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Gene Editing Institute’s Amanda Hewes Selected as a 2023 Outstanding Delaware Woman in STEM by Million Women Mentors

May 22, 2023

2 min

Amanda Hewes, MS, education program manager at ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute, has been named one of the 2023 Outstanding Delaware Women in STEM by Million Women Mentors, an international movement dedicated to encouraging girls and women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).


Hewes’ selection spotlights her dedication to engaging young people in the science of gene editing by introducing the Gene Editing Institute’s CRISPR in a BoxTM educational toolkit into classrooms across Delaware and her commitment to bridging disparities in STEM education.


“I’m overjoyed to be honored among so many amazing women in this state,” Hewes said. “It’s humbling to be considered and to stand alongside them. All of these women foster and lead dynamic communities of young women that inspire me every day. I hope that I can do the same by making young women in this state feel empowered through the work that I do.”



Hewes joined ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute in 2017 with a focus on expanding its CRISPR gene editing system in a cell-free environment. She was first author in a publication in Nature that established the highly innovative “gene editing on a chip” protocol that allowed CRISPR to edit DNA outside of the cell for the first time. This methodology enables researchers to take fragments of DNA extracted from human cells, place them in a test tube and precisely engineer multiple changes to the genetic code.


This gene editing system eventually led to the creation of the CRISPR in a Box™ toolkit. This innovative educational resource provides a way for students to learn about this exciting frontier of science through a hands-on exercise in which they use CRISPR gene editing to disrupt a synthetic gene within a plasmid. The simplicity of this experiment allowed for the reaction to be developed into a remarkable teaching tool that can be brought into most school laboratories containing basic laboratory equipment.


Once CRISPR in a Box™ was developed, Hewes recognized the potential it could have for high school and college students. She took on a new role as education program manager and expanded the Gene Editing 360™ platform, which is the Gene Editing Institute’s suite of educational tools for engaging students and the public.


“Amanda has set us on a tremendous path toward providing more educational opportunities for Delaware students,” said Eric Kmiec, Ph.D., director of ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute. “She’s inspired young women in multiple states and has created so much of this program with her own ingenuity and passion.”


Hewes was honored alongside 10 other women by Gov. John Carney, Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long and others at the Delaware State House with the signing of a proclamation to declare March 24, 2023, as “Delaware Women and Girls in STEM Day.”

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Maureen “Mo” Leffler, D.O., MPH, has been appointed chief wellbeing officer of ChristianaCare, effective Nov. 25. In her role, Leffler leads the ChristianaCare Center for WorkLife Wellbeing and strategies to enhance the professional fulfillment and well-being of ChristianaCare’s nearly 14,000 caregivers, overseeing advocacy programs and initiatives to optimize their experience and foster a culture of well-being throughout the organization. She works closely with leaders across key departments to address factors impacting caregiver well-being. Leffler most recently served as the inaugural chief wellbeing officer at Nemours Children’s Health, where she helped the organization to achieve the 2022 Joy in Medicine distinction from the American Medical Association for prioritizing proven efforts to enhance the professional fulfillment of physicians. There, she established a Center for Associate Wellbeing; led the first systemwide assessment to strategically address well-being and burnout; and implemented a peer support program and expanded the scope of resources available to support the emotional and mental health needs of employees. In collaboration with organizational leaders, she supported targeted clinical team assessments and systems-based interventions to foster well-being. Prior to this role, Leffler served as a pediatric rheumatologist at Nemours and as an assistant professor of pediatrics in the Division of Rheumatology at Thomas Jefferson University. Since 2017, Leffler has served as the course director of the Chief Resident Leadership Training Program for the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, she co-chaired ACGME’s National Task Force on Well-Being. She and her team developed a national graduate medical education well-being community, which she continues to convene, to understand the evolving challenges and share strategies to improve well-being. She represents the ACGME as a coach for the National Academy of Medicine Action Collaborative on Clinical Well-Being and Resilience. She also serves as a consultant to the Professional Satisfaction team at the American Medical Association. Leffler earned her medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, followed by a residency in pediatrics at Nemours and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where she served as chief resident. She subsequently trained in pediatric rheumatology at Nemours and Jefferson. She also earned a Master of Public Health from Temple University and studied chemistry at St. Joseph’s University. Recently, Leffler completed the Georgetown Executive Leadership Certification Program.

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ChristianaCare Will Establish New Health Care Campus in Aston, Delaware County, Pennsylvania

ChristianaCare has announced that Aston, PA will be the location for its next health care campus that will feature a neighborhood hospital and a health center. This is one of two facilities that ChristianaCare plans to open in Delaware County, as announced in February 2024. The hospital will be built in partnership with Emerus Holdings, Inc., the nation’s leading developer of neighborhood hospitals. The ChristianaCare Aston Campus, located at 700 Turner Industrial Way, is expected to open in the second half of 2026. The site was chosen based on a market assessment of historical and projected demographic data and health care service availability as well as a consumer survey, community input and feedback from elected officials and business leaders. The study identified gaps in health care accessibility, concluding that Aston would be an ideal location for a health campus. “We are thrilled to be bringing high quality health care services to our neighbors in Aston in Delaware County,” said Jennifer Schwartz, chief strategy officer at ChristianaCare. “Our goal is to make access to health care easy, convenient and close to home in a way that is sustainable and right-sized to meet the needs of the local community.” The neighborhood hospital will operate 24/7 with approximately 10 inpatient beds and an emergency department. The emergency department will treat common emergency care needs such as falls, injuries, heart attacks and strokes. The hospital will also provide diagnostic capabilities, including ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), X-ray and laboratory services. In addition to on-site staff, the hospital will benefit from access to virtual consults — such as neurology and cardiology — to support safe and effective care. ChristianaCare will add a health center on the second floor of the hospital offering outpatient services. These services will be developed based on community needs and are expected to include primary and specialty care practices plus an array of other clinical services. The announcement comes as construction is already under way on ChristianaCare’s first Pennsylvania neighborhood hospital, in West Grove, nearby in southern Chester County, which is projected to open mid-2025. Together, these three new campuses represent a new layer of care coming to southeastern Pennsylvania. ChristianaCare has been providing health care services to the residents of southeastern Pennsylvania for many years. Today, ChristianaCare offers primary care in three Chester County practices that are located in Jennersville, West Grove and Kennett Square. In addition, Concord Health Center in Chadds Ford, Delaware County, provides a wide array of services, including primary care, women’s health, sports medicine, behavioral health and more. Combined, ChristianaCare is now the medical home for 25,000 residents in these communities.

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Kert Anzilotti, M.D., Appointed President of the Medical Group of ChristianaCare

Kert Anzilotti, M.D., MBA, FACR has been appointed president of the Medical Group of ChristianaCare. Anzilotti has served as interim president since June 2024. He will also continue in his role as system chief medical officer of ChristianaCare. As president of the ChristianaCare Medical Group, Anzilotti will seek to improve every aspect of care for every person the Medical Group touches. He will focus on the optimization of care delivery, strategic visioning, network development, clinical technology implementation and leveraging medical informatics. Anzilotti will continue to develop new care models that transcend settings, promote value-based care and improve the patient experience across the clinical enterprise. Among his priorities are the adoption of population health measures, the embedding of health equity into care delivery and workforce development, further expansion of access points for patients and the continuous enhancement of patient and caregiver experience. “Dr. Anzilotti is exceptionally qualified to lead the Medical Group of ChristianaCare,” said Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, president and CEO of ChristianaCare. “His passion for our mission and vision for the future strength of our Medical Group is unwavering. Since joining ChristianaCare in 2011, Dr. Anzilotti has earned a well-deserved reputation as a thoughtful and collaborative leader.” Anzilotti has served in numerous leadership roles at ChristianaCare, including as chief medical officer, acute care; chair of the Department of Radiology; medical director of Imaging Services; and physician leader of the Neurosciences Service Line. He also previously served as Interim President and CEO for the eBrightHealth ACO with responsibility for physician leadership and network operations. He is board certified in Neuroradiology. “Over the many years I have been at ChristianaCare, I have had the privilege of witnessing the dedication and compassion of my Medical Group colleagues as we served together with love and excellence,” Anzilotti said. “I am honored to lead this incredible, dynamic group that is reshaping the future of care, ensuring everyone we serve can achieve their best health.” Anzilotti earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He earned his MBA at the University of Delaware, completed the Managing Health Care Delivery Course at Harvard Business School and graduated as Physician Executive Fellow in the Health Management Academy, GE Fellows Program. The Medical Group of ChristianaCare consists of over 2,200 dedicated doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other caregivers. This highly skilled team delivers exceptional care through ChristianaCare’s community-based primary care and specialty care practices serving Delaware and surrounding states. Additionally, the Medical Group collaborates with ChristianaCare hospitalists to ensure seamless continuity of care for our patients, from primary care to hospital care and back again.

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