Lock Haven grad and author to discuss new book at Stevenson Library Nov. 5
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (11/03/2026) — Lock Haven graduate and former resident of Jersey Shore, Dr. Kelly McBride, will return to Lock Haven on Nov. 5, to discuss her latest book "Mountain Mercy: The Incredible Story of the Health Wagon" at Stevenson Library. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a Q&A and signings will also be available.
Mountain Mercy chronicles the extraordinary work of the Health Wagon, a nonprofit health care organization serving underserved communities throughout the Virginia Central Appalachian area. Founded by Sister Bernadette "Bernie" Kenny, the mission began with a determined nun, an old Volkswagen Beetle, and a calling to bring care to people who might otherwise go without it.
The book also captures the lives of the people behind the stats: patients facing difficult circumstances, families seeking help and health care providers who continue to show up when the road becomes difficult. For readers in the Lock Haven area, McBride's book offers an opportunity to explore a story rooted in the broader Appalachian experience.
For McBride, the visit represents more than an author's appearance. It is rooted in family, education and a story that changed the way she sees the world. Both of McBride's parents, Donald and Kathy McBride, were from Lock Haven. Her mother was also a Lock Haven graduate, earning a degree in education.
"Coming back to the area for this talk means a great deal to me," McBride said. "My parents' roots were here, and this region will always be part of my story. I'm coming back to the place where our family's story began."
Her own time at The Haven helped shape her path. She participated in student government, theater and chorus, and was a member of the university's Zeta chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau. She later earned a master's degree from Alvernia University in Reading, and a doctorate from Immaculata University.
The event is free and open to the public. Mountain Mercy was released November 1, and is available through Amazon, Target, Walmart and Books-A-Million.
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Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Julie Stellfox, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications, jms833@commonwealthu.edu, 570-484-2280Share this Story
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