FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Christina E. Morton
412-916-2421
cemorton4@comcast.net
Pride in Pittsburgh Awards
Presented to Worthy Individuals and Organizations
PITTSBURGH (February 1, 2011) . . . The Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS) will
present five Pride in Pittsburgh awards during the ACMS Foundation Gala, Pittsburgh Proud,
its annual community awards and fundraising gala at Heinz Field, East Club Lounge on
Saturday, March 19, 2011.
The Pride in Pittsburgh awards are presented to individuals and organizations who have made
a significant contribution to improved healthcare in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The 2010 Pride
in Pittsburgh award recipients are Duquesne University Mylan School of Pharmacy, PNC
Grow Up Great, Ann L. McGaffey, MD, Frederic V. Price, MD, and Greta K. Rooney.
Duquesne University Mylan School of Pharmacy
The Duquesne University Mylan School of Pharmacy is being recognized for their public service
work in establishing a clinical site at the Catholic Charities Free Health Care Center to serve
uninsured patients. Under the direction of J. Douglas Bricker, PhD, dean; and Autumn Stewart,
PharmD, assistant professor of pharmacy practice; interns, residents and fellows from the school
counsel patients on medications and diet as part of the school’s doctor of pharmacy experiential
program at the Center.
The pharmacy team works with volunteer physicians at the Clinic to monitor the progress of
diabetic and hypertensive patients. Over 500 patients have been served since the rotation began
in 2008, addressing medical issues including diabetes management, hypertension, tobacco use,
obesity and medication therapy, as well as possible drug-related problems. In addition, the
pharmacy team also assists with applications to Prescription Assistance Programs that have
provided medications for over 200 patients.
“In addition to sharing their knowledge of pharmaceuticals, the Mylan School of Pharmacy team
treats the patients at the Center with an abundance of respect, dignity, and compassion, which are
attributes that mean as much to the patients as the advice that they receive,” says Clare Kushma
who nominated the Duquesne University Mylan School of Pharmacy for this award. “These
aspiring pharmacists truly make us Pittsburgh Proud.”
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Leadership and Advocacy for Patients and Physicians
PNC Grow Up Great
PNC recognizes that learning in a child's early years is essential for their long-term success.
Through PNC Grow Up Great, a 10-year, $100 million initiative with a focus on underserved
children, the program provides the leadership, advocacy, funding, tools, and volunteers to help
educate parents, caregivers, and communities on how to prepare young children for school and
life. Founded by The PNC Financial Services Group, Grow Up Great and PNC Crezca con Éxito,
form a comprehensive bilingual, corporate-based school readiness program.
The focus of PNC’s grant making is in math, science and the arts. Many of the grants support
innovative preschool programs to enhance curriculum and teaching practices. Through these
initiatives PNC is helping to stimulate children’s minds and provide them with educational
experiences they may not have otherwise had. PNC views these investments in school readiness
as a means to improve access to quality early education. Research shows that equal access to
quality preschool programs can result in long-term benefits for our children, society, workforce
and economy.
“PNC and their volunteers demonstrate tireless, relentless and selfless volunteer service, and they
display exceptional interpersonal traits,” says Allison Boyle of Gwen’s Girls, who nominated
PNC Grow Up Great for the Pride in Pittsburgh award. “PNC extends personal contributions to
the community and their volunteer employees provide effective and nurturing efforts in
Allegheny County. Overall, their time and talents make Allegheny County a better place to live.”
Ann L. McGaffey, MD
Dr. McGaffey, a family medicine physician, is the medical director of the Bloomfield-Garfield
Health Center, a UPMC-affiliated community health center. Established in 1984, the center
cares for over 7,100 patients annually. The Bloomfield-Garfield Family Health Center is the
home base for UPMC St. Margaret’s School Health Program, which provides comprehensive
physicals, health screening and health education to local elementary schools and The
Neighborhood Academy.
Dr. McGaffey is being recognized for her work in co-developing childhood obesity intervention
tools and games called Fitwits. Fitwits was developed in collaboration with Associate Professor
Kristin Hughes of the Carnegie Mellon University School of Design and with the East End
Pittsburgh children, Fitwits team residents and public health evaluators. Dr. McGaffey also
worked with UPMC St. Margaret Director of Pharmacy Education, Patricia Klatt, PharmD, to
provide in-school teaching and asthma kits to the City of Pittsburgh Schools, helping to manage
the care of asthmatic children resulting in a drop in emergency room visits.
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Leadership and Advocacy for Patients and Physicians
"Dr. McGaffey is a dedicated clinician, a gifted teacher, and a tireless advocate for her
community,” says Jennifer L. Middleton, MD, MPH, Director of Practice Improvement, UPMC
St. Margaret Family Medicine Residency Program. “Through her clinical teaching
responsibilities at UPMC St. Margaret Family Medicine Residency Program, she has contributed
to the medical education of innumerable residents and students. Her innovative sexuality
curriculum for Pittsburgh Public Schools has given countless children accurate and honest
information about puberty, and her collaboration with Carnegie Mellon School of Design on the
Fitwits child obesity project promises to deliver a similarly powerful impact on our community's
health and wellness. Her enthusiasm for these people and projects is palpable."
Fredric V. Price, MD
Dr. Price, gynecologic oncology, chairs the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists International
Network, through which he organized a training program for surgeons in Honduras to improve
the treatment of cervical cancer for patients in Central America. Dr. Price has also participated
in three volunteer surgical mission trips to Haiti through Hospital Albert Schweitzer Haiti, and in
two trips to Guyana with Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps. He has received the West
Penn Hospital ob/gyn alumni award for community service three times in recognition of his work
in poor communities overseas.
The individuals that nominated Dr. Price for the Pride in Pittsburgh award also noted his
technical surgical skills, attentive follow-up with his patients, and responsiveness to referring
physicians. He was noted for his caring and compassionate bedside manner and the amount of
time he spends with patients.
“I cannot think of anyone more deserving of an award for service as a physician and
humanitarian than Dr. Fred Price,” says Rebecca Kightlinger, DO, FACOG, Associate Professor,
Global Health and Development, Allegheny College. “Dr. Price cared for my cancer patients
for eleven years while I was in practice in Erie, Pennsylvania. What I remember with greatest
appreciation and wonder was that women with advanced cancers who required surgery and
chemotherapy would come back to me and only talk about how wonderful Dr. Price was and
how grateful they were to have had him as their doctor. Never once did they express worry about
their condition or their prognosis; all they felt was that they had been well cared for and that they
were in good hands.”
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Leadership and Advocacy for Patients and Physicians
Greta K. Rooney
Mrs. Rooney is being recognized for her work as the chair of two annual fundraising events, the
Steelers Style Fashion Show since 2002 and the Taste of the Steelers since 2004. The proceeds
from those events have benefited the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute at UPMC and
the Cancer Caring Center.
“Ms. Rooney makes the delicate balance between achieving a quality show and raising
significant funds look easy,” says Rebecca Whitlinger, Executive Director, Cancer Caring
Center. “Everyone is made to feel that their contributions are valued, therefore inspiring them to
work even harder to maintain the high quality harmony she set in place the very first year.”
During the time Mrs. Rooney chaired the events, more than $4 million (gross) has been raised to
support the work of these two facilities in both basic research and patient care. Her personal
leadership has resulted in steady increases in the amount of funds raised for these valuable
community resources.
“Greta Rooney has for many years worked tirelessly to champion the needs of patients in
Pittsburgh, particularly those of organ transplant recipients,” says Fadi G. Lakkis, MD, scientific
director, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute. “This philanthropic event has ensured that
organ transplant recipients continue to have access to life-saving medications and to state-of-theart clinical facilities and importantly, has increased awareness of organ transplantation, a medical
success story that has become synonymous with our city.”
The Allegheny County Medical Society represents more than 3,200 physician members from all
specialties and is dedicated to providing leadership and advocacy for patients and physicians.
The organization has been serving Allegheny County since 1865.
The ACMS Foundation supports local health care projects designed to improve and support
needed medical services in our community. The annual gala raises funds that provide medical
student scholarships and in collaboration with the Community College of Allegheny County,
health career scholarships.
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Leadership and Advocacy for Patients and Physicians