The Guthrie Clinic and Penn College Host Successful Northern Tier Regional Rural Health Summit
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Health care leaders, policymakers, and community partners gathered at the Pennsylvania College of Technology on Wednesday, November 12, for the Northern Tier Regional Rural Health Summit, co-hosted by The Guthrie Clinic and Pennsylvania College of Technology.
The day-long event brought together local, state and regional leaders from across Bradford, Clinton, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming counties to discuss key challenges and opportunities shaping rural health care delivery in Pennsylvania. Sessions focused on access to care and delivery models, maternal health, workforce development and pipeline strategies—issues critical to ensuring quality care for rural communities in the Northern Tier and beyond.
Speakers included:
- Dr. Debra L. Bogen, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health
- Dr. Val Arkoosh, Pennsylvania Secretary of Human Services
- Nicole Stallings, President & CEO, The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
- Dr. Edmund Sabanegh, President & CEO, The Guthrie Clinic
- Dr. Michael Reed, President, Pennsylvania College of Technology
“We were privileged to host this significant summit in partnership with Penn College,” said Dr. Edmund Sabanegh, President and CEO of The Guthrie Clinic. “It was inspiring to witness so many leaders from a wide range of fields come together with a shared commitment: Strengthen healthcare in our rural communities. We are grateful to all speakers and participants for their insights and engagement, which will help advance collaboration, innovation, and access to care. At Guthrie, we remain dedicated to ensuring that high-quality healthcare is available to every patient we serve, regardless of location.”
“Penn College is proud to collaborate with Guthrie and fellow participants in this important Health Summit, said Dr. Michael Reed, President of the Pennsylvania College of Technology. “We welcome the opportunity to contribute to meaningful conversations that drive progress in rural healthcare. Our robust nursing and health sciences programs, combined with our hands-on, industry-focused approach, uniquely position us to support the healthcare sector in addressing workforce challenges and advancing solutions that meet industry needs.”
“During my time as Secretary of Health, I have visited more than a dozen rural hospitals throughout the Commonwealth to gain a better understanding of the challenges facing these facilities,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “The Shapiro Administration is working collaboratively with health care providers, community-based organizations, local government, and the business community to find solutions to the issues facing rural hospitals. One of the solutions we are focused on is providing workforce and recruitment incentives, such as the Department of Health Primary Loan Repayment Program, to encourage physicians, behavioral health specialists, and dental providers to serve in our rural communities. Governor Shapiro’s 2025-2026 budget seeks to significantly increase funding for this program, helping even more health care providers in rural Pennsylvania. Rural communities and the hospitals and health care providers that serve them need our support, which is why we continue to participate in regional rural health summits.”
“Pennsylvania’s rural communities face unique challenges when it comes to public health and access to health care. A strong, accessible, affordable health care system is the foundation of any healthy community, and health care is essential to the economic growth, population revitalization, and stabilization of our rural communities,” said Human Services Secretary Arkoosh. “Now more than ever, we must come together and build partnerships and solutions. The Shapiro Administration is committed to working alongside partners Guthrie to protect access to health care for rural Pennsylvanians, and we look forward to the continued work and collaboration that will come from today’s summit.”
“We can’t have healthy, vibrant, and economically competitive communities without strong hospitals. Yet across rural Pennsylvania, hospitals face significant challenges maintaining services that communities need to thrive,” HAP President and CEO Nicole Stallings said. “Thank you to The Guthrie Clinic and Penn College for convening this important conversation about growing our health care workforce and supporting access to health care in our rural communities.”
The summit also featured interactive workgroup sessions and tours of the Guthrie Maternity Oasis Mobile Unit, Penn College’s Physician Assistant Center, and the Women’s Health Lab. The conversations and insights shared will help inform future collaboration and strategic planning among health leaders serving rural Pennsylvania.
The Guthrie Clinic is a non-profit multispecialty health system integrating clinical and hospital care along with research and education. Headquartered in Sayre, Pennsylvania, The Guthrie Clinic stands as one of the nation’s longest established group practices, founded in 1910 by the visionary Dr. Donald Guthrie. The organization’s patient-centered approach revolves around a clinically integrated network of employed providers. Among The Guthrie Clinic’s more than 10,000 caregivers are close to 1,000 highly skilled physicians and advanced practice providers representing the spectrum of medical specialties and sub-specialties. Situated across nearly 11,000 square miles in northeastern Pennsylvania and upstate New York, The Guthrie Clinic’s comprehensive six hospital campuses also encompass an expansive network of outpatient facilities across 14 counties. Post-acute care includes acute rehabilitation, skilled nursing, personal care home, home care and hospice services, completing the continuum of care. With a commitment to shaping the future of health care, the organization offers 11 residencies and five fellowships, serving as a training ground for the next generation of leaders in the field.