Community Engagement

On December 13, 2025, a team of volunteers from our department joined the Best of the Batch Foundation's annual Batch-A-Toys event, wrapping toys and household items for families in need throughout the Pittsburgh region.

They participated the Foster Love Project's Annual Bag Drive by collecting and donating six bags fully stocked with essential items children need when transitioning to a new home.

Working with Neighborhood Resilience, a Hill District community organization dedicated to supporting local residents, our CRNA team carefully selected presents to match the unique wish lists of 25 children across all age groups, from toddlers to teens, as well as five seniors.

The UPMC Presbyterian anesthesiology team collected over 70 food items for a local food bank and raised more than $2,600 to fulfill wish lists for two families through the Salvation Army's program.

Julia Dixon-Ernst, MSN, CRNA and Erica Wiesen, MSN, CRNA, proudly represented our department at the 2025 UPMC Pathways to Work High School Career Event on Thursday, November 20.

A team of CRNA volunteers cared for patients at the Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh free care clinic, held on October 24-25, 2025, at David H. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh.

Heather Margonari, DNP, FNP-BC, and Jacques E. Chelly, MD, PhD, MBA, were featured speakers at the first event hosted by the Integrated Cultural Society in Pittsburgh on November 1, 2025.

Kristin M. Ondecko Ligda, MD, FASA, visited the BioScience class at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School to teach about academic and career options in science and healthcare and demonstrate essential anesthesia skills on manikins.

The team collected and donated new socks in support of Socks for Soldiers, as well as bookbags filled with essential school items for local children.

Our anesthesiology residents have once again joined the ASA-Lifebox Resident Challenge to help make surgery and anesthesia for everyone, everywhere by supporting Lifebox.