The Pennsylvania Community Providers Association (PCPA) is pleased to announce the addition of Melissa DiSanto Simmons as its new Director of Legislative Affairs. Ms. Simmons began employment with the Association in early October. Her position at PCPA was previously held by Ms. Lu Conser, who joined the staff of Community Behavioral HealthCare Network of Pennsylvania, Inc.
"I am pleased we were able to fill this critical position. Melissa will be a positive addition to our staff and I am looking forward to her leadership with our legislative activities," stated George Kimes, PCPA Executive Director. "Gubernatorial election activities are increasing and Melissa, working with Morgan Plant, the Association's professional lobbyist, will help us chart our election strategies," Kimes continued.
Ms. Simmons most recently served as the Government Relations Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA). While at PDA, her duties included coordinating dental outreach and planning efforts with both state government and the private sector, writing on government relations issues for the website and dental publications, and overseeing PDA's legislative efforts. Ms. Simmons has been an active member of the Alliance of Health Care Providers (AHCP), of which PCPA is also a member. The AHCP is a collaboration of the allied health professions regarding managed care issues.
In addition to her background in government and public relations, Ms. Simmons has a proven track record of working in the public health community. Prior to her work at the PDA, she worked as a legislative liaison in the Department of Health's (DOH) Executive Office. While pursuing DOH's legislative agenda, she also worked with the Department's various programs in the areas of family health, chronic disease prevention, drug and alcohol abuse, communicable diseases, facility licensure and managed care. With experience in public health and government relations, Ms. Simmons will be able to provide legislative support to members serving Pennsylvanians with Mental Health/Mental Retardation (MH/MR) and Drug and Alcohol (D&A) needs.
Ms. Simmons holds a BA from Elizabethtown College in Social Work and Political Science. The PCPA Board and staff welcome her to her new position with the Association.