, January 28 at 7:00 PM EST
Click here to register!

Please join us at our January PA Health Check-Up! The speakers will be Ned Ketyer, MD, FAAP, Pouné Saberi, MD, MPH, and Peggy Slota, DNP, RN, FAAN. At the end of the event, we will be announcing our exciting new initiative Concerned Health Professionals of Pennsylvania (CHPPA)!