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"Although my mother, through her practice in pediatrics ,cared for children in all walks of life, she was motivated when helping underprivileged children who lacked proper medical care," Dr.

Hoffman said.

"I was touched by the way she comforted the children.

"It was then that I decided that I wanted to become a doctor." Reaching out to help others was a Tylka family trait that dated back to Dr.

Tylka's parents, Michael and Clara, who raised her and her brother, Richard, in Ronco, Fayette County.

"My grandfather, Michael, gave up the opportunity to attend St.

Vincent College in Latrobe on a scholarship in order to support his parents," said Dr.

Tylka's other daughter, Suzanne McCann.

"He continued to work as a coal miner." When Dr.

Tylka graduated from high school, her parents both worked in order to send their daughter to college and later to medical school.

After graduating with honors from West Virginia University in 1956, she entered Georgetown University Medical School, where she received her medical degree in 1959.

Before opening her own private practice in Greene County, Dr.

Tylka did both her internship and residency in pediatric medicine at St.

Francis Hospital in Lawrenceville.

She later served as the executive medical director for the Home for Crippled Children (now Children's Institute of Pittsburgh); held the position of chief of maternal and child health for Allegheny County; served on staff as a ped...

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