The Council works closely with and supports the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society to develop a vision for strengthening psychiatry’s role in a trans-disciplinary approach to practice.

Deborah Shoemaker, Executive Director

Deborah Shoemaker serves as Executive Director with overall responsibility for all of the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society’s operations. Her focus is on ethics, government relations, third party payment issues such as Medicare and Medical Assistance, and other matters of Society policy, as well as general administration. As a registered lobbyist, Ms. Shoemaker works extensively with the key members and staffers of the governor’s office and Pennsylvania’s Departments of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Health, Insurance and Human Services (previously the Department of Public Welfare). Ms. Shoemaker also collaborates with coalition groups, providing testimony and soliciting clinical expertise from the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society’s physician members in order to affect changes in laws, regulations, and policy that could negatively impact quality consumer care.

Ms. Shoemaker graduated from Messiah College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. She is currently working towards her Certified Association Executive (CAE) certification and has been with the Society since September 2006.

BHARP and Sally Walker, Director of the Behavioral Health Administration Unit at BHARP, work with PPLC and others, in a coalition directed at recruiting more psychiatrists and looking at ways to address services when a psychiatrist isn't available. 

In partnership with OMHSAS and in collaboration with other stakeholders, BHARP works with OMHSAS and the Managed Care Organization (MCO) to ensure that a comprehensive, responsive, unified, cost-effective, recovery oriented behavioral health system of care are available within the 23 county region.

Dan Eisenhaurer

Dan Eisenhaurer, President of PACA MH/DS, and the Association work with the PPLC in a coalition directed at recruiting more psychiatrists and looking at ways to address services when a psychiatrist isn't available.  PACA MH/DS provides support and assistance to the county Mental Health/ Intellectual Disabilities (MH/ID) Administrators and their staff in their roles as the responsible planners, program and fiscal managers, and monitors of services and supports to consumers and their families in their communities.

Dan Eisenhauer is the MH/ID Administrator for Dauphin County.  Dan also administers Dauphin County’s Medical Assistance Transportation Program and Homeless Assistance Program.  Dan has 31 years’ experience in the MH/ID field in various roles and currently also serves as the PACA MH/DS President.