Doing meaningful work you love contributes a great deal to a high quality of life, but it’s just as important to pursue your passions outside of work, too. From kayaking and gardening to hiking and biking, our employees are up to some pretty neat things after work!
We asked real employees to share stories of what they love to do after hours, and we loved reading their responses. You can read their responses for yourself below, and discover what life is like for UPMC employees after hours!
Enjoying The Great Outdoors
Our employees are adventurous, and many enjoy spending their time in the great outdoors. With locations across Pennsylvania and even into New York, UPMC employees have plenty of interesting places to explore after work!
I spend most of my free time at the softball fields with my three girls, ages 11, 8 and 2. The other girls play both recreational softball and play on a traveling softball league. We attend many tournaments from Erie, to Pittsburgh to Ohio. The youngest is their biggest fan! My husband coaches so we are all involved and love soaking up our Vitamin D and cheering on our favorite Cranberry Chaos players! —Holly C., UPMC Northwest, Manager, Pharmacy Technical
Outside of UPMC, I think I spend my time at Hartwood Acres Park maybe more than anywhere else I frequent. I have taken friends to their summer concerts, borrowed their dogs for afternoon excursions, or simply laid a blanket out on the grass to read a while. Hartwood Acres also gives me a lot to photograph, which has been a passion of mine since college…—Sheridan H.
Giving Back to the Community
Our employees are generous, dedicating hundreds of hours of their time outside of work helping others in their community.
I volunteer with the Baldwin Historical Society. Our biggest accomplishment is the moving and restoration of an 1840 log house. I also love the outdoors, gardening and hiking and recently joined the Western PA Mushroom Club. We take weekly hikes in various locations around the area. —Patty H., UPMC Health Plan, Lead Statistician
I spend most of my time with my wife and son and all my other free time volunteering at Crescent Hose Co. Fire Department. The fire department is like a second family—we have nights where we all bring food or games and have fun and times where we train together. I’m a EMS lieutenant and in charge of a ambulance, training, and supplies. —Kyle M., UPMC Hamot, LPN
During my off time from UPMC I belong to the Carmichaels Woman’s Civics Club. We support our local communities Food Bank, Libraries, Schools, Art Programs. We support our Troops and Participate in Wreaths Across America. I also Crochet Chemo Caps for Cancer patients and caps for children at Children’s Hospital. —Diane Cutwright, Corporate Services, Patient Financial Coordinator
Practicing Hobbies
Our employees are multi-talented! With over 89,000 employees, UPMC is a diverse community of individuals whose many skills shine both at work and at play.
By day, I’m a digital marketer — but by night, you can typically find me either shooting or editing photographs. I run a small business outside of my 9-5 in which I shoot sports photography (college football and basketball), portraits, weddings, infants and families, and more. —Mel W., Corporate Services, Manager, Digital Marketing
I am restoring a 1966 ” big block” corvette coupe. My brother and I travel to many antique auto events around this region! —Joseph R., UPMC Health Plan, Medical Director
Most importantly, I love spending time with my husband and two children, but I am also passionate about singing and playing guitar. I perform with two different bands- a Blues/Jazz band and a Bluegrass band. — Wendy K., Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Transport Team/Flight Nurse
Enjoying Life at Home
Work isn’t everything; these folks enjoy simply being at home when they’re not at work!
I spend a lot of time with my family. As a single mom of 3 kids we spend a lot of time outside: walking, biking, small fires, cookouts, and other activities. We also spend a lot of time volunteering at our church’s food bank. My 4-year-old daughter loves to help the needy. — Crystal M., UPMC Hamot, Medical Assistant
I enjoy spending my time at home cooking. I find it to be very meditative/therapeutic, in addition to necessary (since we all have to eat!). On lunch breaks, I often read up on recipes that I’m interested in trying, in an attempt to glean as much information about a particular dish as I can. Then, when I get home, I’ve already thought it through, and am able to put all my new-found knowledge to good use! — Ethan P., UPMC Presbyterian, Administrative Assistant
My greatest hobby and favorite therapeutic activity is gardening. I have a 2700 square foot garden in which I grow every vegetable we need. We also have fruit bushes that we planted and are working on getting established and growing. We also have chickens! We love our home and the projects that we have undertaken to give our kids the life that promotes sustainability and self-reliance! — Cassandra R., UPMC Hamot, Behavioral Health Therapist II
A career at UPMC doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the life your love for the job you want—you can do both! We are inspired by all the ways our employees live life after hours, and we hope you’ve been, too.
