UPMC PINNACLE FOUNDATION
2023 ANNUAL
GRatitude
report
Milestone Moment: UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing's First Graduating Class
"I want to thank all of our faculty and staff who have helped us come to this point in our lives where we have the opportunity to walk across this stage having finished this rigorous 16-month program of preparation to become competent, critical thinking, adaptable, professional nurses,"
Ta-Liah Jones, nurse graduate
Heroes on the Move
Providing life-saving care and emergency medicine to 81 municipalities, Community LifeTeam (CLT) is always ready to respond to the unexpected.
CLT paramedics assist over 140 patients each and every day, meaning that the impact of their care throughout Central Pa. is tremendous.
2023 was a year of exciting growth for CLT, with new staff members, a new fleet revitalization program serving CLT ambulances, and more. We caught up with Allicia Ryder, paramedic supervisor, to learn more about everything CLT has accomplished in the last year. “There’s not enough thanks that we can give to the [generous donors] who help provide new gear and support our life-saving measures,” Allicia said.
Watch Allicia’s full update >
a grateful patient in PUNK ROCK Santa
Becoming a living organ donor isn’t something that many people foresee, but for Chris Prince, it was an easy decision.
When a close friend suddenly found himself diagnosed with a rare condition that attacked his kidneys, there wasn’t a question in Chris’s mind that he wanted to help. He looked into the process to donate his kidney and discovered that he and his friend were a tissue match, and the team at UPMC Central Pa. made him feel comfortable with the process every step of the way.
After a challenging road to healing following the donation, Chris wanted to find a way to give back to other organ donors and recipients going through the process. Each holiday season, Chris plays a character at the Carlisle Market of Curiosities called Punk Rock Santa, and in 2023, he requested donations to the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation in lieu of a fee for attendees to take a photo with him. “I just figured it was a perfect opportunity to raise interest in UPMC,” Chris says. “I think what [the Foundation and its donors] do is every bit as important as what doctors and nurses do and what the organ donors and recipients do. It’s all this wonderful family and community, and [I wanted to do] anything I could to raise awareness for the Foundation and organ donation.”
Watch Chris’s full donation story >
UPMC Hanover's Renovated Emergency Department Marks One-Year Milestone
Delivering Exceptional Care and Impactful Outcomes
When expert assessment and treatment are combined with a supportive, healing atmosphere, remarkable outcomes can be achieved.
The UPMC Hanover emergency department required renovations to enhance the care of patients experiencing behavioral health emergencies, to increase space for rapid assessment of incoming patients, and to improve the fast-track area for urgent care patients. The renovated emergency department celebrated its one year anniversary in December 2023, and in that year, this improved space has had an incredible impact on the community.
53
Behavioral Health Patients Served
29,328
Emergency Department Encounters
4,049
Pediatric Emergency Department Encounters
Florida Survivor Backs UPMC Pinnacle Foundation Cancer Genetics Fund
Roslyn Lindeman, a Florida resident, usually preferred to support national non-profits until she heard about the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation in Pennsylvania from her family. A cousin of the Triano family, when Roslyn learned about the Dr. Gene and Elizabeth Triano Family Genetics Counseling Fund that her relatives had established to mitigate the cost of genetic counseling and make it more accessible for oncology patients, she felt a connection like she never had to any cause before.
Roslyn is a two-time breast cancer survivor, with occurrences diagnosed 30 years apart. With a medical background as a nurse, Roslyn wanted to advocate for herself when she was diagnosed to ensure she had the best outcome, so she asked her doctors if she should have a double mastectomy so she didn’t need to worry about cancer in her other breast. At the time, it was unheard of – genetic testing wasn’t prevalent yet, and the BRCA gene hadn’t been discovered, so Roslyn was told a double mastectomy was too extreme and not to be concerned about it.
Roslyn knows that if she had access to genetic testing 30 years ago when she first had cancer, there’s a good chance she could have prevented the second reoccurrence, so she became a staunch advocate of supporting methods that would keep something similar happening to other patients.
When Roslyn supported larger, national non-profits, she found that she didn’t always know what her donations had been used for. But with the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, she was notified immediately when her support made a difference in the lives of Central Pa. patients. She knew how many patients she had helped and what her gift had truly accomplished, and she felt more connected to the Foundation than she ever has with any of the other organizations she’s supported, despite the distance.
“When I found out about the [Dr. Gene and Elizabeth Triano Family Genetics Counseling] Fund, it was the niche I was looking for,” Roslyn said.
By the numbers
Total dollars raised
$12,706,959.42
Total Donors
2683
New Donors
1115
Harvesting health:
building a Sustainable Future with UPMC Memorial's Farm to Hospital Program
At the end of 2023, the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation broke ground on the Farm to Hospital program at UPMC Memorial—a transformative collaboration with York Fresh Food Farms to establish a sustainable, year-round working farm on our campus.
Led by Dr. KimberLee Mudge, the initiative aims to combat food insecurity by providing fresh, healthy produce to patients, staff, and the community. UPMC Memorial and the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation partner with York Fresh Food Farms for day-to-day operations, educational programs, and seasonal produce rotation.
Our heartfelt thanks goes out to our partners in this initiative - the Memorial Health Fund of the York County Community Foundation, Powder Mill Foundation, and York Excavating Co. Together, we aim to operate a year-round farm, harvest 10,000 lbs. of produce annually, and provide greater access to fresh food to the York community.
Looking forward, we plan to work with our providers to eventually write Farmacy prescriptions, addressing health conditions through tailored fresh produce. We’re grateful for the donor support and partnerships that make it possible for us to create a healthier community for our neighbors to live in.
“Fundamental lifestyle changes can be transforming," said UPMC Memorial Breast Surgeon, Dr. KimberLee Mudge. "Through our farm-to-hospital concept of plant-based nutrition and the surrounding walking paths, we hope to remind our community that wellness is a personal choice. Now is the time to “get grounded“. Nutrition, exercise, and sunshine are therapies for the mind, body, and soul. Combining a state-of-the-art medical facility and lifestyle choices, our community can benefit from Life-Changing Medicine at UPMC Memorial.”
PAmela prowell
When Pam was diagnosed with cancer, she found herself standing at a crossroads of emotional turmoil and financial hardship...
Her husband was facing his own daunting cancer prognosis, and shortly after Pam was diagnosed, he lost his battle. Without his insurance coverage for her own treatment, and with bills continuing to come in, Pam needed a lifeline.
Thanks to donor support through the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, Pam’s care team was able to set her up with the financial support she needed so she was free to focus on her journey to healing. Even something as little as knowing a gas card was coming made a world of difference for Pam, easing the worry about how she was going to get to her treatments.
“The UPMC Pinnacle Foundation provided a way for my family to continue to just live and not be constantly worried about being able to pay a bill. The Foundation was so supportive and made me feel like I still had dignity.”
Stories of Gratitude:
"The UPMC Pinnacle Foundation provided a way for my family to continue to just live and not be constantly worried about being able to pay a bill. The Foundation was so supportive and made me feel like I still had dignity.”
Transformative Care and Support:
The incredible
Journey of Jasmine, Noelle, and Charlotte
At 30 weeks pregnant with twins, Jasmine Slonaker found out that twin A's arrival was imminent, and she was flown to UPMC Harrisburg where she was cared for in the Antepartum unit.
After five days, Miss Charlotte and Miss Noelle made their early debut on November 11th, 2022, thriving under the NICU's watchful care for five weeks. “No parent expects to be in the NICU or to have an Antepartum stay,” Jasmine said, “but [the staff] were all very comforting and welcoming. I felt like I mattered to them. I don’t know where I would be without them.”
Dr. Silver's team at UPMC Central Pa. Women's Behavioral Health Services provided unwavering support during Jasmine's Zurelso infusion to alleviate the symptoms of her postpartum depression, advocating not only for her health and her mental wellbeing in the months following the birth of her children.
“The [UPMC Pinnacle Foundation] also funded transportation for me to get from York to Harrisburg, because I don’t drive,” Jasmine said, “and that was a lifesaver for me because I don’t think I could have done it without seeing [my babies] every day.”
From the Antepartum unit to the NICU to Behavioral Health Services, the caregivers Jasmine met during the months leading up to and following the birth of her babies provided care and comfort at every turn. Jasmine, Noelle, and Charlotte's journey exemplifies the power of exceptional healthcare and is a perfect example of how every caregiver’s work comes together to create a life-changing experience at UPMC Central Pa.
Watch Jasmine’s full story of healing below.
2023 Events:
A Year In Review
Our events make an incredible difference for UPMC Central Pa. patients and programs, and they wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of donors like you!
A Summer of Golf
Thank you to all who teed off with us this summer and made our summer of golf a swinging success!