Reporter

Leif Greiss

Leif Greiss covers hospitals, health networks and public health in the Lehigh Valley for The Morning Call. Born and raised in Berks County, he returned to southeast Pennsylvania after spending two years covering the city of Bristol, Tennessee for the Bristol Herald Courier. As a Penn State student, he was a staff reporter for the Daily Collegian.

Karolina Fedoryszak emerges from the chicken coop in her backyard Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Forks Township. The township says chickens aren’t allowed as pets, but Fedoryszak insists she received verbal permission in 2019. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Lehigh Valley top stories of 2025: Chicken coop battles, ICE raid, children in danger and data centers

December 31, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

The Morning Call looks back at the biggest stories of 2025 in the Lehigh Valley, from chicken coop battles to an ICE raid to the strong possibility of data centers...

Jennifer Doyle (right) stands with her son, Charlie, and husband Chris Doyle at a Christmas tree orchard. Jennifer Doyle, owner of Bethlehem Pediatric Therapy Services, is worried how increasing costs of her health care premiums will affect her ability to continue being a small business owner.

With no deal in sight, health care costs will rise in 2026. Here’s how that will affect one Lehigh Valley family

December 24, 2025 at 9:53 a.m.

Jennifer Doyle is one of more than 20 million Americans who can expect to see a significant increase in their premiums come next year.

Dr. Debra Esernio-Jenssen was medical director of the John Van Brakle Child Advocacy Center at Lehigh Valley Health Network. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Dozens of parents are suing Lehigh Valley child abuse doctor at center of new Serial podcast

December 19, 2025 at 5:03 a.m.

Debra Esernio-Jenssen and Lehigh Valley Health Network are being sued by dozens of parents who say they were falsely accused of child abuse.

Matthew Wolfe speaks at his home Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Allentown. In 2017, Wolfe was convicted of killing his infant daughter in part due to the testimony of Dr. Debra Esernio-Jenssen, a child abuse pediatrician and former medical director of the John Van Brakle Child Advocacy Center. In September, after the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and raised questions about Esernio-Jenssen’s testimony, the jury verdict was withdrawn. Wolfe pleaded no contest to reduced charges and was eligible for release from prison. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

A Lehigh Valley doctor’s testimony sent this man to prison. Questions about her credibility led to his release

December 18, 2025 at 7:22 a.m.

The key to Matthew Wolfe's conviction was the testimony of Dr. Debra Esernio-Jenssen. In a stunning reversal, however, the guilty verdict against him was withdrawn.

Retsef Levi listens during a meeting of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on Dec. 5, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. The ACIP is meeting to vote on changes to the childhood vaccination schedule and delay hepatitis B shots.

Lehigh Valley doctors urge parents to ‘trust their pediatrician’ in face of updated hepatitis B vaccine guidance

December 16, 2025 at 4:05 a.m.

Despite new guidance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on giving the hepatitis B Vaccine to infants, Pennsylvania’s Department of Health, some hospitals and the American Academy of Pediatrics...

Emergency crews tend to a vehicle rollover in East Allen Township as a winter storm drops 2-4 inches of snow across the Lehigh Valley on Saturday night into Sunday morning Dec. 14, 2025, with cold temperatures and slick roads. (Rich Rolen/Special to The Morning Call)

Northampton County rollover crash sends 2 to hospital

December 14, 2025 at 6:37 p.m.

A rollover crash late Saturday night sent two to the hospital in East Allen Township.

A vandalized Christmas display at Lights in the Parkway Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Allentown. Lights in the Parkway is closed after a “significant act of vandalism” caused extensive damage to light displays and restrooms. Vandals pushed port-a-potties into Little Lehigh Creek, bent light poles and posts and crushed light bulbs. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Lights in the Parkway closed after ‘significant act of vandalism’ damages Allentown holiday display

December 14, 2025 at 8:38 p.m.

Lights in the Parkway will be closed Sunday night and until further notice after a "significant act of vandalism" caused extensive damage to the Allentown holiday lights display.

Exterior of the new Hanover Hill Behavioral Health is seen Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Hanover Township, Northampton County. The three-story, 144-bed behavioral health hospital represents a joint venture between Lehigh Valley Health Network and Universal Health Services. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

New behavioral health hospital set to open in Lehigh Valley. What to know

December 17, 2025 at 2:30 p.m.

Pennsylvania’s newest behavioral health hospital will open its doors for patients soon.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, speaks Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, at the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Healthcare Summit at the Aster Event Center in Upper Macungie Township. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Dr. Oz gives his prescription for controlling health care costs at Lehigh Valley summit as trans groups protest visit

December 5, 2025 at 2:39 p.m.

Dr. Mehmet Oz gave his prescription for controlling spiraling health care costs Friday at the annual Lehigh Valley Health Care Summit, as local trans activist groups protested his appearance.

People receive dental care Saturday, Aug, 12, 2023, during a free clinic held by Remote Area Medical at Executive Education Academy Charter School in Allentown. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Annual free medical clinic returns to Lehigh Valley this weekend, offering dental, vision and medical care

December 2, 2025 at 7:01 a.m.

The Lehigh Valley’s 3rd annual Remote Area Medical pop-up clinic will be held this weekend in Bethlehem.

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