Mt. Lebanon resident Alicia Schisler became president and CEO of Adagio Health on September 1, bringing seasoned leadership at a time when access to women’s care in rural communities faces growing uncertainty.
Schisler, a 1989 graduate of Mt. Lebanon High School, serves on the boards of the Mt. Lebanon Partnership and The Midwife Center.
Founded in the early 1970s, Adagio Health began as a provider of women’s health and family planning services and was one of the nation’s first Title X grantees — a federal program established under President Nixon to expand access to reproductive care.
“If we’re known for anything, it’s our expertise in women’s health and family planning,” Schisler said. “That includes birth control, breast and cervical cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment.”
While its roots are in women’s health, Adagio now serves people of all genders and backgrounds, and its mission has evolved to include a wide range of public health programs. The organization administers WIC as part of the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, in five rural counties, leads tobacco prevention and cessation efforts in 24 counties and manages a breast and cervical cancer early detection program (BSAP) in 62 counties. It also manages SNAP-Ed nutrition education across western Pennsylvania.
“Adagio Health means the world to me,” she said. “It’s not hard to deeply care about an organization like this — when you work there, when you see the commitment. There are people who’ve worked at Adagio Health since the early ’70s.”
Adagio Health is based in downtown Pittsburgh but runs most of its clinics and WIC offices in rural areas of western Pennsylvania.
“We worked really hard over the past six and a half years to increase the visibility of the organization — making sure people knew who we were, what we do, what we don’t do and what we have to offer,” Schisler said. “People understand that we were a safety net provider, and they could come to us for services.”
Lisa Scales, board chair of Adagio Health and president and CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, said Schisler’s contributions were clear from the start.
“She’s a proven leader,” Scales said. “She elevated the branding of Adagio Health, worked closely with the executive team to strengthen relationships with policymakers and stakeholders, and in her current role as chief of strategy, she’s led long-term planning and vision during an especially challenging time.”
Schisler joined Adagio in 2018 as chief of external affairs and was promoted in 2024 to executive vice president and chief of strategy. Scales noted that from the beginning, Schisler had an immediate impact on the organization’s public presence and communications.
“There was a renewed effort at that time because of her leadership in promoting the work of Adagio Health,” Scales said. “She’s always looking ahead and looking out for what’s in the best interest of the people served by Adagio.”
In April, Adagio Health became one of several organizations across the country to have its federal Title X family planning funding unexpectedly withheld.
“That was an official rug pull on April 1,” Schisler said. “Unfortunately, that funding makes up about 13 percent of our budget.”
In response, the organization implemented a reduction in force and made the decision to close its Greensburg medical office.
“We’ve had to jump through some hoops and provide some information to the federal government. We’ve done all that well and on time, but we are still very much in a holding pattern,” Schisler said.
Scales acknowledged the financial challenge but said the organization remains resilient.
“Fortunately, Adagio Health has a strong base [and] a diversity of funding,” she said. “Federal funding just makes up a portion of their overall funding.”
Schisler said the Title X cut is not the only looming concern.
“There are questions about Medicaid. You’re hearing this in the news,” she said. “Right now, we’re working to make sure that our patients who have Medicaid even know that that is the insurance product they use. Some folks don’t even know that because the card says UPMC for You or Highmark Wholecare.”
In the coming months, Schisler plans to finalize a new strategic plan and evaluate how Adagio Health can better serve women across every life stage.
“When we met with Alicia, she talked about conducting an assessment and looking at possible ways to address any health needs, not only for younger women but also menopause care for older women,” Scales said.
Before joining Adagio Health, Schisler spent nearly 20 years at WQED Multimedia, where her work in healthcare journalism earned multiple Emmy Awards. She later held a corporate role at Range Resources and completed the Yale School of Management’s Executive Education Women’s Leadership Program in 2024.
“The biggest takeaway from that program was lead with empathy,” Schisler said. “That was a great re-emphasis on something that already mattered deeply to me.”
She said storytelling remains a core part of her leadership style.
“You want to be able to explain who you are, what you’re about, why it matters,” she said. “If the patient can’t bring their story, you want to be able to tell it for them — so people understand why they should care and why they might want to support or advocate for an organization like Adagio Health.”
During Schisler’s tenure, Adagio Health has expanded its services beyond clinical care to include behavioral health, nutrition support, WIC administration in five counties, statewide cancer screening, and community education.
Outgoing CEO BJ Leber, who has led the organization since 2014, praised Schisler in the organization’s official announcement: “I know Alicia will carry this mission forward with strength, vision and heart,” she said.
Schisler said she’s determined to build on that legacy and continue Adagio Health’s mission, even through adversity.
“In five years, we may look a little different, but we will still be in western Pennsylvania, still taking care of vulnerable people and patients, still doing our best,” she said.
She closed with words of encouragement for others — especially young women who may be facing moments of doubt or transition in their own careers.
“Don’t let fear or imposter syndrome hold you back,” Schisler said. “Put yourself out there. Scare yourself a little bit — it’ll pay off. And lift up other women. We are in this together.”