In Their Words

On this episode of In Their Words, the podcast brought to you by UPMC in Central PA and the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, we share the stories, voices, and perspectives that matter most in healthcare and healing. Today's episode features Stacie James, Program Director for the UPMC Hanover Pediatric Rehabilitation Center. In this episode, we'll get to know Stacie. her journey, her passion, and what dri...

Kathryn St. Clair shares the remarkable journey of her son, Dominic, whose diagnosis of spina bifida during pregnancy set their family on a path filled with decisions, challenges, and moments of profound strength. Now four years old, Dominic receives much of his ongoing support through UPMC Hanover’s Pediatric Rehabilitation Program, where physical and occupational therapy have helped him gain str...

In honor of Donate Life Month, this episode of In Their Words features Rebecca Brown, Director of the Kidney Transplant Program at UPMC in Central Pa., offering an inside look at what transplant care truly involves. From evaluation to life after transplant, Rebecca walks through the full journey patients and families experience. She shares what it means when a patient gets “the call,” the realitie...

Candice S. Coleman, Workplace Culture and Community Engagement Consultant at UPMC Central Pa., David Krissman, creator of The Great Social Experiment, and Riley Brubaker, Campaign Associate for The Great Social Experiment and a kidney transplant recipient, come together to share a powerful look at the impact of living kidney donation. Candice reflects on donating a kidney to save a family member’s...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Jennifer Rascoe, stroke coordinator at Harrisburg Hospital with UPMC, as she shares her innovative approach to community health outreach. After transitioning from luxury property management to nursing at age 30, Jennifer has dedicated her career to stroke prevention and care. In this episode, Jennifer discusses her groundbreaking barbershop outreach progr...

Katlyn Brummet is a Registered Nurse with experience in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Their background reflects a strong focus on clinical practice and patient care within diverse healthcare settings., a lifelong Hanover resident and Labor and Delivery nurse at UPMC Hanover, joins us to share how scholarships from the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation have shaped her journey in healthcare. Inspired at a young...

What inspires someone to step into the mental health field—and how can a scholarship help make that possible? In this episode of In Their Words, brought to you by UPMC in Central Pa. and the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, we sit down with Sasha, a nurse and recent scholarship recipient who turned personal challenges into a mission to serve others. From navigating graduate school, to honoring the legacy...

In this episode, we’re joined by Emily Sullivan, VP of Operations at the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, to explore the inception of the Grateful Patient Program and the powerful role gratitude plays in our work. Emily shares how the program was built, why grateful patients are such an important part of philanthropy in healthcare, and how expressions of thanks help inspire meaningful connections, fuel g...

After a major health issue changed the course of his life, longtime audio industry leader and community volunteer Ted Leamy discovered a new purpose in patient advocacy and gratitude. Drawing on decades of leadership experience, Ted now serves on the boards of UPMC Lititz and the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, volunteers with Cedars-Sinai’s Patient and Family Council, and speaks nationally to ostomy su...

Jessie Myers serves as a People Experience Partner with Quandel, where she oversees the day-to-day operations of the HR department and manages employee benefits. As part of her role, she partners with UPMC Cares to coordinate biometric screenings for Quandel’s workforce. In this episode, Jessie shares how working alongside the UPMC Cares nursing team, including Maureen Zimmerman from Episode 1, ha...

In this episode of In Their Words, we spotlight Maureen Zimmerman, Director of Corporate Wellness at UPMC, and the innovative CARES program—Corporate Ambassador Resource and Employer Solutions. Maureen shares how her team brings health screenings, biometric testing, CPR training, and personalized wellness education directly to workplaces and communities across Central PA. From uncovering undiagnos...

At UPMC Lititz, even the smallest changes make a big difference for mothers and newborns. In the latest episode of In Their Words, brought to you by UPMC in Central Pa. and the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, postpartum nurses Brenda and Ann share their unique journeys into nursing—and how new bassinets, warmers, and the right resources are helping families during a record baby boom at Lititz. Listen no...

In this episode of In Their Words, we sit down with Tammy, Kayla, and Jasmee—three NICU nurses from UPMC Lititz and UPMC Harrisburg—who brought the Sweet Pea Project to life at UPMC in Central Pa. What started as a simple idea has blossomed into a program that celebrates every milestone for the tiniest patients, from colorful ribbons marking progress to graduation caps at discharge. Through their...

In this powerful episode of In Their Words, we hear from Shannon Downey, Intake Services Director at Cumberland County Children and Youth Services. With a decade of experience in child welfare, Shannon offers an unflinching look at what it means to be one of the first responders in cases of suspected child abuse. She walks us through the high-stakes, emotionally demanding process her team undertak...

In this episode, we sit down with Jordan Luther, Mental Health Coordinator at the UPMC in Central Pa. Child Advocacy Center in Carlisle. Jordan shares the many ways that mental health coordinators—and the entire dedicated team at the Child Advocacy Center—make a profound difference in the lives of children impacted by neglect and abuse. He also discusses the vital role of the UPMC Pinnacle Foundat...

In Part 2 of Stories of Hope and Healing, we revisit the tiniest patients of UPMC in Central Pa.’s NICU—this time as thriving toddlers. Recorded at the 2025 NICU Reunion, parents of babies born in 2022 share, in their own words, what life was like during those first critical days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and what it means to see their children grow, laugh, and play today. It’s a moving...

In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with two inspiring leaders in pediatric healthcare—Abby Flanders, Executive Administrator at UPMC Central PA, and Dr. Becky Smith, Pediatric ICU physician at UPMC Children’s in Harrisburg. They reflect on their personal journeys into medicine, what drew them to pediatrics, and how early influences—like childhood dreams and family role models—shaped their care...

When lifelong philanthropists Bob and Donna Pullo made their planned gift to the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, they did more than support healthcare and education — they created a legacy that will uplift their community for generations. In this next part of our story, we hear from someone who sees the ripple effects of gifts like this every day: Jessica Ritchie, President of the UPMC Pinnacle Foundati...

When lifelong philanthropists Robert (Bob) and Donna Pullo thought about leaving a legacy, they knew that they wanted to blend their passion for education and healthcare and make a difference. Their planned gift to the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation will not only honor their goals but create an impact on their beloved community for generations to come. Originally from Massachusetts, Bob’s career started...

In this moving episode of In Their Words, we spotlight the unsung heroes behind UPMC Harrisburg's living kidney donor program: Living Donor Coordinator Jackie Stifler and Social Worker and Living Donor Advocate Amy Zook. Together, they guide donors through one of the most selfless acts imaginable—giving the gift of life. With decades of combined experience in nursing and social work, Jackie and Am...

David of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, was exhausted all the time—sleeping 11 hours a night but still feeling tired. Kidney disease from high blood pressure was slowly stealing his life away. When doctors said he needed a transplant, David reached out everywhere for a living donor. The answer came from his own son-in-law, Ray, who stepped up without hesitation. Their 2021 transplant at UPMC made medica...

Meet Tammy Siler, a woman whose definition of strength will leave you speechless. After 37 years of battling cancer and surviving four different diagnoses, Tammy's latest challenge came in December 2022 with a stage 3 ovarian cancer diagnosis at UPMC Memorial. But this isn't a story about defeat – it's about triumph, gratitude, and the power of an unshakeable spirit. In this deeply moving episode,...

In this inspiring episode, we share highlights from the powerful doctor Q&A panel that concluded UPMC Memorial’s “Walk With Docs” event. After a beautiful evening of connection and community, women's cancer survivors gathered for an open, heartfelt conversation with medical professionals who walked beside them—literally and figuratively. Hear from Drs. Mudge, Cream, Martyr, and DeRobertis, alo...

In this powerful episode of "In Their Words," we sit down with Anita Grove, a dedicated Social Worker at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in York and a breast cancer survivor herself. After being diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2009, Anita transformed her personal journey into a mission to support others facing similar challenges. Today, she shares her deeply personal experience with post-mastec...

Join us as we chat with Donna Harvat, a micro pigmentation artist who is giving cancer survivors back their sense of self, an uplifting finishing touch to recovery.