By Jennifer Z., Manager – Materials Management, UPMC Shadyside 

My UPMC career began in 2013 after 16 years of working for a home respiratory company. I loved working with the physician offices, hospitals and patients to ensure their needs were met, but I also felt like it was time for a change of scene!  

As I was exploring my options, I decided to apply to an administrative coordinator position with UPMC Employee Transit that a friend told me about.  This role challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone of feeling secure in my daily responsibilities into having to learn a new job in a field I knew nothing about.  I went on to become a field coordinator, which offered new opportunities to work on special projects in different departments and hospitals throughout the system. I’ve been with UPMC for seven years now, and am currently a manager in materials management at Shadyside Hospital  

My day-to-day looks a little bit like this: each morning, I work through a list of items that need to be completed daily (timecards, addressing changes within our system, answering emails, and greeting and checking on staff as they start their day). There aren’t many dull moments during the day, as I spend time following up on requests for certain equipment and products, walking throughout the hospital to check on our supply rooms, coaching and team development, working alongside various departments, and attending meetings for planning new units that are opening.

My career goals are to be the most successful I can be in my current role and to always be learning something new to help me on my journey 

My career goals are to be the most successful I can be in my current role and to always be learning something new to help me on my journey. At the end of the day, I leave knowing that our work here in supply chain does make a difference to the patients and their families, even though we are behindthescenes. 

Health care is fast-paced industry to work in. It’s exciting to be a part of the largest hospital system in Pennsylvania.  There are so many opportunities available here, and not just clinical experiences in a hospital setting. This is a place where your career can really take off as long as you are willing to work hard and come to work with curiosity, eager to become the best you can be. 

My schedule can get a little crazy at times as a working mom with three young boys participating in sports practices and games, but I really wouldn’t have it any other way. I took a bit of a different path to UPMC than most of my co-workers, but I’m grateful to be where I am today. 


A career with UPMC provides opportunities to achieve the goals you have for your career and your personal life. Explore a career path with supply chain and learn more about the opportunities you can pursue to get you to where you want to be.

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