The PYO Music Institute (PYO) is proud to announce that Lydia Ogden, PhD, MPP has been named a new trustee of the board. Ogden, a resident of Philadelphia, PA, is a believer in the power of music and has two children who participate in PYO Music Institute organization, one in the advanced PYO (PYO Music Institute) and one in PYAO (Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra).

“Participating in music, as a listener or performer, has proven academic benefits. It sharpens math, reading and language skills,” Ogden noted. “More importantly, music is a fundamental expression of our shared humanity. I’m thrilled to join the board and help advance PYO’s vital mission in our community.”

Dr. Ogden is Senior Executive Director, Vaccine Global Public Policy at Merck and Co., Inc. Prior to joining Merck in 2012, she worked in public health for more than two decades at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From June to December 2010, she served as the Senior Health Policy Advisor to President Obama’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.  She has a doctorate in health services research and health policy from Emory University; a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; a Master’s degree in Literature from Vanderbilt University; and a bachelor’s degree in English and Education (K-12) from Middle Tennessee State University.  She has taught elementary, high school, college and graduate school students over the course of her career, incorporating music into her classes, even in health policy.

Maestro Louis Scaglione, President and Music Director of PYO shared his appreciation of Dr. Ogden joining the board and said, “We welcome Lydia to our board and with her most impressive background in public health, we are thrilled that she places such high value on the power of music. Her insight and extensive background will be an asset to all of us on the board and we thank her sincerely for her interest and support.”