UPMC Pinnacle

06/05/2026

Did you know that June is National Wound Healing Awareness Month? Get to know some of our UPMC Wound and Hyperbaric Center providers all month long.

Lyle Anderson, MD, has been treating wound care patients for over 15 years when the UPMC Wound and Hyperbaric Center opened at UPMC Community Osteopathic in 2011.

When Dr. Anderson would treat patients as a general surgeon, he began treating a lot of patients with wounds. He wanted to learn more about wound treatment to better care for patients at his surgical practice. He enjoys helping patients and seeing their wounds heal, especially if they have had a chronic wound for a long period of time.

When he’s not treating patients or impressing them with his fun and cool assortment of socks, you can find him reading books. His favorite genres are mystery, history, and physics. Dr. Anderson studied physics for a time at Carnegie Mellon and then obtained a degree in Chemistry before getting into medicine.

For information about UPMC Wound Care Services or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Anderson, please visit UPMC.com/CentralPaWound.

05/28/2026

Army veteran Johnna K. put her body through many tests during her more than 28 years of military service. Deployed three times, she had extensive foot injuries and repeatedly endured physical challenges. She also experienced some pain.

“In hindsight, my back started bothering me when I was in uniform, but I mostly ignored it,” says Johnna, 63, of Newville, Pa. “When you’re a soldier, you suck it up and deal with it.”

But after retiring from the service in 2015, Johnna had more time to feel the body aches and pains she’d avoided all those years.

In 2024, she found herself in the emergency department at UPMC Carlisle, where doctors kept her for a week as they worked to diagnose her condition. After multiple tests and imaging, they determined that a compression in Johnna’s lumbar spine was causing her suffering.

Given Johnna’s pain level, it was recommended that she see Bryan D. Bolinger, DO, a neurosurgeon and spine specialist at UPMC in Central Pa.

“From the moment I first met him, we just clicked,” she says. “He was honest and all-business in a way that I knew I had come to the right place.”

“He didn’t treat me like a patient — he wanted to know my whole story, all of my symptoms,” she says. “Of course, he looked at my imaging, but he assessed me as a person first. He really took the time to get to know me.”

On July 21, 2025, Dr. Bolinger performed an L3-L4 spinal fusion surgery on Johnna.

“Two days after surgery, I felt 100% better than before,” Johnna says. Now, at eight months after surgery, Johnna feels great.

Johnna is looking forward to the warmer weather so she can go on walks, swim, and play golf with her husband. The twisting motion from that activity in particular would’ve sent pain through her entire body before surgery. She’s also able to travel on long road trips to visit her stepdaughter and granddaughter.

Above all, Johnna remembers the compassionate care she received at UPMC as an important factor in her health and healing journey.

“The whole team at the UPMC Spine Center, from the physician assistants to the nurses, they all had a positive impact on me,” she says. “I would recommend Dr. Bolinger and his team to anyone. He made me feel special and was always right there when I needed him. He helped me get my life back, and I’m forever grateful.”

05/27/2026

We're proud to announce that UPMC Harrisburg has now been recognized for providing the highest level of stroke care available, earning Comprehensive Stroke Center certification from The Joint Commission and American Stroke Association.

The designation reflects expanded clinical capabilities and quality measures for advanced stroke care, including 24/7 onsite access to neurosurgical and vascular procedures like mechanical thrombectomy and aneurysm clipping.

“Time is of the essence when responding to a stroke,” said Dr. Bart Thaci, director of neuroendovascular care, UPMC Neurological Institute, UPMC Harrisburg. “Comprehensive Stroke Center designation is evidence that our patients have timely and quality access to a variety of lifesaving of neurosurgical and neuroendovascular procedures.”

In stroke care, “time is brain,” which means getting treatment quickly can reverse or mitigate possible damage and could save a patient’s life. UPMC Carlisle, UPMC Community Osteopathic, UPMC Hanover, UPMC Lititz, UPMC Memorial, and UPMC West Shore are all designated as primary stroke centers and work with Stat MedEvac, UPMC Community Life Team, and other local emergency medical services (EMS) agencies to diagnose and treat strokes, and if necessary, quickly transfer them to UPMC Harrisburg for life-saving endovascular or neurosurgical procedures.

“Stroke care is a team effort,” said Elizabeth Ritter, president, UPMC Harrisburg, UPMC Community Osteopathic, and UPMC West Shore. “This achievement reflects years of collaboration across our care teams and community partners so we can show up for our community when the worst happens.”

05/27/2026

We're committed to bringing leading-edge cancer research closer to the communities we serve. A breast cancer vaccine clinical trial is now available in central Pa., expanding access to innovative treatment options and new hope for patients.

Dr. Kit Lu, breast medical oncologist and director of clinical trials at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in central Pa., highlights "the investments made in UPMC Hillman Cancer Centers across the region give central Pennsylvania residents access to not only this clinical trial, but hundreds of others."

Read more:

UPMC is bringing a first-of-its kind clinical trial to central Pennsylvania to help understand whether a vaccine can prevent breast cancer. The study is based on decades of research by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine immunologist Olivera Finn, Ph.D., and was launched at UPMC Hillman Canc...

05/26/2026

UPMC Primary Care recently welcomed Jessie Cox, CRNP, to the team in Lancaster.

"I feel both motivated and inspired to help my patients take charge of their own health and be the best they can be. I am passionate about good preventive care to help stay ahead of chronic illness/debility. I want to help my patients be informed and take control of their health by providing education, giving quality, compassionate care that works for them, and empowering them to achieve their best self."

In her spare time, you’ll find Jessie spending time with her family and having fun. "We’re a family of six now after welcoming our newest addition in January plus two dogs. We enjoy dining out. I may be at sports practice, coaching cheerleading, or down at our bay camper and boating in North East, MD. We are an outdoorsy family and always enjoy our time together."

Jessie's day always starts with two cups of coffee - a comfort and a means to get her moving to help get all four of her kids ready for the day!

05/25/2026

Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month?

Dr. Elvins Ozolins of UPMC Western Psychological Associates recently appeared on WHP’s Taking Care of Business to discuss the importance of prioritizing mental health and knowing when to seek help. Listen to his interview to learn more about available resources in central Pa.

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/459-taking-care-of-business-wi-23938092/episode/5926-upmc-mental-health-333011437

05/24/2026

Throughout Asthma Awareness Month, UPMC is dedicated to sharing education and spreading awareness about this chronic condition. If typical treatments like inhalers are not helping to control severe asthma, biologic therapy is an option. Biologic therapy uses injectable medicines that target specific inflammation pathways in the body that cause asthma symptoms.
“In these patient populations with severe asthma, we can classify these patients into different phenotypes and then determine if a patient might benefit from a specific biologic,” says Akshay Avula, MD, pulmonary and critical care medicine specialist, UPMC in Central Pa.

Learn more about UPMC’s innovative treatment options: https://go.upmc.com/29260oyfa

05/23/2026

UPMC Magee-Womens - Behavioral Health Specialists relocated its Camp Hill office to a new location earlier this year, expanding mental health services to patients in the region. The new modern space located at 100 Corporate Drive in Camp Hill is three times larger than the previous space, allowing the providers to support more women in our region.

Women’s behavioral health conditions are common, treatable medical conditions and women are encouraged to seek care. Efforts to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and improve access to services are critical to supporting new parents and promoting healthy family dynamics.

“When we talk openly about these conditions and make care easier to access, we help women take an important step toward healing and strengthening their families,” says David Silver, MD, reproductive psychiatrist, UPMC Magee-Womens in Central Pa.

For more information about UPMC Magee-Womens services in central Pennsylvania, visit https://go.upmc.com/3044hWo6p

05/21/2026

One in 26 people will develop epilepsy during their lifetime, and about 456,000 American children under the age of 17 have epilepsy, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.

Lekshmi Peringassery Sateesh, MD, a pediatric neurologist with UPMC Children’s Specialty Services in Harrisburg and New Oxford, cares for children from birth to early adulthood with various neurological conditions, including epilepsy.

“Epilepsy is a chronic condition of the brain that causes unprovoked seizures. It is the most common neurological condition in children, and its prevalence typically peaks at ages 5 to 9.”

In the full article, she discusses seizures, the main symptom, and her approach to treatment for families.

Read the full article: https://www.cpbj.com/understanding-epilepsy-in-children/

05/19/2026

Did you know that May is National Stroke Awareness Month? Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the leading cause of serious long-term disability in adults. The providers and staff at the UPMC in Central Pa. are committed to providing rapid, advanced, and complete care for strokes.

John Braca, MD, Endovascular Neurosurgeon, UPMC Neurological Institute, recently appeared on ABC27’s Good Day PA, where he discussed the signs, symptoms, and treatments for stroke.

https://www.abc27.com/good-day-pa/upmc-national-stroke-awareness-month-2/