In Their Words

How can access to fresh, nutritious food help build healthier patients and communities?

Listen in as Dr. Andy Dessel, Director of Strategic Initiatives for the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, explores the connection between food insecurity, nutrition, and health.

Drawing on his experience with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and his work with the Foundation, Dr. Dessel shares how the Farm to Hospital Program is putting fresh produce into the hands of patients today and how the program could continue to grow across Central Pennsylvania.

How can access to fresh, nutritious food help build healthier patients and communities?
Listen in as Dr. Andy Dessel, Director of Strategic Initiatives for the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, explores the connection between food insecurity, nutrition, and health. Drawing on his experience with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and his work with the Foundation, Dr. Dessel shares how the Farm to Hospital Program is putting fresh produce into the hands of patients today and how the program could continue to grow across Central Pennsylvania. Podcast - Andy

At 28 years old, Angelique Nelson received a breast cancer diagnosis that changed her life. Throughout surgery, treatment and chemotherapy, she found strength not only in her care, but in the people who showed up for her along the way.
In this special Day of Gratitude episode of In Their Words, Angelique reflects on her journey, the relationships she formed with her care team and the moments of compassion and support that continue to stay with her today.

In this episode of In Their Words, we sit down with Dr. Robin Hicks, physician medical director of UPMC Supportive Care and Palliative Medicine in Central Pennsylvania, for a conversation about compassion, connection, and caring for patients and families through some of life’s most difficult moments.
Dr. Hicks shares what drew her to palliative medicine, some of the misconceptions surrounding this often-misunderstood specialty, and how listening to patients and families continues to shape her work. She also discusses the role philanthropy can play in providing meaningful support beyond traditional medical care.
From honoring a patient’s wishes to finding small but powerful ways to support families, Dr. Hicks offers a thoughtful look at the human side of medicine.

In this episode of In Their Words, Angela Miller, a lead LPN at UPMC with more than 40 years of nursing experience, shares a deeply personal perspective on palliative care.

After a career spent caring for others, Angela found herself on the other side of healthcare when her father faced advanced heart failure. She reflects on how her family’s experience with the palliative care team transformed her understanding of end-of-life care and showed her the profound impact of compassionate, patient-centered support.

In this episode, Pamela Miller, Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist and Health Educator II, discusses tobacco cessation programs offered through UPMC Central Pa and at UPMC Memorial. Pamela shares how education, personalized support, and practical strategies help individuals and employees successfully quit smoking. She also reflects on Bill’s journey from the previous episode, sharing how meaningful his experience was to her and how emotional it was to see the program truly change someone’s life after so many years of trying.

After decades of failed attempts, Bill thought quitting smoking was impossible. Then one workplace program at UPMC Central Pa changed everything. Six years later, he is smoke-free and thriving. Hear what clicked for him, why this approach worked when nothing else did, and the moments that transformed his mindset.

Sometimes, life changes because of a moment that almost didn't happen.

For Doug Knepp, it was a routine follow-up appointment with his primary care physician. As the visit was wrapping up, he nearly dismissed a small, itchy spot on his chest that looked like nothing more than a tick bite. Instead, he mentioned it. That simple conversation set in motion a journey through a diagnosis of male breast cancer, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and survivorship.

But Doug's story is about much more than cancer.

It's about the people who answered the phone when he was scared, the nurse navigators and physicians who guided him through each step, the support groups that welcomed him, and the comprehensive network of care that helped him heal. Along the way, Doug embraced every resource available—from oncology specialists and survivorship services to nutrition counseling, acupuncture, behavioral health support, and peer connections—discovering that cancer care is about caring for the whole person.

Today, Doug continues to advocate for others by sharing his story, supporting fellow patients, and helping improve the experience for those who come after him. His journey is a powerful reminder of the importance of early detection, the value of community, and the life-changing impact healthcare professionals can have on a person's life.

In Doug's own words, the team at UPMC "saved his life."

This is Doug's story, in his own 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 drives her work every day. And we'll hear her perspective on our last episode, where we spoke with Katie St. Claire about her son Dominic's remarkable journey at the Pediatric Rehabilitation Center. a journey that helped him gain independence and truly transformed his life.