In Their Words

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 strength, confidence, and independence.

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 realities behind the growing transplant waitlist, and the critical role of living donors in saving lives.

Through both clinical insight and human connection, this conversation highlights the urgency, the hope, and the impact of organ donation.

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 life, while Riley offers her lived experience navigating kidney failure, dialysis, transplant, and recovery. Listen in to hear how lifesaving donations brought these three together and the remarkable stories that fuel The Great Social Experiment and its mission to change outcomes for patients in need.

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 program, born from witnessing too many young men in their 30s and 40s arriving at the hospital with preventable strokes. Rather than waiting for people to come to traditional healthcare settings, Jennifer takes health education directly to the community—starting conversations about blood pressure, stroke prevention, and overcoming the fear of medical knowledge in the familiar, trusted environment of local barbershops.

Discover how Jennifer's personal, conversational approach is breaking down barriers to healthcare access, addressing everything from stroke symptoms (using the BE-FAST acronym) to connecting people with primary care physicians and community resources. Learn why she believes "we can't be more afraid of knowledge than we are of death" and how her program is expanding to beauty salons with plans to include stroke survivors sharing their stories.

This episode highlights the power of meeting people where they are and the impact one person can make in preventing devastating, yet often preventable, health outcomes in their community.

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 age by the nurse who cared for her grandfather, Katlyn has spent more than a decade caring for women in her community and is now pursuing an advanced degree to expand the level of care she can provide. Through the Foundation’s scholarship support, she has been able to continue her education without placing additional financial strain on her family. Listen in to hear Katlyn ’s story, the impact of investing in local caregivers, and why supporting the next generation of clinical leaders strengthens care across our region.

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 of a colleague, to finding her path in psychiatric mental health care, Sasha’s story is one of resilience, compassion, and community.

Through the Foundation’s commitment to workforce development, scholarships like Sasha’s are helping to build a stronger, more compassionate healthcare team right here in Central Pa.

Listen now and hear how your support makes stories like Sasha’s possible.

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 generosity, and ultimately shape the care we provide across our communities.

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 support groups. In this episode, he reflects on the medical journey that reshaped his outlook and the power of gratitude to transform both healing and service.

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, has deepened her appreciation for their skill and compassion. She talks about how well the nurses know the employees they serve and how their expertise makes her own work easier and more meaningful, offering an inside look at the collaborative effort behind supporting employee wellness.

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 undiagnosed high blood pressure to empowering employers to care for their staff in meaningful ways, CARES is changing lives, one on-site visit at a time.

Listeners will hear how this small but mighty team helps people take that crucial first step toward better health—especially those who may never otherwise walk through a clinic door. With help from the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, CARES is bridging gaps, saving lives, and proving that sometimes, a 20-minute screening can lead to lifelong transformation.