About The Central Pennsylvania Center Of Excellence (Coe) For Research On Pregnancy Outcomes

The Central Pennsylvania Center of Excellence (COE) for Research on Pregnancy Outcomes is a multi-organizational and multidisciplinary project to reduce disparities in adverse pregnancy outcomes. Funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health with non-formula tobacco settlement funds, this collaborative four-year project partners four organizations in Central PA -- The Pennsylvania State University (PSU), the Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania (FHCCP), Franklin and Marshall College (F&M), and Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania (LHUP).

Under the direction of principal investigator, Carol S. Weisman, Ph.D., professor of Public Health Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Penn State College of Medicine, the center's primary goal will be to improve women's health status and health care prior to conception in high-risk, medically-underserved populations in Central PA (see map below), with a special focus on rural areas.

VISION

To reduce disparities in adverse pregnancy outcomes by improving women's preconceptional health status and health care in Central Pennsylvania's high-risk, medically underserved populations, with a special focus on the region's rural communities.

MISSION

To conduct multidisciplinary research on the risks for preterm birth and low birthweight (LBW) in diverse populations in the region; provide a multi-organizational structure for implementing and testing an innovative population-based intervention in partnership with the community; provide education to students and new investigators through coursework and mentored research related to women's health and pregnancy outcomes; and increase the capacity for research on women's health and pregnancy outcomes at all partnering institutions.