Press Releases: 2004

Lehigh Valley Physician Honored at Pennsylvania Statewide Latino Coalition 9th Annual Conference

Pictured left to right: Sherry Knowlton, Vice President and General Manager, AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan; Edgardo Maldonado, M.D., Medical Director, Centro de Salud LatinoAmericano; Jose Molino, Northeast Representative of the Pennsylvania Statewide Latino Coalition and Stephen Schlager, Director of Provider and Community Affairs, AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan.

Allentown, PA - Dr. Edgardo Maldonado is focusing his efforts on improving medical care to the Latino population in the Lehigh Valley. His efforts were recognized Thursday, October 21 at the Pennsylvania Statewide Latino Coalition (PSLC) 9th Annual Conference.

Sherry Knowlton, Vice President and General Manager of AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan, presented the PSLC's Community Advocates Recognition Award to Dr. Maldonado during a policy luncheon sponsored by the health plan.

"AmeriHealth Mercy is fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Maldonado," said Knowlton. "We applaud his outreach efforts to the Latino population of the Lehigh Valley and are pleased the PSLC has recognized him with this prestigious award."

Dr. Maldonado is the founder and medical director of Centro de Salud LatinoAmericano (Latin American Center for Health) at the 17th and Chew site at Lehigh Valley Hospital. This is the first practice in the Lehigh Valley area designed to meet the needs of the area's growing Latino population.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Maldonado has a strong appreciation for the cultural beliefs of the community he serves. Health education is a priority for Maldonado who frequently participates in community health fairs, screenings for diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Maldonado received his medical degree from the Universidad Central Del Caribe in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Lehigh Valley Hospital through the Pennsylvania State University Program. Maldonado has extensive research experience, has participated in numerous clinical presentations and is a member of several professional and volunteer organizations.

AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan works with the Centro de Salud LatinoAmericano and other organizations throughout the Latino community such as: the Puerto Rican Cultural Alliance, the Lehigh Valley Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations and the Latino Leadership Alliance Health Committee.

Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan is a Medical Assistance managed care plan currently over 77,000 Medical Assistance recipients in Adams, Berks, Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Perry, Pike, and York counties. For more information, please visit AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan.

The PSLC 9th Annual Conference is taking place from Thursday, October 21 to Saturday October 23. This year's event is being held at the Adams Mark Hotel on City Line Avenue in Philadelphia. The PSLC exists to analyze issues of common concern to Latino communities throughout the Commonwealth and develop advocacy strategies before the various levels of government, the private sector and other relevant institutions. For more information on the PSLC, visit www.pslconline.org.