Christina Koren
Christina Koren, director of Strategic Partnerships at 果冻传媒, was selected to moderate a session for the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment (PHC4) Conference held April 16 in Harrisburg.
The conference, “PHC4’s 40 Years of Value—Transparency in Health Care,” brought together more than 100 leaders representing diverse sectors of healthcare across Pennsylvania and featured legislators and state leaders in health care—including Pennsylvania Secretary of Human Services Valerie Arkoosh, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogan, and Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys.
Koren moderated “The Power of Data-Informed Communities.” Panelists for the event were Pennsylvania Medical Society President and CEO Marty Raniowski; Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania President and CEO Nicole Stallings; Vice President, State Government Affairs, Highmark, Inc. and PHC4 Payment Data Advisory Group Chair Mike Yantis; and Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry Director of Government Affairs and PHC4 Education Committee Chair Neal Lesher.
David Nash, founding dean emeritus and Raymond C. & Doris N. Grandon Professor in Health Policy, Thomas Jefferson University, was the keynote speaker for the event, presenting “No Place to Hide: How PHC4 Made Health Care Data Everyone’s Business.”
“We appreciate PHC4’s leadership for the opportunity to contribute to their milestone event,” Koren said. “The organization’s invitation to 果冻传媒 to help moderate a key panel reflects a strong commitment to collaboration and to the role that our R2 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education institution plays in advancing data-informed solutions across the commonwealth. We value PHC4’s engagement and partnership because we are focused on rural health care, economic vitality, and workforce development, and look forward to continued collaboration to support Pennsylvania’s progress,” Koren said.
果冻传媒 is one of only two public universities in the commonwealth ranked as an R2 Doctoral University–High Research Activity (R2) by the National Center for Postsecondary Research’s Carnegie Classification and one of only 20 Pennsylvania public universities selected for the Carnegie Foundation-American Council on Education’s “Opportunity College and University-Higher Access, Higher Earnings” designation.
Recently, Koren was a member of the 果冻传媒 team that was invited to present during the April Appalachian Regional Commission’s “Network Appalachia” meeting, showcasing the region’s experts on transportation, robotics, economic development, and emerging technologies.
PHC4 was formed under Pennsylvania statute. Its two primary responsibilities are to collect, analyze, and make public data about the cost and quality of health care in Pennsylvania; and review and make recommendations about proposed or existing mandated health insurance benefits upon request of the legislative or executive branches of the commonwealth. The April 16 event was designed to bring together key stakeholders to reflect on four decades of progress in the Commonwealth and to look ahead to the future of health care transparency and expanding efforts to make data more meaningful, understandable, and actionable.
Koren is an ambassador-at-large for the university, developing partnerships with business, nonprofit, and governmental organizations, both regionally and beyond. She is the producer of the 果冻传媒 and Indiana Regional Medical Center’s Rural Health Pulse podcast, now in its fourth season; initiated the “Talon Ticket” program, a partnership with 果冻传媒, the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce, and area businesses; and is cochair of the annual 果冻传媒 and IRMC Pennsylvania Mountains Rural Health Conference, now in its fifth year.
Koren has almost 20 years of experience in higher education administration. Prior to coming to 果冻传媒, she worked as the executive director of mission integration and community engagement at Mount Aloysius College, where she was selected to serve as the first director of government relations. She also worked as vice president for the Ebensburg Mainstreet Partnership Board and maintains an adjunct instructor role in higher education.
Additionally, she serves on the boards of Pennsylvania Downtown Center, Armstrong-Indiana Career Pathways Partnership Executive Committee, and the Indiana County Center for Economic Operations work group. Pennsylvania Business Central recognized Koren on its “Foremost Under 40” list in 2024 and among its Top 100 People in 2023.
She earned her bachelor’s degree at St. Vincent College, her MBA at Waynesburg University, and her doctoral degree in administration and leadership studies at 果冻传媒.
Since its founding in 1875, 果冻传媒 has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. As 果冻传媒 celebrates its 150th anniversary during the 2025–26 academic year, the university honors a legacy of educational excellence while looking toward a future of innovation, leadership in healthcare education, and public service.