Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS)/University Center for International Studies (UCIS)/the
University of Pittsburgh and UNISINOS, Brazil
Drivers, please use this document as a guide for the week. For CLAS staff, you know what is going on.
June 1 – June 7, 2025, Welcome to Pittsburgh!
The Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) and UNISINOS, Brazil, are excited to partner for this educational visit. From June 1 to June 7, a group of medical students and an instructor from UNISINOS will explore the University of Pittsburgh and the surrounding region.
These students are in their final year of undergraduate medical school and have completed internships in key medical disciplines, including Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Psychiatry
Accommodation:
Hampton Inn Pittsburgh University/Medical Center
� � � 3315 Hamlet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
• Check-in: 3:00 PM| Check-out: 11:00 AM
• Shuttle Service: Complimentary service to the University of Pittsburgh, Oakland, and downtown Pittsburgh.
o Tip: You can ride the shuttle downtown and take the train to Station Square to enjoy views from Mt. Washington.
o Check with the hotel for shuttle hours or use Uber/Lyft for additional flexibility. Last year, the Shuttle was not working.
Transportation
• Two minivans (available June 1–7) and a car.
• Three drivers
• Gasoline and parking included
• Note: Vans will be used only for scheduled program activities
Dress Code & Weather
• Dress Code: Business casual
• Wear comfortable shoes – there will be walking
• Bring scarves and layers – the weather can be unpredictable
• Expected Weather: 60–80°F / 15–26°C
o It may be warm, chilly, rainy, or even storm, Pittsburgh weather is unpredictable.
Drivers: Howard Alvarez(412-608-0930), Randy Keech, Juan Fernando Velasquez(412-390-5137), Katie Kennedy (412-445-5349) and Luz Amanda Hank(412-606-2333)—See one page for information where to meet and directions.
One page Page 3-4.
Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS)/University Center for International Studies (UCIS)/the University of Pittsburgh and UNISINOS, Brazil June 1-June 7, 2025
For more details on each item on this table, please see individual dates in the document. You are welcome to join the tours if you like.
Sunday, June 1, 2025 Page 4.
Hampton Inn Pittsburgh University/Medical Center
3315 Hamlet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Sunset: The sun will set around 8:33 pm on June 115. Sunrise: The sun will rise around 5:33 am on June 1-15.
Drivers: Meet me at the airport at 2:30pm, bring driver’s license (Howard and Randy) for mini vans.
Juanfe you will park for and meet us for luggage; I will have my car too for luggage. We pick them up and drop them at hotel done for the day. Drivers: Juanfe, Randy, Howard, Katie, Luz Amanda
Monday, June 2, 2025 Page 5
Students meet me in the hotel lobby at 9:00 am to walk to Posvar Hall. I will show you how to get to our building. We will end the day in the same room that we start in the morning. 4217 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Drivers: Meet us in Posvar Hall G2 at 12pm. We drive to Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, then we have an hour to get to the Midwife Center. You are welcome to do the tour or go for a walk in the strip for an hour. Be back by 3:45pm to drive back to Posvar. You can leave the van in Posvar or drive it home. You will have a parking pass for the whole week. You are done after you drop us off in Posvar. Drivers:Juanfe, Howard and Randy
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 Page 6
8:30am Walk to Luz Amanda’s office 4217 Posvar Hall. As shown on Monday. We will be in campus until 2:15pm: transportation will be provided to the afternoon destination.
Drivers: Pick-up us up in front of Magee to drive to Mercy. After, we drive to CORE.
Drivers: Juanfe, Howard and Randy
Arrival from Chicago on AU 3655
3:24pm
Meet at the luggage claim
Hotel check-In 3pm
Make sure you ask about hotel transportation services and where they go.
9:30 am
Welcome and review of events for the week.
4217 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
10:00-11:15 am Tour of the Nationality Rooms
After check-in, you can tour the city, see options on the page or next page.
9:00-10:00 am Gina Madison, Executive Director, Liver Education Advocates 4217 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
10:05-11:05 am Ingrid Loma-Miller, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology
Assistant Chief of Division of Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology 4217 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
11:30 am-12:15 pm lunch Hosted by CLAS
Drivers: Meet at 12pm in G2 to pick up students, driving to the Food Bank.
Mini van drivers, for the week you are welcome to drive to campus and leave car in garage, just make sure you switch tag, or take minivan home.
11:45am-1:00pm Lunch with Dr. Gabriela Figueiredo Pucci
Victoria Hall Confirming location.
After students walk to Magee.
Places that you can visit: Mt. Washington and use the inclines the Point , Hop on and off busses the fastest way to see the city Gateway Clipper is one of my favorite things to do and see Pittsburgh with new arrivals. But it depends on weather.
3
1:00-2:00 pm
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank 1 N. Linden Street Duquesne, PA 15110
Drivers: 2pm or so pick up and drive to the midwife center.
1:15-2:15pm Magee Hospital with Dr. Ali McGregor
Drivers: Pick-up in front of Magge at 2:15pm to go to UPMC Mercy Vision Institute and after to CORE.
3:00 4:00pm
The Midwife Center 2831 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Drivers: 4pm pick up and take back to Posvar
3:30-4:30pm UPMC Mercy Vision
Institute with Talisha Richardson
1622 Locust St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, United States
Drivers: Because it is rush-hour, it might take time.
5:00-6:00pm
Meeting with Dr. Mario Castagnaro, AHN, Assistant Professor of Medicine
4217 Wesley W. Posvar Hall.
Drivers: one for the day. Take van with you or leave in Posvar. Make sure to put tag.
5:30-8:00 pm The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE)
204 Sigma Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Drivers: Drop students at hotel.
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 Page 7.
Meet at Lobby at 8:30am, will be in Pitt campus in the morning and travel in the afternoon
Transportation will be provided to the afternoon destination. If we confirmed the meeting with the Nursing Students, then we bring you back to Victoria Hall, if not then we drop you off at hotel.
meet at 12pm in G2 Posvar Hall. Drivers: Juanfe, Randy and Howard
Thursday, June 5, 2025 Page 8. Pick up at the hotel at 8:00am in the morning then be on campus the rest of the day.
Drivers: meet at the hotel at 8am. Drive to Global Links, we can do the tour and then take them back to campus Drivers: Katie, Randy and Howard
9:00-10: 00 am WISER Institute
9:00-10:00 am Tour Global Links with Stacy Bodow
Drivers: Drop off by Lothrop St. and 5th avenue—we walk.
10:00-11:45 am Pitt Nursing School and Laboratories with Julia M. dos Santos, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Health Promotion and Development, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh.
Drivers: Meet in G-2 Posvar Hall at 12:00 pm to drive to Children’s Hospital—lunch on your own. We will drive to Children’s Hospital and eat at their cafeteria 3rd floor take purple elevators, or around the area there are a lot of restaurants, be back by 1:35pm LOBBY
1:50-4:00 pm
UPMC Children’s Hospital Tour
Drivers: After we drop at the hotel or at the Nursing School--waiting for confirmation.
Meeting with Nursing students, waiting for confirmation.
Friday, June 6, 2025 Page 9.
Pick up at the hotel at 8:00 am in the morning and depending on the appointments, we will bring you back to the hotel
Drivers: We meet at hotel at 8am. As people take longer, then we have enough time to go down the hill. We might have another appointment as you can see but not set yet. Students are free after 1pm or 2pm.Drivers: Juanfe, Randy and Howard
Saturday, June 7, 2025 Page10.
Pick up at hotel at 2pm to transport to Airport.
Drivers: Students have morning off, meet at the hotel at 1:45pm to take students to the airport, and drop vans. We drop them off at departures and then go and return vans. Randy, maybe Juanfe can give you a ride back to Pgh. WE can work on that as time goes on. Drivers: Juanfe, Randy, Howard, Katie, Luz Amanda
See list of possibilities page 9—
Waiting for confirmation
11:00am-12:15 pm
Camila MacedoBoth, MD Research Associate Professor of Surgery, Director of STI Biorepository Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute
200 Darragh St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States
Walking instructions: coming up the street (Lothrop St) would be easier. Fifth Ave, turn right at Lothrop, the second block on your left will be the entrance for the BST (also named Eye and Ear building). I will meet you in the lobby by the wall with doctors’ portraits.
9:00-11 am Tour McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Debriefing Hotel Check out at 11 am, you can storage luggage and have morning off.
1:30pm debriefing, if not done on Friday.
Pick up 2pm to transport to the airport.
1:00-3:00 pm University of Pittsburgh School Medicine Tour
We will walk to this meeting.
3:15-4:00 pm meeting with Medica Students confirming names. your own time. FYI, the Carnegie Museum open until 8pm
See list of possibilities page 9—waiting for confirmation
If not then we will do the debriefing at the hotel seating area, if there are no appointments.
Drop at the airport at 3:00 pm UA 777 departs at 5:56pm
Free afternoon after 1pm. Maybe if we get the STAT MedEvac Helicopters, then I will ask you if you would like to go. I tried to schedule around 12pm, so done after 2pm.
There is great stores at the airport to go shopping
Sunday, June 1, 2025
Flight information:
AD2821 – 5/31 – P. ALEGRE/ GUARULHOS – 16:50pm-18:35 pm
UA 844 – 5/31 – GUARULHOS/ CHICAGO – 22:20pm-6:45 am
UA3655 – 6/1 – CHICAGO/ PITTSBURGH – 12:45-15:24 pm Meet us at the luggage claim.
These activities can be done in your own time. Maps are located on the last two pages of this document.
Activities: These activities can be done in your own time.
Visit Pittsburgh interactive map and Pittsburgh Insider’s Guide.
Public Transportation information: you can visit the Point, then cross to go Mt. Washington use the Inclines —or take train (price $ 2.75 each way).
Gateway Clipper is one of my favorite things to do and see Pittsburgh the best and quickest is the Sightseeing Cruses but there are other options: https://www.gatewayclipper.com/cruises/
NOTE: the Point, the Gateway Clipper, and the incline to go up to Mt. Washington are all in the same area. See Map on the last page.
Hop on and off busses fastest way to see the city I have never done this in PGH but many do it to see the city.
Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh This can be done as a group or individually. Closes at 8pm on Thursday and Tuesday is closed. Andy Warhol Museum: This can be done as a group or individually.
Malls: Ross Park Mall, South Hills Village, The Waterfront, Robinson Town Centre, Monroeville Mall, Pittsburgh Mills Mall, The Mall at Robinson, Tanger Outlets Pittsburgh, Westmoreland Mall, Grove City Premium Outlets, Station Square There are stores, like Target and Burlington (downtown a bus ride away). In campus there are the Pitt Store, Book Store and the Pitt corner store on Forbes avenue and Bigelow.
The Strip District: a variety of stores, for us in Latin America would be like a plaza, but streets. This is where you find any Pittsburgh paraphernalia. Good prices.
Luz Amanda Hank cellphone #: 412-606-2333 please add me to the group when you are ready to travel. I can share photos and any last-minute changes.
Monday, June 3, 2025
9:00am Meet at Hotel lobby
9:30-9:50am 4217 Wesley W. Posvar Hall: Welcome and Overview of the week CLAS and Pitt
10:00-11:15pm Tour of the Nationality Rooms
The Nationality Rooms are a unique collection of 31 classrooms in the Cathedral of Learning, designed to celebrate Pittsburgh’s ethnic communities. Each room reflects the cultural heritage and architectural traditions of a different nationality, with designs predating 1787. Created by international artists and craftsmen, the rooms serve both as functional classrooms and as symbols of cultural pride, education, and inspiration.
11:30am -12:00pm Lunch (Pizza) 4217 Wesley W. Posvar Hall. Provided by CLAS.
1:00-2:00pm Tour of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank 2831 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
To leverage the power of community to achieve lasting solutions to hunger and its root causes. Food is a basic human need, yet everyday thousands of our neighbors’ struggle to have enough food on their plates. At Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, we work to ensure that anyone who needs a healthy meal can get one.
3:00-4:00 pm Tour of The Midwife Center with Emily Fear 2831 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
The Midwife Center is the only freestanding, licensed birth center option in Southwestern Pennsylvania. We are licensed with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and are nationally accredited with the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers (CABC).
5:00-6:00 pm Dr. Mario Castagnaro, AHN, Assistant Professor of Medicine Room 4217 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Dr. Castagnaro is responsible for facilitating, enhancing, and tracking research and scholarly activities among the program’s residents and faculty, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the evaluation system for residents and faculty, and designing and implementing tools and systems to enhance feedback and evaluation. In addition, he co-directs the resident mentoring program and collaborates with IM faculty on educational workshops and presentations at key National Meetings such as APDIM.
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
10:00 11:00am Gina Madison, Executive Director, Liver Education Advocates
We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that was established to increase public awareness of Fatty Liver Disease, which is quickly becoming a public health crisis. Based in the Pittsburgh area, we partner with other organizations across the country that have similar goals and we also speak at events and conferences throughout the country.
10:05-11:05am Ingrid Loma-Miller, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology ,Assistant Chief of Division of Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology Assistant Division Chief of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center at UPMC Magee and Assistant Professor of Neurology at Pitt. She specializes in pediatric and adult MS, NMO, and MOGAD. Dr. Loma-Miller leads clinical trials, serves on the National MS Society’s Medical Advisory Board, and is active in MS education and advocacy. She is fluent in Spanish and a member of the Neurology Department’s DEI Committee.
11:45am-1:00pm Lunch and Q&A session with Dr. Gabriela Figueiredo Pucci, 3rd-year Neurology resident interested in Neuromuscular disease
Victoria Hall Hosted by CLAS.
1:15pm-2:15pm Magee Hospital with Dr. Ali McGregor and Dee Dee Greenawalt
UPMC Magee-Women’s Hospital is proud to be a National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health. As a nationally renowned hospital specializing in women, UPMC Magee combines a wealth of specialty services with a traditional focus on gynecologic and obstetric services. Long recognized for its services to women, Magee also offers a wide range of care to men as well. A full-service hospital, Magee offers services for both men and women including cardiology, geriatrics, urology, bone and joint, bariatric surgery and spine, just to name a few.
3:30-4:30pm UPMC Mercy Vision Institute with Talisha Richardson
Clinical services in the pavilion include comprehensive ophthalmology, optometry, specialty care for the cornea, retina, optic nerve, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, genetic conditions, and oculoplastic and aesthetic services, a robust refractive surgery program, urgent eye care for acute vision conditions, a full-service optical shop, and a dedicated clinical trials center offering some therapies that are not available outside of Pittsburgh.
5:30-7:30 pm. The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE)
Contact person: Nicole Lazaro|204 Sigma Drive, RIDC Park, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) is one of 57 federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organizations (OPOs) in the United States. CORE partners with more than 150 hospitals and health care facilities to deliver the gift of life by coordinating the surgical recovery of organs, tissues and corneas for transplantation. CORE also facilitates the computerized matching of donated organs, tissues and corneas. With integrity and compassion, our goal is to bridge the gap between donor families, health care providers and transplant recipients so that we may forever transform lives.
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
9:00 10:00am WISER Institute
The Institute is dedicated to the advancement of healthcare simulation and education to improve patient safety, education, mentorship, systems design, and research to enhance the high-quality delivery of healthcare.
Meet John Gallagher in the lobby of Victoria Building lobby at 8:30 am –Pitt Campus
10:45 11:45 am Tour of the Nursing School and Laboratories with Julia M. dos Santos, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Health Promotion and Development, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing changes the face of nursing practice by preparing nurses to deliver the highest quality care that is guided by research, intellect, and passion. U.S. News & World Report ranks our undergraduate and graduate programs among the top programs in the country, alongside accolades from other organizations. At Pitt Nursing, we shape the future.
11:50am-1:00pm Lunch on your own.
The medical school has a great cafeteria. We all go together and walk back to Posvar Hall for transportation to Children’s Hospital.
Located in the UPMC Presbyterian building, specifically on the 11th floor
1:50-4:00 pm UPMC Children’s Hospital Tour
4401 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224 Meet Maria Cecilia Dancisin at 1:45pm lobby Split into three groups
Brief presentation for the first 30 minutes and then we will split into three groups for a 1.5-hour tour. Two of our medical directors and Maria Cecilia Dancisin will guide the tour.
Regionally, nationally, and globally, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is a leader in the treatment of childhood conditions and diseases, a pioneer in the development of new and improved therapies, and a top educator of the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists. With generous community support, UPMC Children’s has fulfilled this mission since its founding in 1890. We are consistently ranked as one of America's best children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report and are one of the top recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health. Nationally
Ranked in 11 Specialties 2024-25 UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is Nationally Ranked in all 11 Specialties by U.S. News & World Report for 202425.
Thursday, June 5, 2025
9:00am-10:00am Global Links Tour with Stacy Bodow
700 Trumbull Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15205|412-361-3424 x205
Global Links is a Pittsburgh-based non-profit dedicated to improving health in communities with need. Since 1989 we have been sharing surplus rescued from the US healthcare system. We collaborate with government officials, healthcare professionals, community organizations and community leaders to develop projects that support public health goals both internationally and domestically by improving access to quality healthcare and needed materials.
11:00-12:15pm Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute Tour with Dr. Camila Macedo Both, MD Research Associate Professor of Surgery, Director of STI Biorepository Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute
The mission of the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute is to foster a multidisciplinary approach to the continual improvement of the clinical, scientific, and social aspects of transplantation to improve the lives of patients with end-stage organ failure. The Starzl Transplantation Institute places a strong emphasis on the advancement of basic science and clinically applied research, and the teaching and training of multinational specialists.
1:00-3:00pm University of Pittsburgh School Medicine Tour
Katie Maietta, MPPM, Executive Director, Office of Medical Education
Meet team in the 4th floor lobby of Scaife Hall in the main entrance (across from the Pete).
The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine opened the West Wing addition of Alan Magee Scaife Hall on April 20, 2023. The 104,800 square foot, seven-story addition houses a variety of teaching spaces including a 600-seat auditorium, team-based learning classrooms (40-160 seats), small group rooms, a wet lab, an anatomy lab (both traditional cadaveric dissection and AR/VR space), and a testing space. The medical student lounge takes up the entire sixth floor of the West Wing with features such as study and meeting space, a multipurpose room for breaks and games, a quiet room, a kitchen, and copy room. Additional features of the West Wing include locker rooms, single occupancy restrooms, a lactation room, open lounge space on each floor, a fireplace, natural light, and a Panera. Additional small group rooms and active learning spaces opened in January 2024. The remaining library space and a portion of a simulation center will open in August 2024. The second portion of the simulation center will open in September 2025. This center will be home to the Standardized Patient Program and a satellite office of the Winter Institute for Simulation, Education and Research (WISER). These programs offer human and manikin-based simulation in clinical suites, OR/patient room simulations, ultrasound, and other training and development activities.
3:15-4:00pm Meeting with University of Pittsburgh Medical School Students
Friday, June 6, 2025
9:00 11:00am Tour McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine
With Dr. Catalina Pineda
Tour through one of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine locations. Specifically, we will visit the Badylak-Hussey Laboratory, located at 450 Technology Drive. The Laboratory focuses on optimizing descellularization processes of Extracellular Matrix (ECM) for the generation of biologicderived scaffolds that can be used in multiple tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. The Laboratory is also focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which the ECM components promote site appropriate tissue remodeling following injuries. Through the tour, the visitors will be able to observe these products, some of which are already on the market. Depending on the last appointment that I will schedule until 1pm. We will have a debriefing as you will have the afternoon off and the morning off.
Possibilities: One more appointment until 1pm then have the afternoon off and Saturday morning.
• Liver transplant patient
• the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex
• Meeting with Nursing students: The Nursing Student Association (NSA) was created in 1989 by merging the Nursing Student Organization (NSO), a governance group, with the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP). a professional organization. To meet students and learn about their experiences.
• Dr. Puyana
• 3D Center : Three-dimensional printing in health care involves transforming a digital image like a CT scan into a 3D model. They are replicas of a patient’s actual anatomy. UPMC launched its 3D printing program in 2016 and continues to expand its applications across various medical specialties. The 3D printed anatomical models we create can help improve patients’ outcomes as well as reduce the overall cost of care.Doctors can use 3D models to plan surgeries or guide them during the procedure. UPMC launched its 3D printing program in 2016 and continues to expand its use across various medical specialties. Our team combines expertise in 3D printing, engineering, and medicine. The 3D models we print improve all steps of a person’s care and helps reduce overall costs.
• Kind of difficult because of a lot of funding cuts, they cut a lot personal STAT MedEvac Helicopters The Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania (CEM) is among the world’s leaders in emergency medicine, education, and research. The CEM has been responsible for shaping the future of emergency medical services (EMS) education in the United States and is one of the most prolific sites for emergency medicine research in the world. CEM physicians and educators are routinely sought worldwide for their expertise. STAT MedEvac is a critical care transport system and is the clinical arm of the CEM. It has evolved into one of the largest single operated and dispatched air-medical transport system in the United States. STAT MedEvac operates eighteen helicopter base sites in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. The Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization directed by a consortium of hospitals; UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, UPMC Hamot, UPMC Altoona, and UPMC Mercy Hospital
• Pitt’s School of Public Health “Public Health and Medicine in the USA”
• Noble A-W Maseru, Ph.D., MPH Director, Social Justice, Racial Equity and Faculty Engagement in the Health Sciences.
Saturday, June 7, 2025
Check out at 11am or earlier, you will have the morning off
Please ask the hotel to store your luggage
We will pick you up at 2pm in the hotel lobby
Debriefing
Drop at the airport by 2pm. There are great stores at the airport to go shopping.
Flight information:
UA777 – June 7 – PITTSBURGH/CHICAGO – 17:56 18:45
UA 845 - 13APR – CHICAGO/ GUARULHOS - 21:20 09:30
AD2914 - 14APR – GUARULHOS/ P. ALEGRE – 16:20 18:00
