HAZLETON, Pa. — Students interested in learning more about health policy internships and careers can hear from various industry professionals at a panel discussion hosted by the Penn State Health Policy and Administration Consortium from 6-7 p.m. 15 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1. 15, through Zoom. It is free and open to students at Penn State campuses. Students must register by noon on November 15 by visiting this link.
The discussion, titled “Shaping Health Policy in the United States: Hear how Penn State graduates are influencing health policy and how you can do the same,” features a panel of state alumni from Penn with diverse backgrounds and a wealth of experience in health policy that provide insight into their careers, with a focus on policymaking at the federal level. Each will share their own unique experience while offering encouragement and guidance to students who may be considering health policy and administration.
The discussion will be moderated by Bill Finerfrock, who served as president of the bipartisan government relations firm Capitol Associates in Alexandria, Va., until his recent retirement. Finerfrock specializes in health care financing, health system reform, health workforce and rural health. He graduated from Penn State in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
It is organized by the Penn State Health Policy and Administration (HPA) Consortium, a group of health policy and administration programs from Penn State Abington, Penn State Beaver, Penn State Harrisburg, Penn State Hazleton, Penn State Lehigh Valley , Penn State Mont Alto , Penn State Schuylkill and Penn State Shenango. The consortium shares a unique HPA schedule, multiple faculty members, and works closely with the College of Health and Human Development’s HPA program at the University Park campus.
Panelists include:
Brett Baker, Partner at Nickels Group
Baker began her health policy journey with the American College of Physicians, then spent more than a decade on Capitol Hill negotiating some of the most important health insurance bills that passed. by Congress at that time. He played a key role in shaping the debate over prescription pricing policy and the COVID-19 relief laws enacted in the first year of the pandemic.
Baker has worked for both the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, two of Congress’ most important health policy committees. He is currently a Nickels Group Associate in Washington, D.C.
He graduated from Penn State in 2002 with a degree in health policy and administration.
Sarah Hohman, Senior Associate at Capitol Associates
Since 2021, Hohman has worked for Capitol Associates, a bipartisan government relations firm specializing in health policy located in Alexandria, Virginia. She works primarily on rural health issues in her role as Director of Government Affairs for the National Association of Rural Health Clinics, where she manages regulatory and legislative priorities for more than 5,200 clinics across the United States.
She graduated from Penn State in 2021 with a degree in health policy and administration.
Teresa Kalowsky, Medical Affairs Analyst at VaxCare
VaxCare, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, is a technology company with a mission to improve immunization processes and finances in ambulatory care and public health across multiple US states. It has one of the largest vaccination networks in the United States
She graduated from Penn State in 2019 with a degree in health policy and administration.
Sarah Stoner Zook, Founder of Mason Street Consulting
As founder of Mason Street Consulting, Zook has nearly two decades of experience developing and advancing health policy initiatives on Capitol Hill.
She began her career on Capitol Hill working for a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Prior to founding Mason Street Consulting in Alexandria, Va., she held several senior positions in the federal government, including health care policy advisor to Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID).
She has represented hospitals, large multinational healthcare systems, health insurers, major healthcare professional associations and small innovative healthcare start-ups.
Zook was named 2020 Top Lobbyist by The Hill and is a board member of the Women’s Congressional Staff Association and the Center for Healthcare Values.
She graduated from Penn State in 2002 with a degree in voice communication.
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