Utility workers continue efforts to restore power from the severe storm that swept through our region Tuesday evening. Please visit my Facebook page here for periodic updates on progress.

It was wonderful to join civic-minded neighbors in Franklin Park last week for the litter cleanup day organized by the Franklin Park Environmental Advisory Council (EAC). Thank you to the EAC, the Franklin Park Police, and everyone who turned out to clean up our community.

At the Northland Public Library Garden Gala, I joined my colleagues Reps. Emily Kinkead and Jeremy Shaffer (in partnership with Sens. Lindsey Williams and Devlin Robinson) to present a check for $650,000 in state grant funds for the library’s nearly complete renovation. Veena and I had a wonderful time at the event!  

As a physician-legislator, I have seen the extent to which public policy influences the practice and quality of health care, and I believe it is critical for more medical professionals to become engaged in community health issues and advocacy. It was wonderful to meet with Pitt School of Medicine students last week (below) for an Allegheny County Medical Society program on how medical professionals can advance the health and well-being of patients and the community. 

I also joined my colleagues in the Allegheny County House Democratic Delegation to tour the laboratories and meet the leadership of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Medicine. As a physician and former clinical researcher, I understand how important biomedical research is to our region’s health and prosperity, and I appreciate the scientists and physicians at Pitt who work to advance those causes every day.

Beyond our immediate community, I recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to join fellow members of the Pennsylvania College of Emergency Physicians to advocate for more affordable and accessible emergency health care.