MissionofMercy2025
MissionofMercyPittsburgh’sOctobereventshatteredthepreviousrecord,surpassing2,000 patients.Infact,thefreedental,vision,andhearingclinicreachedcapacitybyearlyafternoonon itssecondday.TheEye&EarFoundationinpartnershipwithCalltoCarehostedthetwo-day event,whichtookplaceOctober24-25.
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Thelandmarkclinicaltrialco-ledby José-AlainSahel,José-AlainSahel, MD,MD, onthePRIMAretinalimplant continuestogainnationalrecognition.Thewirelessretinalimplantcanrestorecentralvisionin patientswithadvancedage-relatedmaculardegeneration(AMD),accordingtoclinicaltrialresults publishedintheNewEnglandJournalofMedicine.AdvancedatrophicAMD,alsoknownas geographicatrophy(GA),istheleadingcauseofirreversibleblindnessinolderadults,affecting morethan5millionpeopleworldwide.
HereHere isacompilationofpressstoriesinnationalandlocaloutlets.
WatchWatch thedocumentary(7minutesand31secondslong)abouttheteamofscientists,surgeons, andengineerswhopursuedwhatseemedimpossible:restoringfunctionalcentralvisionto peopleblindedbygeographicatrophy.Thisisthestoryofthepeoplewhomadeithappen:the dedication,thesetbacks,andthehopethatdrovethisteamforward.
RecognitionRecognition
Congratulationsto PeterSantaMaria,MD,PeterSantaMaria,MD, PhDPhD ,whoseEarflodevicehasbeen recognizedasoneofTime’sBestInventions of2025!Earflo:TheBestInventionsof2025 |TIME! Thisaccoladeisatestamenttothe innovationanddedicationthatDr.Santa Mariaandhisteamhavepouredintothis groundbreakingproject.Earfloalsoreceived $415,000fromRKMellon .
Congratulationsto RyanSoose,MDRyanSoose,MD ,on receivingtheInternationalSurgicalSleep Society(ISSS)LifetimeAchievementAward! “ThisISSSawardmeanstheworldtome,as thisistheorganizationwhereIgrewupand whereItriedtoemulatesomanyofthegreat sleepleadersbeforeme,"Dr.Soosesaid."I wouldliketothankmymentor,Dr.Pat Strollo,anddedicatethisawardtohim.Dr. Strollobelievedinmefromdayone—ata timewhenitwasnotcommonforsurgeons topracticesleepmedicine.Ioweanyandall successtohisever-presentguidance, training,andmentorship.”
Congratulationsto Marie-HélèneErrera,MD, Marie-HélèneErrera,MD, PharmD,PhD,PharmD,PhD, whoreceivedtheMissionof MercyawardfromtheMercyPhysician WellnessCommittee!
Congratulationsto EthanRossi,PhDEthanRossi,PhD , on receivingtheMedicalStudentResearch MentoringMeritAwardfromtheUniversityof Pittsburgh!Hissummerresearchmentee CharlotteSpraulsrecommendedhimforthis awardduringthe2025DeansSummer ResearchProgram.
Congratulationstothe PittOTOHNSSLPteamPittOTOHNSSLPteam ,whichtookfirstplaceattheUPMCPresbyterian Shadyside2025Quality&SafetyFairfortheirproject,“Tracheostomy&Passy-MuirSpeaking Valve(PMV)EducationQIProject!”TheteamgaveashoutouttoHannahSpeedy,Sarah McKinney,andKateKrobotfortheiroutstandingwork,andtoTamaraWinckoforherleadership andsupportthroughouttheproject.TheyalsogavespecialthankstotheirpartnersinPittNursing andRespiratoryfortheiressentialcontributions,andtoDr.Contreraforhiscontinuedguidance.
TheVoice,Airway&Swallow TheVoice,Airway&Swallow Center'sNovelTechnologyforHNC Center'sNovelTechnologyforHNC PatientsPatients
TheVoice,Airway&SwallowCenterhas noveltechnologyforheadandneckcancer patientsandisworkingwiththeUPMCHead &NeckCancerSurvivorshipClinicand speechlanguagepathologiststoimplement them.
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EllenButtsisLivingHerChildhood EllenButtsisLivingHerChildhood DreamDream
EllenButts,OD,haswantedtoworkat UPMCsinceshewas12yearsold.Nowshe isDivisionChiefoftheOptometryService, livingoutherdream.
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Afterpracticingasaphysicaltherapistat UPMCforover38years,SusanGeorgewas enjoyingbeingagrandmother.Suddenly, shebeganlosingherbalancealittlebithere andthere,whichneverusedtohappen. Despitebeingbornwithoneleg,shewas surprisinglysure-footed.
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UPMCSwallowDisordersCenterSeeks FundingforMobileHNCScreenings
TheMercyVisionInstituteScientificImage Contestrecentlyannouncedthisyear’s winners.Outofabout70submissions,12 madetheshortlist,oneclinchedthetop prize,andanotherwaschosenasthefan favorite.
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SandraStinnett,MD,hopestocollaboratewiththe CommunicationVanforheadandneckcancerscreenings.But afewthingsneedtohappenfirst,includingliningupsome fundingfornecessaryexpenses.
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