Staff from across the Department of Medicine celebrated milestone service anniversaries from 5 to 50 years in 2024.
50 years
Janet Brunner // Administrative Manager // Chair’s Office Administration
Janet Brunner’s service to the University of Pittsburgh spans decades since she joined the Department of Medicine in September of 1974. During her 50 years of service, she has worked with eight department chairs, multiple interim chairs, and numerous administrators.
Throughout her years of service, Janet developed her network of contacts within the University and UPP. Her position has required the ability to analyze situations while gathering necessary information from multiple sources to make the best decision possible, leading to her reputation as a “library of knowledge” for all things faculty affairs among departmental leadership. Former PACCSM DA, Dorothy Voith, recalls that Janet “was always incredibly knowledgeable about faculty affairs. I don’t think anyone else in the department had the depth of knowledge (and connections in the SOM) that she had.”
Former colleague, Mary Butch, fondly adds, “Janet Brunner has served the Department of Medicine with more dedication than anybody I know. She has survived many trials and tribulations over her tenure, but she always worked her hardest to make sure that she provided the best support possible to the faculty and administration of the department. She has survived through countless chairs, always able to adapt to a new way of doing business.”
Congratulations, Janet, and thank you for all you have given to the DOM!
30 years
Michele Bellisario // Sr. Practice Manager // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine (UPMC)
Monica Loughran // Administrative Coordinator // General Internal Medicine
Amy Schorr // Manager – Clinical Research Coordinator // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
20 years
Steven Anthony // Research Facilitator // Endocrinology and Metabolism
LaTonya Blackwell // Office Coordinator // Malignant Hematology and Medical Oncology (UPMC)
Helen Carleton // OP Nurse Coordinator I // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (UPMC)
Elizabeth Delk // Administrative Coordinator // Geriatric Medicine
Theresa Dobransky // Senior Project Manager // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
Michael Javor // Post Award Administrator // Research Administration
Mads Larsen // Senior Research Scientist // Aging Institute
Tonya Martin // Post Award Administrator // Research Administration
Christi McElheny // Director of Lab Operations // Infectious Diseases
Laura Osman // OP Nurse Coordinator I // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (UPMC)
Laurie Rabeneck // OP Nurse Coordinator I // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (UPMC)
Stefanie Tavormina // Practice Manager // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (UPMC)
10 years
Mounia Alaoui-El-Azher // Research Scientist & Lab Manager // Infectious Diseases
Kimberly Bagnato // OP Nurse Coordinator I // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (UPMC)
Talisa Beachom // Senior Peer Navigator // General Internal Medicine (UPMC)
Rachel Bishop // Clinical Research Coordinator // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
Kristin Bolen // OP Nurse Coordinator I // General Internal Medicine (UPMC)
Yvonne Cannon // Team Lead Clinical Research Nurse // Geriatric Medicine
Maureen Cerda // Administrative Supervisor // Endocrinology and Metabolism (UPMC)
Heather Dandar // Clinical Research Contract Manager // Research Administration
Barbara DeRenzo // Lead Clinical Research Nurse // Geriatric Medicine
Abigail Foulds // Project Manager // General Internal Medicine
Heather Gentry // Senior Laboratory Specialist // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
Marissa Griffith // Bioinformatics Research Analyst // Infectious Diseases
Emily Hixson // Clinical Research Coordinator // Infectious Diseases
Laurie Hope // Team Lead-Clinical Research Nurse // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
Amy Karaffa // Licensed Pratical Nurse, OP // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology (UPMC)
Kathryn Lemon // Clinical Research Coordinator // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
Ethan Lennox // Medical Editor and Writer // General Internal Medicine
Jennifer Pluta // Patient Services Representative // Endocrinology and Metabolism (UPMC)
Diamond Rogers // Medical Assistant, Senior // Endocrinology and Metabolism (UPMC)
Elizabeth Stempkowski // Manager Clinical Research Coordinator // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
Jeanette Valentine // Senior Social Worker-MSW/LCSW // General Internal Medicine (UPMC)
Natalie Vazquez // Video Production Specialist // General Internal Medicine
Anthony Wesolowski // Clinical Research Coordinator // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
5 years
Xiaojing An // Research Coordinator // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Kristina Balaban // Administrative Coordinator // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Chantal Bianco // Research Bone Densitometry, DXA Technician // Geriatric Medicine
Erica Carson // Pre-Award Grants & Contracts Specialist II // Research Administration
Tashika Cox // Admin Assistant – Intermediate // General Internal Medicine (UPMC)
Tiffany Ditter // Clinical Research Coordinator // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
Sedin Dzanko // Clinical Research Coordinator // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
Gia Edwards // Diagnostic Tech Specialist // Geriatric Medicine (UPMC)
Li Fan // Laboratory Specialist // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
Danielle Foster // Medical Assistant, Senior // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (UPMC)
Marie Flanagan // Administrative Coordinator // Chair’s Office Administration
Kristen Hall // Clinical Research Coordinator // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
John Hansen // Clinical Research Coordinator // Infectious Diseases
Hannah Hartman // Laboratory Research Technician // Renal-Electrolyte
Amy Hersick // Professional Staff Nurse, OP // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology (UPMC)
Ryan Houston // Laboratory Research Technician // Aging Institute
Dolores Hurt // Contact Center Specialist // General Internal Medicine (UPMC)
Shelby Kuhn // Administrative Coordinator // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine (UPMC)
Anjali Kumar // Clinical Research Coordinator // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
Theresa Larson // OP Nurse Coordinator I // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine (UPMC)
Diane Lavsa // Laboratory Research Technician III / Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
Maris Leonard // Project Manager // Chair’s Office Administration
Yang Li // Senior Research Scientist // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
Mackenzie Martin // Senior Administrative Assistant // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
Asia McDonald // Medical Assistant, Senior // General Internal Medicine (UPMC)
Jessica Menosky // Surgery Scheduler // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (UPMC)
Rowena Moore // Pulmonary Technologist II // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine (UPMC)
Jenneffer Nkunzingoma // OP Nurse Coordinator I // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology (UPMC)
Crystal Pamir // Medical Assistant // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology (UPMC)
Megha Patel // OP Nurse Coordinator I // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (UPMC)
Jennifer Roscher // Laboratory Specialist // Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Rosier // Licensed Practical Nurse, OP // Endocrinology and Metabolism (UPMC)
Laura Schultz // Laboratory Manager // Aging Institute
Jennessa Schumacher // Surgery Scheduler // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (UPMC)
Erin Shepherd // Senior Research Specialist // Cardiology
Breann Sodini // Project Specialist // General Internal Medicine (UPMC
Rachel Sutton // Genetic Counselor II // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine (UPMC)
Beth Szwajnowski // Medical Assistant, Senior // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine (UPMC)
Ferhan Tuncer // Laboratory Research Specialist // Aging Institute
Daniel Walters // Administrative Coordinator // Chair’s Office Administration
Stacy Wickett // Operations Specialist – UPP // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology (UPMC)
Cody Wolf // Health and Fitness Specialist // Geriatric Medicine