From left, Â鶹ÊÓƵ President Dr. Michael Driscoll and President and CEO of IRMC and Mountains Health Steve Wolfe sign the Collaborative Agreement today during a ceremony at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex
On January 30, Â鶹ÊÓƵ and Mountains Health formalized the establishment of a collaboration designed to advance the health and wellness of the region, focusing on addressing rural healthcare needs.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ President Michael Driscoll and Steve Wolfe, president and CEO of IRMC and Mountains Health (the unified health system that brings together Indiana Regional Medical Center, Punxsutawney Area Hospital, and Armstrong County Memorial Hospital), signed the agreement establishing the Joint Collaborative in a ceremony at Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex.
“Establishing this Collaborative is a step that feels both momentous and very natural,” President Driscoll said. “We have been working together for a long time and have always shared a commitment to improving life in this region: Â鶹ÊÓƵ through education and Mountains Health through medicine. The signing of the Collaboration makes that relationship official, giving ourselves a more defined way for us to do even more together,” he said.
“Today’s agreement isn’t about a list of projects or big promises, although those will follow. It’s a framework that helps us focus our efforts and evaluate, explore, and act on opportunities as they come,” President Driscoll said. “Our purpose is clear: Mountains Health and Â鶹ÊÓƵ will work side by side to strengthen healthcare, education, and the overall well-being in our communities.
“Many people, including our region’s legislators, talk about the value of ‘meds and eds’ partnerships—collaborations between healthcare systems and higher education—and the impact they can have on a region. For us, this is not about copying those models. It is about recognizing what’s already true: Mountains Health and Â鶹ÊÓƵ are two of the most important institutions in Indiana County and the surrounding area, and when we work together in a more intentional way, everyone benefits,” President Driscoll said.
“This Collaborative formalizes what we have long believed, that the health of our communities is strongest when healthcare and education work hand in hand,” President and CEO Wolfe said. “By partnering more intentionally with Â鶹ÊÓƵ, we are investing in the future of rural healthcare, from growing and retaining a skilled workforce to expanding access to care, education, and innovation. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the well-being of the region we are proud to serve.”
In addition to remarks from Â鶹ÊÓƵ President Driscoll and IRMC and Mountains Health President and CEO Wolfe, additional speakers for the event included Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Sen. Joe Pittman; State Rep. Jim Struzzi; Â鶹ÊÓƵ Council of Trustees Vice Chair and IRMC and Mountains Health Board of Directors Vice Chair Laurie Kuzneski; Â鶹ÊÓƵ Vice Provost for Research and Innovation and Interim Dean of the College of Health Sciences Hilliary Creely, who is also a member of the IRMC and Mountains Health Board of Directors; and IRMC Chief Operating Officer and Mountains Health Chief Human Resources Officer Jim Kinneer.
The Collaborative will be led by a Joint Collaborative Committee, including leadership from Â鶹ÊÓƵ and Mountains Health, and task forces as needed. It will engage key stakeholders through the collaborative process to proactively address local and regional needs.
Goals and guiding principles of the Collaboration include:
- Expanding rural clinical training opportunities for medical, nursing, and allied health students
- Improving recruitment and retention of physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals
- Strengthening the ability of both institutions to carry out their missions
- Advancing rural health research and innovation through the introduction of wellness and prevention-based programs
- Implementing collaborative workforce development initiatives
- Developing integrated clinical and educational programs and collaborative opportunities
State Senate Majority Leader Sen. Joe Pittman
State Rep. Jim Struzzi
Additional opportunities that may be explored by the Joint Collaborative Committee include medical, nursing, and other allied health collaborations; rural health research initiatives; expansion of access to clinical trials, registries, and databases for patients in the region; and joint collaborations on research projects and protocols to expand medical and health education opportunities.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ has a number of longstanding relationships with Mountains Health, with many Â鶹ÊÓƵ graduates filling roles in patient care and administration at all three institutions.
In Indiana, Â鶹ÊÓƵ has agreements with the IRMC Social Services department for students from the School Psychology, Special Education, and Sociology and Psychology departments; with the IRMC Institute for Healthy Living for students from the Department of Food and Nutrition; and with the IRMC Cardiac Rehabilitation Department for students from the Department of Allied and Public Health.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Lara Luetkehans, who served as emcee for the event
Event speaker Â鶹ÊÓƵ Council of Trustees Vice Chair and IRMC and Mountains Health Board of Directors Vice Chair Laurie Kuzneski
Â鶹ÊÓƵ students also complete clinical training in nursing, counseling, dietetics, and speech pathology at IRMC, Armstrong County Memorial Hospital, and Punxsutawney Area Hospital.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Professor of Biology Narayanaswamy Bharathan worked daily at IRMC with Â鶹ÊÓƵ equipment in an IRMC laboratory, allowing IRMC to offer a same-day COVID-19 test. In addition to his testing work, he trained three laboratory technicians to work at IRMC with the Â鶹ÊÓƵ equipment. From April 2020 to May 2021, Bharathan tested more than 20,500 samples for the virus.
In 2024, Â鶹ÊÓƵ and IRMC finalized an affiliation agreement that provides Â鶹ÊÓƵ students with the opportunity to complete their clinical experience at IRMC for the Â鶹ÊÓƵ bachelor of science degree in medical technology; four of the first cohort of graduates began their careers as medical laboratory scientists at IRMC after graduation from the program in 2025.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ and IRMC also partnered during summer 2025 for the collaborative Healthcare Education and Learning Pathways (HELP) Summer Experience for high school students and teachers in Armstrong and Indiana counties, designed to increase student interest in healthcare careers. Current Â鶹ÊÓƵ students receive valuable preparation for medical school through IRMC’s Pre-Med Undergraduate Summer Internship. Â鶹ÊÓƵ also provides support for IRMC’s medical residency program, including offering training in lifestyle medicine to the first cohort of residents by Â鶹ÊÓƵ Allied and Public Health faculty member Stephanie Taylor-Davis and hosting graduation ceremonies for its first graduating class.
Event speaker Â鶹ÊÓƵ Vice Provost for Research and Innovation and Interim Dean of the College of Health Sciences and IRMC and Mountains Health Board of Directors Hilliary Creely
Event speaker IRMC Chief Operating Officer and Mountains Health Chief Human Resources Officer Jim Kinneer
Â鶹ÊÓƵ and IRMC are partners for the annual Rural Pennsylvania Mountains Rural Health Conference, now in its fourth year, which draws legislators and hundreds of leaders in healthcare to Indiana to strategize best practices and solutions to rural healthcare challenges. Â鶹ÊÓƵ and IRMC also partner to present Rural Health Pulse, a podcast featuring Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Indiana County, and Mountains Health experts.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine has clinical training affiliation agreements with all three members of Mountains Health. Punxsutawney Area Hospital and IRMC were the first two medical centers to sign clinical training affiliation agreements (in June and September 2024, respectively); a clinical training affiliation agreement with Armstrong County Memorial Hospital was formalized in January 2025.
In December 2022, IUP’s Council of Trustees endorsed the exploration of the possible development of a college of osteopathic medicine at Â鶹ÊÓƵ.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine has “candidate status” from the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, which recognizes that Â鶹ÊÓƵ has done the required planning and has the resources necessary to apply for pre-accreditation status within two years. “Candidate status” is the second step in seeking accreditation from COCA. The Â鶹ÊÓƵ proposed college of osteopathic medicine team is working on the next step in the accreditation process, seeking “pre-accreditation status.” When proposed colleges achieve pre-accreditation status, they are permitted to begin recruiting students.
About Mountains Health
Mountains Health (formerly Pennsylvania Mountains Care Network) consists of three partner hospitals: ACMH, IRMC, and Punxsutawney Area Hospital. Together, we provide exceptional healthcare across Armstrong, Indiana, and Jefferson counties and beyond.
Originating in 2015, Mountains Health provides integrated governance and executive leadership for its rural hospital affiliates, representing the shared interests of the communities they serve.
Mountains Health is a trusted leader in community healthcare—advancing rural health through patient-centered care, collaboration, innovation, and a passion for excellence. Across our partner hospitals, care is guided by shared values and delivered with HEART—Honesty, Empathy, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork.
Since its founding in 1875, Â鶹ÊÓƵ has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. As Â鶹ÊÓƵ celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025 and through the Impact 150 comprehensive campaign, the university honors a legacy of educational excellence while looking to its next 150 years of student success, innovation, leadership in healthcare education, and public service.