At UPMC, Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) are not just essential members of the care team — they are clinicians, leaders, mentors, innovators, and trusted partners for patients and families. Across anesthesia, oncology, acute care, community settings, and more, APPs bring expert care to life through collaboration, compassion, and connection, often during life’s most vulnerable moments.
In this feature, hear from APPs across UPMC, each with a unique path and purpose. From those inspired early by science and service, to others whose journeys were shaped through personal experiences, mentorship, or decades of practice, these individuals share what led them to their roles, what keeps them fulfilled and what it means to grow within a supportive, multidisciplinary team.
Together, their stories reflect the heart and spirit of UPMC’s APP community: a collective driven by purpose, resilience, and a shared commitment to making a difference. Their impact is felt not only in moments of care, but in the lives they change, the trust they build, and the future of health care that they help shape every day.
Nurse Anesthetists
Christina A.
CRNA Expert - UPMC Passavant
After years of nursing across the inpatient floor, operating room, and ICU, Christina A. knew she wanted more professionally — even though she loved the work she was doing. That clarity became deeply personal when her partner was diagnosed with cancer in their mid‑twenties. The experience underscored how unpredictable life can be and pushed Christina to take a leap of faith and pursue her long‑held dream of becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA).
Following board certification, Christina joined UPMC Passavant, supported by a sign‑on bonus and tuition assistance. Though she had worked within UPMC previously, it was Passavant’s leadership, culture, and sense of community that confirmed she was exactly where she belonged. The environment promotes work–life balance and genuine connection, while the diverse range of cases — from outpatient procedures to complex open‑heart surgery — keeps her consistently challenged and engaged.
As Christina puts it, “Anesthesia blends technical excellence with compassion — being present for patients at their most vulnerable is what makes this work so meaningful.”
Purpose, growth, camaraderie, and support are what continue to shape Christina’s career, and make UPMC feel like home.
Haley B.
CRNA - UPMC Mercy
For Haley B., becoming a nurse anesthetist wasn’t just about choosing a role in health care — it was about finding a place where science, critical thinking, and human connection come together in real time.
“Anesthesia really brings those things together,” she shares. “As a nurse anesthetist, you’re constantly thinking critically and making adjustments in real time to keep patients safe and comfortable.”
That fast‑paced, collaborative environment led her to UPMC Mercy, where she was excited to work alongside experienced teams that care for a wide variety of patients. Continuous learning and professional growth were priorities, and UPMC’s reputation for innovation made it a natural fit.
What resonates most with Haley, however, is the patient connection. “Even though patients may only see you briefly before surgery, that moment can make a big difference in helping them feel calmer and more comfortable,” she says.
Over time, Haley’s role at UPMC has given her confidence, purpose, and a strong sense of belonging, challenging her to grow in an evolving field while building lasting connections with colleagues who support her every step of the way.
Jamie C.
Assistant CRNA Director - UPMC Altoona
Jamie C. discovered her passion for anesthesia while earning her nursing diploma, inspired by a guest speaker who was a CRNA. From that moment, she knew this was the path she wanted to pursue, and every step she took after graduation was intentional in preparing her for a future as a CRNA.
UPMC felt like a natural choice. Encouraged by a close friend who was already working at UPMC and supported by her education at the University of Pittsburgh, Jamie was familiar with UPMC’s strong academic and clinical reputation. When an opportunity opened in Altoona, she was drawn to the supportive, close‑knit anesthesia team and the chance to care for patients within her own community — friends and neighbors she’s proud to serve.
What Jamie values most about her experience at UPMC is the people. Her department is built on genuine care, mutual support, and strong connections both inside and outside of work.
“We have a department that is more like family than coworkers. It is a group that truly takes care of each other, from helping with schedule needs, personally knowing and caring about each other’s family, and spending time together outside of work,” Jamie shares.
As a member of the United States Navy Reserves, Jamie credits her work at UPMC with helping her grow as both a clinician and a leader. And among the many meaningful moments along her UPMC journey, meeting her husband stands out as one of the most personal.
Joseph O.
Staff CRNA - UPMC Horizon and UPMC Jameson
For Joseph O., medicine was never just a career — it was a calling shaped early by admiration for caregiving and inspiration from his uncle, a Chief Anesthetist. That inspiration led him to a long and demanding career, including 19 years at a Level I trauma center and high-risk OB facility.
While the work was challenging and meaningful, Joseph felt something was missing. Everything changed when a younger colleague he once mentored encouraged him to join UPMC.
“It has been the best decision of my life,” he says, “I feel respected, inspired, and part of something very special.”
In just three years at UPMC, Joseph has found a renewed sense of purpose and belonging. He credits the supportive culture, shared values, and strong leadership.
Today, Joseph takes pride not only in his work, but in the impact of being part of an organization that truly makes a difference, summing it up best by saying: “I’m happier and healthier than I’ve ever been — and lucky to be part of something so great.”
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS
Corrine A.
Expert PA-C - UPMC Jameson (Hillman Cancer Center)
Corrine A. always knew she wanted to work in the medical field. Now more than 20 years into her career as a Physician Assistant (PA), she reflects on what she calls four different “lives” as a PA. Her journey has included early work in cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, a transition to urgent care while raising her family, and a stint in part-time in addiction medicine. For the past seven years, she has found her professional home in hematology-oncology with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.
She takes great pride in being part of UPMC Hillman Cancer Centers, a system she believes is united by a common purpose: “We are all united in the fight against cancer and giving our patients the best possible outcome,” she says.
Whether patients are receiving care in the community or a larger hospital, Corrine approaches each one like family.
“My goal each and every day is to make our patients smile and feel as though they never feel alone on their journey.”
Michael M.
PA - UPMC Shadyside
Michael M. discovered his passion for oncology early in his career while working as a patient care technician (PCT) on an oncology unit. From the start, it was the people who made the difference: “I absolutely loved the patients and the staff. I knew oncology was the specialty I wanted to work in,” he shares.
That conviction shaped his path into PA school and ultimately his current role as a PA, where he helps guide patients through some of the most challenging moments of their lives.
In oncology, no two days are the same, and Michael values both the complexity of the work and the balance it offers. He cares for patients with a wide range of disease processes while continuing to build his clinical skills.
“I have the autonomy to grow as a provider, but also a strong support system from our physicians,” he explains.
That combination has helped Michael develop into a well-rounded PA who takes pride in his work, values collaboration, and remains deeply committed to his patients every step of the way.
Mekenleigh W.
PA-C - UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Mekenleigh W.’s path into oncology began behind the scenes. She started her career as a medical laboratory technologist, where her love for hematology and blood banking took shape. Although she wasn’t at the bedside, she felt deeply connected to the patients impacted by her work.
“Even then, I knew I wanted to care for people more directly,” she shares. That calling ultimately led her to become a physician assistant.
That purpose became even clearing during PA school, when Mekenleigh’s grandfather received care at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Greensburg, Pa. Watching the team care for him with kindness, patience, and dignity left a lasting impression.
“It showed me what compassionated oncology care looks like — not just for patients, but for families, too.”
After graduating, joining UPMC in a Hematology/Oncology role felt like coming full circle. Today, she’s grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside patients during their most vulnerable moments and be supported by colleagues she now calls friends and mentors, “It’s an honor to offer the same compassion that once meant so much to my own family.”
Nurse Practitioners
Shannon R.
CRNP - UPMC Washington (Hillman Cancer Center)
Shannon R.’s passion for oncology began early in her nursing career during an inpatient oncology rotation at UPMC Shadyside. Assigned to the inpatient stem cell transplant unit, she quickly found her match.
“I absolutely fell in love with taking care of patients battling cancer. I never looked back,” she shared.
The experience led to her first nursing role on the same unit and later shaped her decision to continue her career as an APP in oncology. She remained at UPMC Shadyside, deepening her clinical expertise while building lasting relationships with patients and families.
Becoming an oncology APP has greatly impacted and influenced how Shannon now approaches life outside of work.
“Helping people through their most vulnerable moments teaches you to appreciate the little things. Making a difference in this career carries over on a personal level.”
Explore APP Opportunities
At UPMC, Advanced Practice Providers are more than part of the care team: they’re the people patients turn to in moments that matter most. From nurse practitioners to nurse anesthetists and physician assistants, their work is rooted in compassion.
We’re committed to supporting them every step of the way, with meaningful opportunities to learn, grow, and lead. Today, more than 3,600 APPs are shaping the future of care across our system — bringing new ideas, advancing research, and strengthening the way we care for our communities, together.
