Oberkotter Foundation Taps Leader with Lived Experience and Digital Acumen

PHILADELPHIA, PA – March 05, 2026 – The Oberkotter Foundation has appointed Sarah Sommer, a distinguished digital marketing executive who is profoundly deaf, to its Board of Trustees. The move, effective March 1, 2026, signals a strategic fusion of high-level corporate expertise with the invaluable perspective of lived experience, poised to accelerate the foundation's mission in pediatric hearing healthcare.

Ms. Sommer, the current Vice President of Digital Engagement at Geisinger, brings over two decades of experience in building digital strategies to improve healthcare access. Her appointment is seen as a critical step for the foundation, which has committed over $500 million since 1985 to help children who are deaf or hard of hearing develop listening, spoken language, and literacy skills.

The Power of Lived Experience in Governance

Sommer’s appointment is a prominent example of a growing, transformative trend in the non-profit sector: the intentional inclusion of individuals with direct, personal experience of an organization's mission on its governing board. As a user of bilateral cochlear implants, Sommer brings an authentic understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the deaf and hard of hearing community. This firsthand knowledge moves beyond theoretical understanding, offering practical insights that can shape more effective and empathetic strategies.

Research in non-profit governance increasingly validates this approach, showing that boards with diverse perspectives, including lived experience, tend to make more informed decisions and develop more sophisticated solutions. By embedding the voice of the community it serves at the highest level of leadership, an organization enhances its credibility, accountability, and ability to innovate.

Lydia Denworth, a member of the Oberkotter Foundation Board of Trustees, highlighted this dual strength. "By combining professional excellence with her own personal experience, she not only strengthens our capabilities as a board but also embodies the opportunities and successes we believe should be open to every individual who is deaf or hard of hearing," Denworth stated. "We look forward to having her insight, leadership, and example helping to shape the work of the Foundation."

Sommer's history of service, which includes board roles at the Alexander Graham Bell Association and mentorship for cochlear implant manufacturer Advanced Bionics, demonstrates a long-standing commitment to leveraging her unique position to create pathways for others.

Digitalizing Impact for a New Generation

Beyond her personal journey, Ms. Sommer brings a formidable professional toolkit honed at the forefront of digital healthcare engagement. At Geisinger, a major Pennsylvania-based healthcare provider, she leads the enterprise digital marketing portfolio, focusing on creating a welcoming "digital front door" that helps consumers access care and services. Her work emphasizes a deep focus on consumer experience and using technology to deliver practical value.

This expertise arrives at a pivotal moment for the Oberkotter Foundation. In 2024, the organization launched a new strategic plan aimed at creating "scalable, sustainable changes" in pediatric hearing healthcare. Sommer's skill set directly aligns with this goal, providing the strategic vision needed to harness the power of digital tools.

The landscape of pediatric hearing healthcare is rapidly evolving, with advancements in telehealth, AI-driven hearing aids, sophisticated cochlear implants, and a host of mobile apps designed for speech therapy and auditory training. For foundations like Oberkotter, the challenge is not just to fund innovation but to ensure these new tools are accessible and effectively integrated into family and clinical support systems.

Dr. Teresa H. Caraway, Chief Executive Officer of the Oberkotter Foundation, emphasized the practical impact of Sommer's expertise. "Ms. Sommer brings a wealth of experience identifying issues within healthcare systems and using the latest digital communications technologies and strategies to deliver practical solutions to the public," said Dr. Caraway. "We are delighted that she will be joining a dedicated group of Trustees, who are committed to advancing the Foundation's mission."

Her experience is expected to help the foundation expand its reach, enhance its educational platforms like Hearing First and Starts Hear, and champion new models of care delivery that leverage technology to overcome geographic and economic barriers for families.

A Strategic Blend of Corporate Acumen and Social Mission

Sarah Sommer's appointment also reflects a broader trend of non-profits recruiting leaders with elite corporate and academic backgrounds to drive mission-focused results. A graduate of Princeton University with an MBA from Harvard Business School, where she was a Horace W. Goldsmith Fellow for social enterprise, Sommer embodies the modern non-profit leader who combines rigorous analytical skills with a deep-seated social purpose.

Her experience directing digital strategies at global medical technology company Boston Scientific, coupled with her current role at Geisinger, provides the Oberkotter Foundation with a perspective steeped in data-driven decision-making, scalability, and market engagement. This corporate rigor is essential as the foundation navigates a complex healthcare ecosystem and seeks to maximize the impact of its significant philanthropic investments.

This strategic appointment complements the foundation's recent shift toward a more targeted, proactive funding model. By focusing on key areas like advancing science, raising awareness, and expanding professional knowledge, the organization is positioning itself as a leader and catalyst for systemic change. Sommer joins a distinguished board that includes former Executive Director Bruce Rosenfield, David Pierson, Lydia Denworth, and Dr. Cedric Pritchett, who are responsible for the foundation's strategic direction and governance.

With her unique combination of lived experience, digital mastery, and strategic business acumen, Sarah Sommer is not just a new member of the board; she represents a powerful new chapter for the Oberkotter Foundation, one that is poised to innovate how support and opportunities are delivered to children with hearing loss and their families across the nation.