Since making Centre County her home in 2020, Lora has felt welcomed by the community and is eager to give back through her role at Mount Nittany Health. “The community was so welcoming of me and my family,” she shared. “Mount Nittany has a great reputation in the area, and I’m excited to be a small part of that.”

Her approach to patient care is deeply personal and shaped by her own experiences. “I want to treat every patient like I want to be treated when I visit a provider,” Lora explained. “As a cancer survivor, I have had my share of healthcare visits, and I like to take away pieces of each provider I see to help me become a better provider.”

Providing women’s healthcare is a deeply personal passion. “My inspiration as a women’s health nurse practitioner is my family,” she shared. “I always think of how I would want my daughter treated if she walked through the door. I enjoy helping others better their lives through consistent, preventative healthcare.”

As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Lora is particularly interested in supporting new mothers. “I love educating expecting and postpartum patients during their journeys,” she said. “I also spent years caring for patients in their early reproductive years, and I enjoy educating them on their bodies and contraceptive options. Education is empowerment for women—especially young women.”

This dedication to education has become her life’s work. “When it comes to women’s health, education is key in empowering women to care for their bodies from menarche to menopause,” Lora explained. “I am very passionate about breastfeeding, postpartum, and contraception education. My true passion project in my career has been educating other healthcare providers about lactation/breastfeeding to best provide compassionate, evidence-based care in a medical specialty that often goes undiscussed in a healthcare provider’s education path.”

She has even extended her impact beyond individual patient care, working with a national nurse practitioner organization to create educational resources for healthcare providers on how to deliver consistent education to expectant mothers during pregnancy.

Outside of work, Lora finds joy in family life. “I have three children. Much of my free time is spent watching them on their respective sports fields – football, field hockey, softball, and baseball,” she shared. “We also enjoy attending PSU sports as a family.”

At Mount Nittany Health, we believe empowering women through education leads to better health outcomes for our entire community. Lora brings expertise and compassion to every stage of a woman’s health journey. To schedule an appointment with Lora Steffie, CRNP, please call  814.237.3470 or visit mountnittany.org/services/obstetrics-gynecology-ob-gyn for more information.