SECTION CHAIR
Adriane Burgess PhD, RNC-OB, CCE, C-ONQS, CPHQ has been a registered nurse for over 25 years working in a variety of maternal child health clinical settings. She holds a variety of certifications in health care quality, education, and obstetrical care. Currently she works as the Director of Perinatal and Neonatal Quality and Patient Safety at the Maryland Patient Safety Center. Dr. Burgess is very active in the Association of Women’s Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) at the state and national level. She is passionate about moving forward and supporting initiatives aimed at improving the health and outcomes of birthing people and their babies.
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SECTION SECRETARY/TREASURER
Carol V. McIlhenny PhD, RN has over 37 years of nursing experience, mostly in perinatal nursing. She currently works as an assistant professor of nursing at a small college in South Central Pennsylvania sharing her love of perinatal nursing to the next generation of nurses! She is currently serving as the section secretary/treasurer.
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LEGISLATIVE COORDINATOR
Geraldine Maurer DNP, CRNP, FNP-C, RNC-OB, MPM has been an active member of AWHONN since the 1980’s beginning as a member of NAACOG and she held numerous positions at both chapter and state levels. She has been in nursing for 50 years and has been in obstetrics since 1976; presented and had posters at many AWHONN conferences and participated on the planning committee for many conferences. Gerri has worked with the state department on international projects affecting maternal-newborn health programs. is an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing directing and teaching OB clinical, and is also an FNP working in urgent care and for hospice. Her special interest now is making healthcare policy change through state and federal level legislative action.
NORTH WEST CHAPTER
Kim Bogart has been the chapter coordinator since 2015. Her career has spanned almost 30 years working in a variety of perinatal setting roles. Kim is passionate about improving the care of women, babies, and birthing families. She would love to share more about how AWHONN can partner with nurses locally to make a positive impact.
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NORTH WEST CHAPTER CO-CHAIR
Jennifer Young has been an AWHONN member since 2015 and has recently joined the Northwest PA chapter as co-chair in 2023. She has 17 years of nursing experience with a background in labor and delivery and perinatal safety and quality. Jennifer is dedicated to improving safety and outcomes for the maternal and newborn population. She would be happy to connect and discuss the value of joining the AWHONN community.
NORTH EAST CHAPTER
Elissa Concini MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, C-ONQS graduated from Bloomsburg University in 2010, where she immediately began her career in Women’s Health as an obstetric inpatient nurse. Since 2010, she has held several roles within Women’s health including staff development and perinatal education, all while continuing to work bedside. Currently, she focuses on obstetric and neonatal quality and safety and serves as a sexual assault nurse examine.
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SOUTH EAST CHAPTER
Jane Donovan PhD, RNC-MNN, is the chapter coordinator for the Southeastern PA chapter. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor at Drexel University and a mother- baby nurse. Her research interests include autism and childbearing and preparing nursing students to care for autistic women.
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SOUTH CENTRAL CHAPTER
Tonya Wert, MSN, RN, RNC-OB, C-EFM has been a nurse in the LDRP, community hospital setting since graduation with her BSN from Penn State University in 1996. She has experience as a clinical educator since completing her MSN in 2010. She has been a member of AWHONN since 2008 and a co-chair of the South-Central chapter since 2021. She is currently serving as a member of the national AWHONN Membership Committee and the PA Section conference planning committee. She is a Designated Instructor of AWHONN Intermediate and Advanced FHM course and holds certification in Inpatient Obstetrics and Electronic Fetal Monitoring. Tonya has served on the Penn State College of Nursing Alumni Society Board of Directors since 2021.
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SOUTH WEST CHAPTER
Dr. Karen Coyne DNP, RN, CSN has been a nurse for 38 years, specializing in pediatrics and obstetric education. She is an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh, where she also coordinates the school nurse program. Karen is a mother of 3 adult children and Nana to 3, well almost 4 littles. Her scholarly work “Nurses Caring for Pregnant Women with SUD: Exploring Emotional Intelligence and Attitudes” will be presented at the ICN Conference this July in Montreal!
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STUDENT INTERNS
Victoria Parker is a senior BSN student at the University of Pittsburgh from Beech Creek, Pa. She will be joining us as a student intern from May 2024-May 2025. Victoria would like to one day work in labor and delivery or neonatal nursing. Fun fact: Victoria is also a baton twirler with the Pitt Varsity Marching Band’s Golden Girls!
Lila Kritzer is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh from Boston, Massachusetts. She will be joining us as a student intern from May 2024-May 2025. Lila would like to become a labor and delivery or psychiatric registered nurse. Fun fact: Lila has been making birthday cakes for the past 10 years.
Maria Santana is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh from Syracuse, New York. She will be joining us as a student intern from May 2024-May 2025. Maria would like to one day become a pediatric registered nurse. Fun fact: Maria has been to the top of the Eifel Tower!