Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew is a nationally recognized leader in obstetrics, gynecology, diversity and global health
PITTSBURGH (July 10, 2023) — Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, MD, senior vice president & chief clinical diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officer at Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network (AHN), has been appointed academic chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Drexel University College of Medicine.
Effective July 1, Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew will oversee the delivery of Drexel’s OBGYN academic programs, assist in strategic planning and support the development of alumni and community connections. Since 2021, she has served as a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Drexel. AHN is a western PA clinical campus for the College of Medicine.
Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew joined Highmark Health and AHN in 2020 and has since advanced a comprehensive strategy designed to promote a culture of equity and inclusion across every component of the health and wellness enterprise. That strategy includes evaluation of the organization’s recruitment, its employment and professional development practices, and the quality of care and services it provides to every patient and community.
"Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew has built a tremendous career as both a clinician and advocate for health equity," said Larry Kleinman, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Highmark Health. "We congratulate her on this much deserved appointment at Drexel, which gives her an expanded opportunity to help cultivate tomorrow's health care leaders, and we look forward to her continued leadership at Highmark Health and AHN."
Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew attended medical school at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, completed an OB-GYN residency in Pittsburgh and earned a master’s degree in public policy management at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Policy & International Affairs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh, and a master’s degree in education from California State University in Long Beach, California.
She served in the U.S. Navy for 13 years, achieving the rank of lieutenant commander and completing an OB-GYN internship at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia. Her experiences as a nurse, distinguished professor, naval officer, global health strategist, and obstetrician-gynecologist specializing in global health issues bring a unique perspective to her various roles.
"Margaret’s/Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew's experience as a clinician, educator and national leadership make her a perfect fit for academic chair," said Charles B. Cairns, MD, Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Dean & Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at Drexel. "Her demonstrated leadership and excellence in medical practice and education, coupled with a consistent commitment to health equity makes this a natural fit for our college."
Lynn Seay
Highmark Health
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Ebony Montgomery
Highmark Health
910-228-4617
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Highmark Health, a Pittsburgh, PA-based enterprise that employs more than 42,000 people who serve millions of Americans across the country, is the parent company of Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network, enGen, and Helion. Highmark Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates provide health insurance to 7 million members in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and New York, as well as dental insurance, and related health products through a national network of diversified businesses. Allegheny Health Network is an integrated delivery network in western Pennsylvania comprised of 14 hospitals, more than 2,600 affiliated physicians, ambulatory surgery centers, an employed physician organization, home and community-based health services, a research institute, a group purchasing organization, and health and wellness pavilions. enGen is focused on meeting the information technology platform and other business needs of the Highmark Health enterprise as well as unaffiliated health insurance plans by providing proven business processes, expert knowledge, and integrated cloud-based platforms. Helion works with payers to cultivate high-performing networks while empowering providers to operate at their best. To learn more, visit www.highmarkhealth.org.
Allegheny Health Network (AHN.org) is an integrated health care delivery system serving the greater Western Pennsylvania region. The network is composed of 14 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, Health + Wellness Pavilions, an employed physician organization, home- and community-based health services, a research institute, and a group purchasing organization. AHN provides patients with access to a complete spectrum of advanced medical services, including nationally recognized programs for primary and emergency care, cardiovascular disease, cancer care, orthopedic surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, women's health, diabetes and more. AHN employs approximately 22,000 people, has more than 2,600 physicians on its medical staff, and serves as a clinical campus for Drexel University College of Medicine and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.