Wende A. Goncz, DO, MMM, received the Reverend William A. Passavant Humanitarian Award in recognition of her superb charitable works both at home and abroad. Dr. Goncz received the award at the Legacy of Caring Gala hosted by the Passavant Foundation on September 21, 2023.
The Legacy of Caring Awards recognize special individuals who have made an impact on UPMC Passavant's history by caring for patients and their families, physicians and employees, and the community. The Reverend William A. Passavant Humanitarian Award recognizes service to humanity outside the hospital’s walls in the tradition of Passavant hospital’s founder.
Dr. Goncz is a highly valued member of the medical staff and medical executive leadership team at UPMC Passavant, where she has 22 years of service. As a healthcare volunteer, she has participated in Operation Walk, a Pittsburgh-based program to bring provider-based volunteer teams to Central America to restore mobility through surgical and procedural interventions for hundreds of people in need. She has traveled with Operation Walk on a mission to Havana, Cuba and has served as the lead anesthesia physician four times in Antigua, Guatemala. She will lead a fifth mission to Antigua this fall.
In our local community, Dr. Goncz is an active participant in outreach programs such as Light of Light Mission and the North Hills Community Outreach project to support those who are displaced from home, struggling with addiction and poverty.
Dr. Goncz is a valued member of the Passavant Hospital Foundation Board of Directors and supports the hospital’s mission through the work of the Foundation in many ways, most importantly community education and outreach. She leads by example by supporting many Foundation fundraising and charitable events and encouraging others to do so as well.
Congratulations to Dr. Goncz on her well-deserved award! Her remarkable commitment to clinical excellence, charitable endeavors, and significant contributions to UPMC Passavant and the community are a testament to her unwavering dedication to healthcare and humanity.
