UPMC

At UPMC, our team members are defined by more than their professional roles. Each day, they contribute their unique skills and expertise to their work. Beyond their jobs, our colleagues explore their artistic, athletic, and creative interests. Whether they’re revisiting past hobbies or uncovering new talents, our workplace thrives on creativity. Meet Dr. Ronen Elefant, Trauma Medical Director, and chief of Acute Care Surgery, UPMC Williamsport! When he’s not attending to trauma and emergency general surgery patients, Dr. Elefant is soaring high above the clouds. Flying has become second nature to him. He took his first flying lesson at the age of 13 and pursued his private pilot license again at 19. Through flying, he has learned to remain calm under pressure and to never give up on his dreams, even when things don’t go as planned.

UPMC Enterprises is hosting its Top of Mind: Life Sciences Summit at the Center for Connected Medicine today. This invite-only conference for leaders and partners at the frontiers of the health care delivery, insurance, biotech, venture, and life sciences communities is an opportunity to create valuable relationships with diverse stakeholders who are driving innovation in life sciences forward. Leaders across UPMC including Diane Holder, EVP of UPMC and president of UPMC Insurance Services Division; Tim Billiar, MD, EVP and chief scientific officer of UPMC; Oscar Marroquin, MD, EVP of UPMC and president of UPMC Physician Services; and Don Yealy, MD, chief medical officer of UPMC are participating in panel discussions at the event. Topics during the program include women’s health equity, Pennsylvania as a biotech hub, reimbursement models for novel therapeutics, the evolution of biomarker discovery in drug development and clinical care, and more. https://lnkd.in/e_tajeQG

UPMC Enterprises, the venture capital arm of UPMC, is launching the first Women’s Health @ Top of Mind event today, a pivotal pre-summit program hosted at the Center for Connected Medicine at UPMC that unites health experts with the aim of driving tangible progress in the crucial field of #womenshealth. Summit panels will feature insight from several UPMC physicians and leaders across the system, and discussion will surround the pioneering work happening at Magee-Womens Research Institute—the largest women’s research institute in the U.S.—and UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, a global leader in women’s health care. Specifically, experts will focus on three key areas where tangible progress can be made: - Research: Conducting more studies to understand biological differences. - Access: Ensuring optimal access to the right care at the right time. - Funding: Investing in innovative products that better serve the female population. Learn more about the pre-summit program and view the full agenda: https://lnkd.in/e3twe2nR

Randy Williams, manager, Food Services, UPMC Mercy, began his journey with UPMC Food and Nutrition three and a half years ago. Within his first week, he identified an opportunity in the kitchen that was close to his heart. “I messaged my manager after I was here for less than a week and said, ‘Is there anything we can about this food waste?’” “So many patients are discharged with a list of medications that need to be taken with food,” Randy notes, “and no one ever asked before: Do you have the ability to feed yourself?” Food insecurity has long been linked to hospital readmission rates in adult patients as a contributing factor, and Randy was determined to lend a hand to bringing those numbers down. The concept, while simple, was genius: send discharged patients and their caretakers (where applicable) home with meals. The well-balanced meals are safely built from the meal service leftovers in environmentally friendly reusable containers and stored in the freezer. Every patient at UPMC Mercy is asked upon discharge if they would like to opt into the program. These programs have allowed Randy’s team to eliminate over 90% of their perishable food waste. “We waste nothing here at UPMC Mercy,” Randy says. https://lnkd.in/eUmJUSdW

Mike Spaeth, working foreperson, Engineering Maintenance, UPMC Williamsport, joined the Air Force right out of high school. Unsure of what he wanted to do, Mike needed to pick a trade. He chose what was then called air conditioning and refrigeration, today, known as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). “I kind of picked air conditioning and refrigeration hoping I’d get stationed in a warm place,” Mike said. Now more than 45 years later into his career, he chose wisely. Mike has worked as a certified HVAC technician at UPMC Williamsport since 1980 and oversees maintenance and repairs on everything heating, ventilation, and refrigeration. “I’m a working foreperson so I do preventive maintenance and the service calls,” Mike said. “I do the work and direct the other workers. I’ll order materials, work with vendors, and make sure everything is in working order.” Mike oversees the HVAC team at UPMC Williamsport and UPMC Williamsport Divine Providence Campus. Prior to becoming a working foreperson about three years ago, Mike mostly worked out of a van and traveled to Williamsport, Muncy, and Lock Haven to respond to service calls. Now, much of his time is maintaining old equipment, helping install new equipment, and monitoring the systems that keep the hospital operational and comfortable. “Our systems are all automated, which makes it kind of nice,” Mike said. “I can get on a computer, and I can look at Building Automation. I can look at the AC system, the chillers, boilers, I can look at everything and a lot of times I can see things before they happen.” Mike’s son, Mike Spaeth II, service technician, Engineering Maintenance, UPMC Muncy, also got into HVAC. Though they have yet to work together, it’s still a point of pride for Mike to give his son some work advice. Though he’s not working in a tropical climate like he hoped almost 50 years ago, Mike is happy with his career field. He enjoys his job and the people he works with and even recommends a job in the trades to anyone interested. “I have a good crew. I enjoy the people I work with, and I have a good crew of mechanics that work with me so that makes it easy,” Mike said. “I was able to raise my family with this job so that’s what’s most important.”

UPMC is among the world's largest and most comprehensive centers for robotic surgery. Our experts operate surgical robots at more than 20 UPMC hospitals. Recognizing the potential to address unfulfilled market demands, the UPMC Enterprises Translational Sciences team is actively investigating #medicaldevice opportunities while maintaining a strong focus on #therapeutics research. Learn more about the surgical robotics landscape from our organization’s innovation, commercialization, and venture capital arm: https://lnkd.in/e7yWXbYt

At UPMC, our team members are more than just their job titles. Every day, they bring their unique skills and expertise to their roles. But there’s more to their story! Our colleagues also pursue their artistic, athletic, and creative passions. Whether they’re reigniting old hobbies or discovering new talents, our workplace is brimming with creativity. Meet Edward Dewitt, Manager, Public Relations, UPMC Western Maryland. “Making maple syrup is a wonderful way to shake off the winter blues and enjoy the outdoors,” says Edward. Sugarmaking is a family tradition, with his cousin’s family commercially producing maple syrup, which inspired him to start about six years ago. For Edward, the highlight of the entire process is gathering around the fire with family and friends, cherishing the time spent together.

Congratulations to Sr. Carolyn Schallenberger on an incredible 65 years of service!

This week's episode of UPMC NOW highlights a UPMC Vision Institute patient who received a genetic treatment aimed at treating her loss of vision and a program in Harrisburg that provides access to quality and physical health care through fitness and education. Next, see the newly opened Zoe Atrium on the 13th floor of UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital and watch as UPMC Horizon announces the expansion of its emergency department to provide greater access to emergency medical services in the community.

Congratulations to the team at UPMC Lititz on receiving their first Pathway to Excellence® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center! Pathway to Excellence recognizes the hospital's dedication to creating an empowering and supportive environment for nurses and recognizes the exceptional care experiences they consistently deliver. It also serves as a testament to our strong and continued commitment to nursing excellence and reflects the dedication, hard work, and collaborative spirit that define our hospitals. UPMC Lititz nurses embraced the six Pathway Standards, learning ways to prioritize their own well-being and health while focusing on safe, high-quality care for their patients.