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Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Committee (PA MMRC)

PA MMRC Mission

The Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Committee's goal is to systematically review all maternal deaths, identify root causes of these deaths and develop strategies to reduce preventable morbidity, mortality and racial disparities related to pregnancy in Pennsylvania.

Maternal Mortality Review Act: Membership Requirements

(b)Members.--The committee shall consist of the following members:

  1. The secretary or a designee authorized to act on behalf of the secretary.
  2. An obstetrician.
  3. A maternal-fetal medicine specialist.
  4. A certified nurse-midwife.
  5. A registered nurse representing maternal health care.
  6. A psychiatrist.
  7. An addiction medicine specialist.
  8. A social worker or social service provider.
  9. A medical examiner or coroner responsible for recording deaths.
  10. An emergency medical services provider.
  11. A health statistician.
  12. A representative of the department's Bureau of Family Health programs.
  13. Three individuals specializing in emergency medicine, family medicine, pathology, anesthesiology, cardiology, critical care or any other relevant medical specialty.
  14. Additional personnel at the discretion of the secretary.

Maternal Mortality Review Committee Expectations

It is important to consider the member expectations when deciding to apply:
  • Attend a minimum of 75% of PA MMRC meetings annually
    • We will have monthly, half-day meetings (9 am- 1 pm on the third Wednesday of each month)
  • Thoroughly review all maternal death case summaries that are provided by program staff prior to scheduled meetings
  • Act as a case reviewer for cases when assigned by program staff
  • Actively participate in case review discussion by sharing experiences and expertise to help create specific and actionable recommendations
  • Read communications pertaining to MMRC and respond to requests from program staff in a timely manner
  • Submit all required documentation (confidentiality form, CME, etc.)

View the Maternal Mortality Review Committee Application.

Current Members

Current Members of the MMRC
All CoChairs and Members serve at the discretion of the secretary.
Acting Secretary of Health and Physician General
Denise Johnson, MD, FACOG, FACHE, Acting Secretary of Health and Physician General, Pennsylvania Department of Health
The secretary or a designee authorized to act on behalf of the secretary
Carolyn G. Byrnes, MPH, CPH, Senior Advisor to the Acting Secretary of Health and Physician General, Pennsylvania Department of Health
CoChairs
Aasta D. Mehta, MD, MPP, FACOG, Medical Officer of Women's Health, Philadelphia Department of Public Health
Stacy Beck, MD, OB/GYN, Assistant Professor, Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital
Members
Alysia Davis, MPH, Director Maternal and Infant Health Initiatives, March of Dimes
Amy Whitsel, MD, FACOG, OB/GYN, Maternal Fetal Medicine Staff Physician, Allegheny Health Network
Antoine B. Douaihy, MD, Professor of Psychiatry and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Betty J. Braxter, PhD, CNM, TTS, RN, Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh
​Christina VandePol, MD, Chester County Overdose Prevention Task Force
Daniel Weber, MD, OB/GYN Medical Director, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
David F. Silver, MD, MBA, FACOG, Director, Women's Behavioral Health, UPMC Central Pennsylvania
Jason Baxter, MD, MSCP, FACOG, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Enterprise Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University
​Jennifer Cohn, MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania
Joanne Craig, MS, Chief Impact Officer, The Foundation for Delaware County
Joe Suyama, MD, Chief of Emergency Services, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital
Juli Pyle,CNM, OB/GYN Full Scope CNM, Evangelical Community Hospital
Julia Greenawalt, PhD, RNC-OB, CHSE, Associate Professor, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Kathleen Jenkins, MPH, Public Health Nutrition Consultant, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Women, Infants and Children
Madeleine Becker, MD, FACLP, FAIHM, Director, Graduate Medical Education, Associate Director, Marcus Institute of Integrative Health,Thomas Jefferson University
​Mae Reale, MA, Health Education Specialist, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Maria Montoro Edwards, PhD, President and CEO, Maternal and Family Health Services
Mario DeMarco, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Clinical, Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Mary Harrington, BSN, RNC-OB, C-ONQS, Senior Coordinator, Clinical Quality Improvement & Patient Safety, St. Luke's University Health Network
Nancy Niemczyk, CNM, PhD, FACNM, Assistant Professor, Nurse-Midwifery Program Director, University of Pittsburgh
Patricia J. Clemens, MSHI, BSN, RN, CPC, CHCQM, CPMA, LNC, Health Statistics Divison Chief, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Health Statistics & Registries
Patricia Parenti, M.Ed., Director, Farrell Pamily Center 
Patricia Yoder, MSN, RN, Maternal Child Health Supervisor, Chester County Health Department
Roy Hoffman, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Fatality Review Program, Philadelphia Department of Public Health
Shanna Klucar, MSW, Public Health Program Administrator, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health
Sindhu Srinivas, MD, MSCE, Maternal Fetal Medicine Professor, University of Pennsylvania
Val Chavis, BA, Service and Outreach Coordinator, The Center for Parents and Children
Valerie A. Arkoosh, MD, MPH, Chair, Montgomery County Board of Commissioners


Pennsylvania Perinatal Quality Collaborative

The Pennsylvania Perinatal Quality Collaborative (PA PQC) is a PA MMRC partner and primarily focuses reducing maternal mortality and improving the care of pregnant and postpartum women and newborns affected by opioids. The PA PQC works to improve the quality of care for mothers and babies across prenatal, labor/birth, newborn, and postpartum services. In its partnership with the PA MMRC, the PA PQC serves as a disseminator of the recommendations and strategies developed by the PA MMRC. The PA PQC is administered by the Jewish Healthcare Foundation and WHAMglobal.