Allegheny County Medical Society Foundation Tackles Formula Shortage

sArA hussey, mBA, CAe – ACms exeCutive direCtor

The shortage of baby formula that began almost five months ago is expected to drag on into the summer. Parents in Allegheny County are feeling the impact of this shortage, finding mostly empty shelves in the formula aisle of every grocery store and pharmacy. In May, the ACMS Foundation was able to step-in to provide some much needed relief. Through a series of connections, the ACMS was able to work with a medical supply company that had access to Enfamil formula through one of their FDA distributors. The distributor was only selling the formula by the pallet in an effort to get the formula to places that could make an immediate and direct impact. The ACMS Foundation board approved the purchase of 1200 containers of Enfamil formula that would be dispersed to 4 local organizations who would get it in to the hands of those in most need.

On Friday, May 27, the formula was distributed to the local organizations. The bulk of the order went to the Allegheny County Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Beverly’s Birthdays, a Pittsburgh nonprofit that serves families in need. Smaller distributions went to the Lemieux Children’s Home and Every Child Inc.

The mission of the ACMS Foundation is “Advancing Wellness by confronting Social Determinants and Health Disparities.” Alongside the mission of the foundation, the formula shortage and public health crisis around it, made this formula procurement an easy “yes” for ACMS officers and Foundation Board members. They were also incredibly responsive to the fast-moving initiative, and they stepped up to volunteer to help with distribution. It is a real testament to the connection that physicians have to this community and their awareness of how impactful this donation of formula would be to the local organizations.

As a mother to a seven-month-old, I can’t help but feel that the timing of my new role as Executive Director of the ACMS is somewhat serendipitous. I know, firsthand, what it’s been like to walk into a grocery store and see absolutely no formula on the shelves. Alongside my job running the association, I’m also CEO and Executive Director of my household, which includes my 6-year-old daughter Bellamy and my 7-month-old son Bowen. This formula shortage is incredibly personal to me. I