Dr. April Armstrong is the C. McCollister Evarts Professor and endowed chair of the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, as well as vice president of orthopaedic services for Penn State Health Medical Group. Her research efforts are focused on the glenoid component in total shoulder replacement. She ranks nationally as a top physician in her subspecialty, is listed among the Best Doctors in America and has been the recipient of several awards, including the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, a Distinguished Educator Award from Penn State College of Medicine and the Michael B. Bongiovanni Award.

Previously, she has served as vice chair of clinical affairs and quality for the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, and associate chief medical officer for outpatient surgical care within Penn State Health Medical Group. Armstrong’s leadership experience in medical education includes associate designated institutional officer and director of health systems science for Graduate Medical Education (GME) in the GME Office and national course director of the Orthopaedic Educators Course for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. She is in the seventh year of a 10-year term as a director of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and currently serves as board president. A nationally recognized scholar, Armstrong is associate editor of the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. She also holds national leadership positions in the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons society and the American Orthopaedic Association for which she currently serves as treasurer.

Armstrong earned her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, where she also completed her residency in orthopaedic surgery and later earned a master’s degree in medical biophysics. She is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery and a fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada and the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. She completed fellowships in upper extremity orthopaedic surgery at St. Joseph’s Health Care London in Ontario, Canada, and in shoulder and elbow orthopaedic surgery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis.

Rob Bowman is the president of Charter Homes & Neighborhoods, the leading privately held homebuilder in Pennsylvania.

Since starting the company in 1990, Bowman has guided it in creating The Great American Neighborhood, a new way to design, develop and build places. As a result, these Great American Neighborhoods have earned the Best Neighborhood in the Nation Award by the National Association of Homebuilders, Community of the Year by Professional Builder, and three Best Neighborhood in Pennsylvania Commonwealth Awards by 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania.

In addition, the company has earned the Gold National Housing Quality Award, the top award for homebuilding in the nation, for its business results and operational excellence; Pennsylvania’s Best Places to Work; and the National 100 Best Builders to Work for Award.

Bowman has served in a variety of community service roles, including as a director on the boards of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Lancaster Country Day School, the James Street Improvement District, the Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership and the United Way, and served in several roles at First Presbyterian Church.

He is a member of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization, where he served as chairman, membership officer and education officer. He was also awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Bowman graduated from Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., attended the Colorado School of Mines and completed The President’s Program in Leadership at the Harvard Business School.

Dennis Brenckle is chair of the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Board of Directors and a retired board member of Highmark Health.

Brenckle enjoyed a 40-year career with PNC Bank, where he rose through the ranks from a management trainee hired in 1970 to his retirement in 2011 as president of the bank's Central PA region, a role he held for 14 years.

Brenckle is well known for his community leadership. At Penn State Health, he chaired the highly successful "For The Future" philanthropic campaign that raised nearly $307 million to support the health system's patient care, education, research and community outreach missions and chaired the Four Diamonds and Cancer Institute advisory boards.

He was a founding board member of the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in Harrisburg, as well as founding member and chair for 15 years of the PA Partnership for Culture, Health and Education, also known as Très Bonne Année, which has raised more than $6 million for the Whitaker Center.

He served on the boards and executive committees of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, Harrisburg Regional Chamber and Capital Regional Economic Development Corporation and Emeritus board member of the YMCA.

Brenckle is a Vietnam Veteran, a graduate of Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University and a distinguished graduate of Duquesne University and was named an honorary Alumni of Penn State University in 2021.

Bony Dawood is president of Dawood Engineering Inc., a minority-owned business enterprise firm and conglomerate of companies based in Harrisburg, Pa. The firm provides surveying and mapping, structural design, geotechnical engineering, environmental permitting and remediation, geographic information systems, and construction management. It serves a wide range of industries nationwide, including land development, real estate, transportation, utilities and energy.  

Since Dawood founded the company in 1992, it has developed into a multi-discipline design firm with offices in multiple states. As president, he is responsible for the company’s strategic direction and creating a culture of continual improvement for employees. 

An active community participant, Dawood serves as vice chair of the Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council’s board of directors. He also is a member of the American Islamic Cultural Center’s board of trustees and a senior advisory council member of the Asian Indian Americans of Central Pennsylvania, which he served as president for two terms.

Dawood earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Delaware.

Jeanne Arnold is a nurse who retired as senior vice president of patient care services at Good Samaritan Hospital, Lebanon. She held various administrative positions in health care, including assistant director of nursing at St. Joseph Hospital, Lancaster; director of nursing and chief operating officer at Ephrata Community Hospital; and chief operating officer at Community General Hospital, Reading.

She and her husband, Ed, are well known for their philanthropy and have been strong supporters of Penn State Health, including nursing, dermatology, cancer genetics research, Children’s Miracle Network at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, Four Diamonds and the Children’s Hospital Building Campaign.

In 2007, they helped to establish the palliative care Hummingbird Program, which provides comprehensive support for children with complex, life-limiting medical conditions and their families. They were Penn State Philanthropists of the Year in 2009 and later recognized as honorary alumni.

Arnold has been a member of the Lebanon Valley College Board of Trustees since 2013, serves as vice chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee, is a member of the Marketing and Enrollment Committee and received the Lebanon Valley College Founders Day Award. She received the Silver Buffalo Award, an honor awarded to more than a dozen U.S. presidents; was the first woman named to the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America; and was named Citizen of the Year by the Lebanon Daily News.

Arnold has served or serves in leadership positions on numerous charitable and educational boards, including Lebanon Family Health Services, The Alliance Project, Cornwall Manor, Penn State Health Children's Hospital, United Way of Lebanon County, Lebanon Community Library, WITF and Lebanon Community Health Council.

Arnold is a graduate of the Rhode Island Hospital School of Nursing. She earned a bachelor's degree from St. Joseph's College in Maine where she was also a master's candidate in health services administration. She holds honorary doctorates from Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, St. Joseph’s College and Lebanon Valley College.

Dr. Tony Farah is the executive vice president, chief medical and clinical transformation officer of Highmark Health, a $21 billion national, blended health organization that includes one of America's largest Blue Cross Blue Shield insurers and a growing regional and physician network. Based in Pittsburgh, Highmark Health's 37,000 employees serve millions of customers nationwide through the nonprofit organization's affiliated businesses, including Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network, HM Insurance Group, United Concordia Dental, HM Health Solutions and Helion.

Farah is Highmark Health's senior-most medical officer responsible for the continued transformation of clinical care within the organization to achieve the best value for patients and members in overall experience, access, quality, safety and affordability. Appointed to this newly created position in 2017, he leads the fundamental redesign of care delivery in every setting, advancing innovative new models that optimize health as well as health care delivery.

A nationally recognized and highly respected physician-leader who is passionate about putting patients first, he played a key role in the formation of Highmark Health's provider company Allegheny Health Network (AHN). The 12-hospital integrated health care system is anchored by a quaternary academic medical center that serves the greater western Pennsylvania region and includes more than 2,500 employed and affiliated physicians.

His roles within AHN have included chief medical officer and president of AHN's employed physician organization Allegheny Clinic, chief medical officer of Allegheny General Hospital, and medical director of Allegheny General Hospital's cardiac catheterization laboratories. Farah also has played a prominent role in many innovations that have improved the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease.

Farah's profound commitment to expanding and improving access to advanced heart care in western Pennsylvania has included both cardiac program development and oversight of cardiac catheterization laboratories at numerous community hospitals. He has been the principal investigator or co-investigator of well over 100 clinical trials, and his work has been featured in many peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Farah previously served as a trustee of one of the medical field’s most prestigious scientific organizations, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. He has been recognized since 1998 as one of the nation's "Best Doctors in America" in the field of cardiology by Pittsburgh Magazine. He has also been recognized with the Healthcare Hero Award in the healthcare executive category by the Pittsburgh Business Times. In 2016, he was selected as one of the nation’s top 100 CMOs to Know by Becker’s Hospital Review, and in 2019, he was named by Modern Healthcare magazine as one of the nation’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry and his MD from the American University of Beirut, after which he served his internship, residency and fellowship at Allegheny General Hospital.

Brian Hudson Sr. retired as executive director and chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), the commonwealth’s leading provider of capital for affordable homes and apartments and one of the largest housing agencies in the U.S.

Hudson assumed leadership of the PHFA in 2003 after serving as its deputy executive director and chief financial officer. His major responsibilities involved developing and implementing program initiatives, as well as providing guidance to its board.

He chairs the Erie Indemnity Company audit committee and Commonwealth Cornerstone Group. He is also past president of the National Council of State Housing Agencies, former chair of the FHLBank Pittsburgh audit committee and a former member of the Federal Reserve Board Consumer Advisory Council.

After earning a bachelor's degree in business administration from Penn State, Hudson became a certified public accountant and a certified treasury professional.

Karen Kim, MD, MS, was named dean at the Penn State College of Medicine in 2023. As the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Rural Health Research, Kim leads the College of Medicine’s education, research and clinical missions, culture of innovation, and will focus on enhancing team-based interdisciplinary collaboration across the College of Medicine, Penn State Health, the University at large and across commonwealth campuses. As Physician in Chief, Kim plays a critical role in shaping the academic health system.

In addition to dean, Kim is a nationally recognized leader in health disparities research, curricular innovation and public policy. Her research focuses on the rigorous development and evaluation of multi-level strategies to advance cancer health equity among marginalized and vulnerable populations. As founder and director of the Center for Asian Health Equity-a community-academic partnership, Kim is a national leader on public policies for the inclusion of Asian-Americans and underserved populations in research.

Prior to joining Penn State, Kim served as the Vice Provost for Research and Senior Research Officer at the University of Chicago, the Sara and Harold Lincoln Thompson Chair and Professor of Medicine, and Associate Director of the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center. During her tenure as Vice Provost for Research, Dr. Kim collaborated with divisions, schools, centers and institutes across the University and national laboratories to establish strategic research priorities, significantly increase interdisciplinary research and funding success and to enhance broader impact through inclusive innovation.

With extensive expertise in community-based participatory research (CBPR), dissemination and implementation science, intervention and minority health research, Kim is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot Initiative, and the Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Minority Health and the National Institutes of Health. Kim leads the State of Illinois’ colorectal cancer control program across urban and rural regions and has focused on developing innovative technology-based solutions to address gaps in health care services among federally qualified community and rural health centers.

In addition to her research, Kim is deeply committed to civic engagement and has dedicated significant time to advancing health through service to numerous nonprofit organizations and national boards. Kim has been nationally recognized for her advocacy and policy work and received the International Women’s Leadership Award, the Chicago Foundation for Women Impact Award and the Cancer Prevention Laurel for Increasing Health Equity.

She is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association and the American Medical Association, American Association for Cancer Research and the American Public Health Association.

She is the College’s first female dean and the only current Korean American woman to hold such a title nationally.

Tom Lenkevich retired as president of Giant Foods, where he oversaw the sales and operations of 197 GIANT/MARTIN’S stores and more than 30,000 associates in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

Lenkevich joined GIANT Foods in 2014 with vast retail experience, including chief operating officer and senior vice president of retail operations for Save-A-Lot Food Stores. There, he was responsible for retail operations, merchandising, marketing and procurement for this international chain of corporate and licensed stores. He has held a number of leadership positions of progressive responsibility with other large retailers, including market director for Meijer Inc., and president of operations and vice president of merchandising and sales for Farmer Jack, as well as several other national retail businesses.

Lenkevich began his retail career working his way through college as a clerk at Pantry Pride in central Pennsylvania, and later held the position of store manager, as well as other progressively higher positions.

Lenkevich has served on many industry boards of directors, including the International Mass Retail Association and Mid-Atlantic Food Dealers Association, both as an executive board member, and was a member of the executive board of Ahold Delhaize USA. He has also been involved in many local, civic and volunteer organizations in the community.

Lenkevich has a bachelor’s degree from Penn State, as well as continuing education credits at Harvard Business School.

As president of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, McKenna focuses on operational and financial management; building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders; optimizing patient experience; promoting a culture of safety; and working with teams to navigate the evolving health care environment. He also works closely with Penn State College of Medicine leadership to support opportunities for expansion of the college’s educational and research initiatives across Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the broader Penn State Health system. 

McKenna joined Penn State Health in 2020 when he became president of the then-under-construction Hampden Medical Center, a 300,000-square-foot, acute care hospital in Cumberland County. He oversaw the opening of the hospital in October 2021, and it grew steadily under his leadership. 

He also presided over the integration of Holy Spirit Medical Center into Penn State Health following its acquisition from Geisinger in 2020 and served as president of both facilities. He created a regional leadership strategy to jointly guide operations of Hampden and Holy Spirit medical centers.

Prior to joining Penn State Health, McKenna was the president and chief executive officer of Jupiter Health in Florida, where he created a comprehensive stroke center with neurosurgical and interventional services and developed an open-heart surgery program that included dedicated operative suites. 

Before leading Jupiter Health, McKenna served for 10 years as the president and chief executive officer of St. Mary’s Health Care System in Athens, Georgia, where he acquired two additional hospitals to expand the health system’s presence throughout northeast Georgia. McKenna received his master’s in public administration and a bachelor of science in business administration and marketing from Long Island University in Brookville, New York.

Kathy Pape is an attorney at Saxton & Stump, where she helps government entities find ways to partner with business to address community issues, while also helping businesses understand and effectively navigate the complexities of government regulation. She co-chairs the Environmental, Workplace Safety and Utilities Group and is a member of the Regulatory and Government Affairs and Business and Corporate groups.

Before entering private practice, Pape was head of American Water’s Mid-Atlantic Division, which includes Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland, and president of American Water’s largest subsidiary, Pennsylvania American Water. She used her legal, financial, business and governmental experience to balance customer service, reasonable rates, infrastructure replacement and community engagement. Her efforts won many accolades from customers, regulators and legislators. She proved instrumental in the passage of legislation that ensured water quality, quantity and system sustainability for decades.

Pape started her career at the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s Office of Consumer Advocate and as a utility attorney at General Waterworks Corporation. She also served as vice president, treasurer and rate counsel for Aqua America.

Pape is a nationally known speaker on leadership and utility finance and rates, infrastructure and operations. She is also an expert witness on utility finance, tax and infrastructure issues and has testified before state and federal legislative committees.

In the community, Pape has chaired the Pennsylvania Business Council, Foundation for Enhancing Communities and Pennsylvania chapter of the National Association of Water Companies. She is an active member on the boards of Highmark Health, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Central Pennsylvania Chapter, PennWest Edinboro (formerly Edinboro University) and the Hampden Industrial Development Authority.

Pape holds a Juris Doctor from Penn State Dickinson Law and a Master of Laws in taxation from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from PennWest Edinboro.
 

Mr. Rucci is a proud Penn State University alumnus, he doesn't just boast a rich history on the football field, but off it as well. His time as a formidable player for the Nittany Lions was only the beginning. He further proved his mettle during his eight seasons with the New England Patriots, earning himself a coveted spot on the 1990s All-Decade Team.

Mr. Rucci’s contributions didn’t stop at the end zone. After hanging up his cleats, he transitioned into leadership roles that had a lasting impact on Pennsylvania's community. As the former Executive Director of the Pennsylvania State Lottery, Todd reshaped the state's approach to gaming. He has found a home in the corporate realm serving as the Director of Government Relations for PAP Technologies, based out of Lancaster.

Mr. Rucci’s commitment to education and governance shone brightly when he was appointed by Governor Tom Corbett to the Penn State Board of Trustees in 2014.  Rucci continues to champion the cause of education, serving as both the Director and President of the Warwick School District Board of Directors and as a current Board of Trustees for the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

Mr. Rucci’s passion for community and personal development doesn't stop there. His philanthropic endeavors focus on enhancing educational opportunities. He's pioneered initiatives that bolster financial literacy and professional development, particularly for bussing athletes in the NFL and collegiate sports realm.

Peter Tombros is professor and distinguished executive-in-residence at the Eberly College of Science, Penn State. He serves and has served on the boards of Cambrex Inc., Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the Columbia University Medical Center Board of Advisors. Tombros was also appointed to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania CURE Program, Health Research Advisory Committee, and served as a director of other public companies, including Alpharma, Pharmanet Development Group Inc., Dendrite International and NPS Pharmaceuticals.

Tombros and his wife, Ann, created the Tombros Foundation to pursue their philanthropic interests. He served as chair of the seven and one-half year Pennsylvania State University $2.2 billion Capital Campaign.

Tombros’ professional career includes president and CEO of Enzon Pharma, where under his leadership, Enzon was able to grow from a market capitalization of $44 million to more than $3 billion, making Enzon one of the top 20 biotech firms in the United States at that time. Prior to that, he spent 25 years at Pfizer Inc., where he helped build the pharmaceutical business in a variety of positions, including vice president of marketing, senior vice president and general manager and executive vice president of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. He was also appointed corporate vice president for strategic planning. In that role, he helped Pfizer narrow its focus on health care and oversaw the divestiture of non-health care businesses. Tombros also had oversight for the venture capital firms Pfizer funded to look for new technologies.

Tombros’ private company experience included serving as CEO and director of VivoQuest. The Financial Times selected him to receive its 2015 Outstanding Director Award.

Tombros earned both Master of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Penn State, followed by a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

As executive vice president and chief medical officer for Penn State Health, Dr. Kenneth Wood provides oversight of clinical care standards, scope of practice, medical staff credentialing and overall quality, safety and value of care across the health system.

A veteran health care administrator, educator and researcher, Wood has three decades of clinical experience across diverse settings, ranging from community hospitals to large, integrated academic medical centers. Most recently, he served as chief clinical officer for Lifespan, a comprehensive, integrated, academic health system with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. 

Wood also served the University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, as the associate chief medical officer, chief clinical officer for the University of Maryland Medical Center and director of the Maryland Critical Care Network. In addition, he was chief medical officer for Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pa., and held a number of leadership roles at UW Health, the integrated health system of the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Board-certified in internal medicine and critical care medicine, Wood earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa., before completing his medical degree at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia. He completed an internal medicine residency at Jefferson Abington Hospital, Abington, Pa., and a fellowship in critical care medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, N.J.