Newborn Screening Advisory Boards
Newborn Screening and Follow-up Technical Advisory Board
The Newborn Screening and Follow-up Technical Advisory Board (NSFTAB) is a multi-disciplinary committee with members appointed by the Secretary of Health. The members include both medical and laboratory experts in newborn screening and treatment, as well as, representatives of parent organizations and other groups having knowledge and interest in newborn screening.
NSFTAB provides recommendations, guidance and support to the Department of Health staff that have the responsibility for the planning, evaluation, modification and management of the statewide Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Program. Responsibilities of the board members are outlined in the NSFTAB Bylaws.
Meeting Information
Current Members
Laurie Varlotta, M.D., Chairperson
Pediatric Pulmonologist
Director, Cystic Fibrosis Care Center
Director, Pediatric Pulmonology Fellowship Program
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Drexel University College of Medicine
Philadelphia, PA
Patricia L. Gordon, M.D., Vice-Chairperson
Clinical Geneticist
Chief, Division of Human Genetics
Penn State Health Children's Hospital
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Hershey, PA
Vivekanand Allada, M.D.
Pediatric Cardiologist
Medical Director – Outpatient Community Cardiology & Associate Chief – Cardiology
Director of Strategic Operations, Cardiac Center
Senior Medical Director – Cardiac Center
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Judith Faust, DNP, MBA, RN
HAP: The Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania Representative
Women and Children's Services, Administrator
Albert Einstein Healthcare Network
Philadelphia, PA
Patricia Lee, MN
Nurse Midwife
Director, Nurse Midwifery Care, PC
President, CEO
Reinholds, PA
Andrea H. Seeley, M.D.
Clinical Geneticist
Janet Weis Children's Hospital
Geisinger Medical Center
Danville, PA
Catherine (Cate) Walsh Vockley, MS, LCGC
Human Genetics and Pediatrics
Genetic Counselor III, Division of Genetic and Genomic Medicine
Coordinator, Plain Community Outreach Program
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Gerard (Jerry) Vockley, M.D., Ph.D.
Pediatric Geneticist, Clinical Genetic Biochemical/Molecular
Chief of Genetic and Genomic Medicine
Director of the Center for Rare Disease Therapy
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
Cleveland Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Research
Professor of Human Genetics
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Jennifer Walter, M.D., Ph.D.
Pediatrician and Ethicist
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Ethics
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, PA
Frederico Xavier, M.D., MS
Hematologist
Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
Assistant Professor of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Ashley Bricker
Parent Advocate, Digital Accessibility Coordinator
The Ohio State University
Harrisburg, PA
Ashutosh Kumar, MD, FAAP
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology, Director of Pediatric Neuromuscular Program
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, PA
Kaitlyn Bloom, Ph.D., FACMG
Patient Advocate, Research Scientist
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Rebecca G. Burke, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Division of Medical Genetics
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, PA
Infant Hearing Screening Advisory Committee
The Infant Hearing Screening Advisory Committee (IHSAC) is a multi-disciplinary committee with members appointed by the Secretary of Health. The members include medical experts, deaf educators, and parent/family advocates. The IHSAC advises and makes recommendations to the Department of Health (Department) regarding infant hearing education, assessment, reporting and referral, on issues including but not limited to, program regulation and administration, diagnostic testing, technical support and follow-up. The IHSAC assists the Department with its responsibility to implement and administer the statewide Infant Hearing Education, Assessment, Reporting and Referral (“IHEARR”) Act.
Carol A. Knightly, Au.D., CCC-A, Chairperson
Audiologist
Director, Clinical Operations for Childhood Communication
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
Dennis J. Kitsko DO, FACS, FAOCO
Otolaryngologist
Associate Professor of Otolaryngology
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Pittsburgh, PA
Eileen Rall, Au.D.
Audiologist
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Department of Audiology
Margaret A. Santoro
Educator
Director, Early Education
Pennsylvania School for the Deaf
Philadelphia, PA
Sarah Delano, M.Ed., CCC-A
Audiologist
Audiology Coordinator
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pittsburg, PA
Erin Ellison
Parent Advocate
Mechanicsburg, PA