Danielle Erkoboni is Associate Medical Director of Reach Out and Read Pennsylvania and a general pediatrician at CHOP Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pediatric Primary Care Center, Norristown . She additionally serves as the Director of the Literacy Lab at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), a faculty member in PolicyLab at CHOP, and an Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. In these roles, Dr. Erkoboni leads efforts to promote early literacy and relational health through parent-child interaction in an increasingly digital age. Much of her work focuses on initiatives, like Reach Out and Read, that support these interactions through talking, singing, reading, and playing in the pediatric primary care office. Through this work, Dr. Erkoboni has partnered with multiple community-based organizations and stakeholders, including the Institute for Child Success, Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network (PLLAN), the Free Library of Philadelphia, Reach Out and Read, Inc., and Read by 4th (Philadelphia’s grade-level reading campaign).

Dr. Erkoboni completed her undergraduate medical education at Chicago Medical School, pediatric residency at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, and academic fellowship in the National Clinician Scholar Program at the University of Pennsylvania, where she received a Master’s in Health Policy and Research. Dr. Erkoboni is the co-chair of LitNet, Reach Out and Read’s National Research Network, and participates on many local and national committees, including leadership roles in the Pennsylvania American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Early Childhood Committee, Read by 4th’s Leadership Council, and the Council on Early Childhood (COEC) of the AAP. At home, she is a mother to two girls, and her favorite children’s book is “Click Clack Moo” by Doreen Cronin.

Samantha joined Reach Out and Read in 2023 and brought Reach Out and Read to over 100 sites as the Northeast affiliate’s Expansion Specialist before joining the Pennsylvania affiliate team in 2025 as their Western PA Program Manager. As a member of the newly formed Pennsylvania affiliate, she supports sites across Western and Central PA in delivering Reach Out and Read to fidelity, while also advocating for Reach Out and Read to support growth across the Commonwealth.

Originally from Erie, PA and currently based out of Pittsburgh, Samantha received her B.S in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, and her M.Ed in Early Childhood Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has spent her career specializing in early childhood; previously serving as a teacher, working in Child Life, and providing early literacy programming in Western New York prior to joining Reach Out and Read. She believes that caregivers are children’s first and best teachers and is passionate about giving parents and caregivers tools to make the most of their children’s earliest years.

Outside of work, Samantha is a proud Rescue Dog mom and an avid reader herself. She loves spending time outside, exploring new places to camp and hike, and cheering on her Pittsburgh Pirates. Ask her about Morrigan’s latest shenanigans or her current crochet project, and share your favorite reads to add to her ever-growing TBR!