UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Christin Deal, MD is a pediatric allergist/immunologist at UPMC Children’s. This is a comment one of her patients' families shared about their experience seeing her. UPMC Children’s is proud to share feedback from our families, and we’re always looking for ways to improve our service. “Dr. Deal is exceptional. She is always kind, thorough, and efficient. She has taken the time to get to know our daughter to the point that our daughter gets excited when it's time to go see Dr. Deal. We always feel included in the treatment plan and have never once felt rushed. Dr. Deal always makes sure we have time to ask her questions and that we know exactly what to expect at the next appointment and when to call the clinic in between visits. She is a true gem!” –Comments from a recent patient survey

Our UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh nurses provide the highest level of patient care and have been recognized for their excellence year after year. During the most challenging times, nurses step in and step up to provide care and compassion in all they do. I want to express my deep gratitude to our nurses for the incredible work they do for our patients and their families each and every day. Happy Nurses Week!

Congratulations to our Kids First Award Winner for April: Brittany Meyer, C & E Arts Therapist II, at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Brittany’s nomination reads: “Brittany is a stellar example of going above and beyond for her patients. One of Brittany's patients, who has had an extended hospitalization, was disappointed to learn that they were going to miss their tap dance recital that they had been preparing for outside of the hospital. When Brittany learned about this, she supported this patient by putting on their dance recital performance right here on the stage in our Creative and Expressive Arts Therapy Center. Brittany worked with this patient over many weeks to help them practice their dance routine (and even learned it herself to support them through the performance if needed). This turned into a "Holiday Extravaganza" therapeutic performance, where the patient performed their tap dance, as well as sang multiple songs to an audience full of no less than 25 clinical staff members, including this patient's surgical team, therapists, nurses, and more. The performance ended with a surprise dance party in which everyone was on their feet sharing in this momentous occasion for the patient. The joy and spirit of this patient was evident and none of this would have been possible without Brittany's dedication to promoting a positive and normalizing experience for her patients and families. Congratulations and thank you, Brittany, for all you bring to your work as a music therapist at CHP! #KIDSFirstAward

Meet Maura Miglioretti, PhD, a pediatric psychologist at UPMC Children’s Hospital. She is our second featured behavioral health provider for #MentalHealthAwareness Month! It has been Maura’s life-long goal to work in medicine. She completed her PhD in school psychology, a general residency in pediatric psychology, and specialty post-doctoral training in pediatric solid organ transplantation and pediatric critical care. These experiences created a passion for the care of critically ill children and their families. That led Maura to her role in pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant at UPMC Children’s. “It's hard to imagine doing anything else,” says Maura. “Working with children and families undergoing cancer treatment is hands-down the most meaningful and purposeful aspect of my life. These kids are incredible. It is an honor and privilege to walk alongside pediatric cancer patients and their families during their treatment journey.” Maura's colleagues at UPMC Children's share her values of empathy, advocacy, and community. They support her through the ups and downs. Her colleagues have become some of her closest friends. When not at work, Maura likes to spend time with her husband and dogs. She enjoys playing soccer and flag football, hiking, gardening, and DIY projects. #MentalHealthMonth #MentalHealthMatters

Join the experts at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for free lunchtime webinars and earn CME. Our webinar series is designed to provide guidance for pediatricians, family practitioners, and other health care professionals. Andrew McCormick, MD, is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Paul C. Gaffney Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine. He trained in the Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Residency Program at UPMC and joined the division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh after completing his training. His clinical interests include care for children and adults with Vascular Anomalies and he serves as the Medical Director of the Vascular Anomaly Center of UPMC. He also works in the Down Syndrome Center of Western PA and directs the Healthy Transitions Program for the Center.

Srinivasan Suresh, MD, MBA, VP and CMIO at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, is presenting "ChatGPT for Pediatricians: You've heard about it. Now learn how to use it!" at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting this morning from 8:00-9:30 a.m. in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre: 602. #PAS2024

Carol Earl, PA-C, is a physician assistant in Pediatric Gastroenterology at UPMC Children’s. This is a comment one of her patients' families shared about their experience seeing her. UPMC Children’s is proud to share feedback from our families, and we’re always looking for ways to improve our service. “Carol Earl was so incredibly thorough. She asked so many questions and explained everything to me and to my son. I've never felt more listened to by a medical professional.” –Comments from a recent patient survey

The UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute and the Heart Institute at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh were well-represented at the 2024 American College of Cardiology Annual Meeting. UPMC experts led lectures and presented abstracts on a number of important cardiovascular topics. Learn more about UPMC's participation at #ACC24: https://lnkd.in/erVuFyRC

Congratulations to Angela Cupelli, BSN, RN, CPHON, BMT-RN, professional staff nurse on unit 9B at Children’s, recipient of our September 2023 Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses! 🌼 Here’s an excerpt from her nomination: “Angela’s dedication to ongoing education is truly inspiring. She consistently seeks out opportunities to enhance her knowledge and skills. Her dedication to staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in nursing not only benefits her own professional growth but also positively impacts the quality of care she provides to her patients. One of the most remarkable aspects of Angela’s practice is her ability to empower her patients and their families. She understands the importance of clear communication. She patiently explains medical procedures, treatment plans, and At Home Care, ensuring that everyone is well-informed. Her dedication to patient education fosters trust and allows patients to feel more confident in managing their health journey.” Congratulations, Angela, and thank you! #daisyaward #extraordinarynurses #daisyfoundation #thankyounurses

Let us introduce you to Justin Kopec, a licensed psychologist at UPMC Children’s Hospital. He is the first of our features for #MentalHealthAwareness Month! Justin started working with children with neurodevelopmental conditions in college through his music education studies. “I enjoyed working with this unique population and discovering the strengths of each child," says Justin. "I decided to shift my focus to studying psychology and behavioral health and become a licensed psychologist." He continues to work with children and their families to provide accurate diagnostic assessments and behavioral interventions. Justin enjoys being part of UPMC Children’s Behavioral Science Division and the team's amazing work to support children, families, and each other. “I love to help children achieve their full potential and parents build skills to best support their children. I have fun working with some of the most awesome and unique children,” adds Justin. Outside of work Justin enjoys exploring Pittsburgh's restaurants and breweries, traveling, playing the piano, going to concerts, hanging out with his cats, and spending time with his husband, friends, and family. #MentalHealthMonth #MentalHealthMatters