2018-19 Leadership Nominees Bios & Candidate Questions
This is the list of nominees for 2018-19 leadership positions with the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians. We asked each candidate to submit a bio along with an answer to the question, "How will your skills and experience, make the PAFP a stronger partner for all members?" Below, you will find the name of the nominee, followed directly by the position to which they are seeking nomination along with their submitted biography and question response.
TRACEY CONTI, MD - for President-Elect
Bio
Dr. Tracey Conti is an Assistant Professor and Vice Chair of Clinical Outreach in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She also serves as the Program Director of the UPMC McKeesport Family Medicine Residency. A native of Pittsburgh, Dr. Conti attended the Honors College at Prairie View A&M University (TX). After graduating from Temple University School of Medicine, she completed her family medicine residency at the University of Maryland where she served as chief resident. Dr. Conti is fellowship trained in women’s health and faculty development. At McKeesport Hospital, she serves as the eRecord Medical Director while also serving on the Medical Executive, Academic Leadership, and Credentialing committees. She is a physician volunteer and Board Chair of the 9th Street Free Clinic. Her clinical and advocacy interests include health disparities and healthcare delivery to underserved communities, medical education and women’s health. She is a champion for patient empowerment through education and the development of strong patient-physician partnerships in order to optimize individual, family and community healthcare.
How will your skills and experience, make the PAFP a stronger partner for all members?
I endeavor to make the PAFP a stronger partner for its members through my experience as a clinician, healthcare leader, educator and patient advocate. I provide direct patient care in a variety of settings enabling me to better understand the barriers that family physicians encounter while working to provide the highest levels of quality care. As a residency director and hospital leader I have learned to effectively speak the language of legislators and administrators in order to serve as a physician advocate and change-agent. I am excited to bring these skills and passion for service to this leadership role.
MARY STOCK KEISTER, MD - for President-Elect
Bio
Born and raised in Adams County, PA, Mary Stock Keister, MD graduated from Penn State University College of Medicine in Hershey before leaving the commonwealth for 7 years to serve in the U.S. Air Force. Since returning to Pennsylvania in 2008, she has worked for several hospital systems doing outpatient work before settling into an employed position with Lehigh Valley Health Network nearly 7 years ago. Her current work role of medical director at the LVPG-Family Health Center allows her to blend clinical work with vulnerable populations, education of residents and medical students and clinic. She and her spouse, Drew Keister, are the parents of 2 middle school-aged daughters.
She has been a PAFP member since medical school. She has served in many appointed and elected roles. She has also completed Pennsylvania Medical Society’s yearlong Leadership Academy and recently served on a Pennsylvania Insurance Department task force on primary care transparency, an effort to align quality measures across insurers represented in Pennsylvania.
How will your skills and experience, make the PAFP a stronger partner for all members?
The PAFP has been my primary medical organization for the last 10 years. In my service to the PAFP, I have focused on learning the variety of needs of Family Physicians throughout Pennsylvania and learning which connections both within the Academy and outside the Academy might best serve our member physicians. My love and commitment remains “boots on the ground” clinical work and advocating for Family Physicians, inclusive of all practice structures and patient populations. No matter what differing opinions I encounter, I always bring the bias of supporting Pennsylvania’s Family Physicians and the patients and communities they serve.
CHRIS LUPOLD, MD - for Treasurer
Bio
Chris Lupold, MD, was awarded his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College, then completed his residency in 2004 at Lancaster General. He practiced full spectrum family medicine for four years in a private practice in Charlottesville, Virginia before returning to Pennsylvania to work as an employed physician at Lancaster General Health Physicians. In October 2017 he opened a solo direct primary care office in Strasburg. He has served in many capacities with both the PAFP and AAFP, most recently as the current Treasurer of the PAFP. He has also previously served on the AAFP Commission on Education, Commission on Resident and Student Issues, Committee on Scientific Programs, as a new physician delegate to AAFP’s Congress of Delegates, and as the new physician member of the AAFP Board of Directors.
How will your skills and experience, make the PAFP a stronger partner for all members?
I bring 20+ years of involvement in organized medicine as a student, resident and active member. I have practiced the range from full spectrum family medicine to outpatient only. I have been an employee of a private practice, employed by a large medical group and now an owner of a solo direct primary care office. I have the ability to listen and be sure the voice of the minority is heard while respecting the will of the majority. I am frugal, like numbers and will make sure that your hard-earned dues dollars are used efficiently and wisely.
JAMES JOSEPH, MD - for Director At-Large
Bio
I grew up in central PA, attended Penn State undergrad, then Jefferson Medical College, received my family medicine training at Ft. Gordon, GA and moved to Ft. Sill, OK for a 3-year assignment with the Army. Since returning home to PA in 2003, I’ve been fortunate to hold numerous leadership positions including Chief of Staff at Bloomsburg Hospital which included a 4-year appointment to their Board of Directors (BOD), Medical Director of Hospice, Chair of Family Medicine at Geisinger-Bloomsburg Hospital, Elder at Elysburg Presbyterian Church, and member of PAFP board since 2012. During my time on PAFP BOD, I have served on various task forces and sub-committees perhaps most importantly chairing the task force which was responsible for restructuring the BOD. These opportunities have been challenging and rewarding, so I would appreciate the honor of continuing to serve as a director-at-large on the PAFP BOD. I hope to do so with energy, integrity and wisdom.
How will your skills and experience, make the PAFP a stronger partner for all members?
Through the PAFP, I have been and hope to continue to be intimately involved in serving my family physician colleagues and their patients. The PAFP does this primarily through education and advocacy. My experiences in leadership, education and as a member of the Government and Practice Advocacy Committee have allowed me to support this effort. As an Army physician, I learned the acronym for core values: LDRSHIP (loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, personal courage). I aspire to exemplify these values and to encourage the same from others.
JEFF ZLOTNICK, MD - for Director At-Large
Bio
Dr. Zlotnick received his MD from the UMDNJ - NJ Medical School, completed his Family Medicine Residency at Franklin Square Hospital, Baltimore, MD and earned his CAQ certification in Sports Medicine.
Dr Zlotnick started in solo practice in Vernon NJ, then academic Family Medicine at Warren Hospital, Phillipsburg NJ and Somerset Medical Center, Somerville NJ and part time faculty at Capital Health, Trenton NJ while also serving as the Medical Director at Patient First, Bethlehem PA. Currently he is Residency Director of Sports Medicine Education at Penn State Health / St Joseph’s Family Medicine Residency in Reading PA
Dr. Zlotnick has faculty appointments at Rutgers-NJ Medical School, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr Zlotnick is a nationally recognized lecturer speaking on various sports medicine topics at the AAFP Annual Assembly, the NCFMR/S and many state conferences.
Dr Zlotnick is most proud of his being the Clinical Director and developer of the MedFest program; a joint initiative between Special Olympics NJ and the NJ Academy of Family Physicians.
How will your skills and experience, make the PAFP a stronger partner for all members?
I present myself to the PAFP with a long history of service to Family Medicine and experience. While in NJ I was very active in the NJ Academy of Family Physicians where I served on multiple committees including Government Affairs and Education. I also served on the Board of Directors for many years and held many offices including President of NJAFP and Chairman of the board.
I also have many years’ experience with private/solo practice, group practice, employed physician, and academic medicine. This gives me the ability to speak for all physicians.
TIFFANY LEONARD, MD - for Foundation President
Bio
Hailing from Wyoming, I completed my bachelor’s in molecular biology at the University of Wyoming before moving to Pennsylvania to attend Penn State College of Medicine. During my second year there, I joined the PAFP’s Resident and Student Affairs committee, serving as student vice-chair, and I haven’t left (yet). I went on to serve as student chair, resident delegate, resident vice-chair for 2 terms, and finally chair of Resident and Student Affairs Committee, a position I have held since 2011. During that time, I have encouraged many residents and students to get involved and expand their leadership skills, redesigned PAFP’s annual research day, and worked to find new non-traditional avenues for resident and student involvement.
I am currently faculty with Aria Family Medicine Residency program in Philadelphia, working in a hospital owned solo-practice in Northeastern Philadelphia. In my spare time I volunteer as a ski patroller at Plattekill Mountain in upstate New York, meaning I volunteer my free time to providing first aid to injured skiers and teaching first aid to fellow patrollers.
How will your skills and experience, make the PAFP a stronger partner for all members?
One of my greatest skills is that I see what could be, instead of focusing on what is. Within the PAFP I have worked on several projects from the board reorganization, to research day redesign, to helping overhaul the structure of the resident and student assemblies, among others. Outside the PAFP I have helped overhaul my ski patrol’s education and fundraising events. I hope to utilize this skill to further define the Foundation’s scope and enhance its ability to serve our members and patients.
MADALYN SCHAEFGEN, MD - for AAFP Delegate
Bio
I have been involved in medicine for years, advocating for family medicine since 1997 through the Lehigh County Medical Society and the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP). I am your present delegate to the AAFP and a past President of the PAFP. I have been on multiple committees and commissions of the AAFP, PAFP and my hospital. I have had multiple roles in medicine: in private practice and as an employed physician, part-time and full-time, in college health and in a practice with a pediatrician, and as a teacher of residents and medical students. I believe I have an understanding of the complexities of the issues facing family physicians today, along with some wisdom relating to the past. I have a vested interest in the future of Family Medicine as 2 of my 3 children will be affected directly as physicians by the decisions we make today. I would like to continue to represent PAFP on the national level as a delegate from Pennsylvania to the AAFP Annual Congress of Delegates.
How will your skills and experience, make the PAFP a stronger partner for all members?
I have been your delegate to the AAFP Congress of Delegates (COD) for the past 2 years, and your alternate delegate for the prior 4 years. During that timeframe I have gained greater insight into the workings of the COD. I have developed relationships with other AAFP physician delegates, benefitting the upcoming election campaign of Dennis Gingrich for AAFP Board of Director. I have spoken in reference committees and on the floor of the House to promote ideas and resolutions that are of concern to Pennsylvania Family Physicians. In particular, last year I spoke out regarding Pennsylvania’s resolution on physician burn-out.
KEVIN WONG, MD - for AAFP Alternate Delegate
Bio
Kevin Michael Wong born and raised in Boston area, attended Boston U six year med program, moved to Pittsburgh for residency, got married and started private practice in 1982.
After ~15 years of owning a small FP group, we became part of a local super group for ~5 years, then acquired by one hospital system for 5 years, ended moving offices after being in own office for 32 years and joining the other big system 4 years ago—VERY tumultuous move due to the competitive nature and limited network in Western PA, lost ~50% of our old patients due to the network restrictions which was very disruptive in our small township ~15,000 residents in the township, suburban-> rural area ~18 miles east of Pittsburgh.
I have always maintained my FP boards for patient care but for other duties I have been certified in Homecare in the 90s, Boarded in Medical Quality, Certified Medical director for my other activities as school district physician, hospital quality assurance, and Homecare, Hospice and SNF Medical Director
I was involved with Senator Toomey when he crafted CARA and gave senate testimony during the hearings in Pittsburgh. I am still very involved on the AAFP Governmental Affairs Commission.
I would like to see us help support physicians as they deal with the other pressures to be employed and HOW to deal with all the consolidations that will affect us. I’m sure like PA, there are big systems chewing up all the smaller hospitals. Besides supporting docs in solo and small practices, we need to remind employed physicians they need the PAFP and AAFP to support them when they are told hers a contract take it or leave it!
Used to play tennis, hockey and chess. Now just sit and watch my train collection collect dust in boxes.
How will your skills and experience, make the PAFP a stronger partner for all members?
I would like to continue to represent the PAFP at the AAFP COD. I have been involved with the PAFP since residency in 1981- attending local meetings w Dr Jan deVries. Once I started practice was the Westmoreland County president for many years. Taking a slow route due to the demands of private group practice finally ascended through the PAFP leadership ranks.
I feel I have the background knowledge to represent our diverse practice spectrum in PA. Being in private practice for many years, then eventually employed by the 2 big systems in PGH, but all the while teaching students and residents- keeping a pulse on their take of where the PAFP should be going to support them in the future.
I am currently involved at the state and federal level with the opioid issue, being one of the practicing members of the AAFP opioid Advisory Council.
I thank the members for the chance to represent them again and would be happy to entertain any questions.
