More than 300 Pitt alumni attended Health Sciences Alumni Weekend this fall to reconnect with their peers and visit with deans, faculty members, students and staff. All Health Sciences alumni were welcomed at the Welcome Back Reception at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and a Pirates game at beautiful PNC Park. The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) also invited its alumni to a special happy hour and awards ceremony to celebrate the school’s 55th anniversary.
Interim Dean David C. Beck, faculty and staff welcomed a large and lively crowd, who chatted about Pitt memories and the inspiring stories that led to the evening’s honors. Displays around the room highlighted school news, including the new, nearly completed Fifth and Halket building, recent high rankings for many SHRS departments, community initiatives and projects involving artificial intelligence and digital health.
Awards included Dean’s Choice, Philanthropy, Humanitarian, Research Discovery, Distinguished Alumni and Rising Stars.
Award Winner Says Philanthropy Is Easier Than You May Think
Philanthropy Award winner Meagan Sampogna Williams (SHRS ’00) shared the story of how she started a modest scholarship fund in 2008 that provided a small scholarship for one undergraduate program. The Meagan Sampogna Williams Student Resource Fund now provides significant scholarships to undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students. In a full-circle moment, she said, one of the recipients is now a Pitt professor!
The fund is important to Williams not only as a Pitt Health Information Management alumna but also because she is chief operating officer of U.S. Oncology Network, and she has seen the increasing need for well-trained health information professionals. “We need these students for the future of our business,” she said.
Regarding philanthropy, she added, “Most people hear the words ‘philanthropy’ or ‘endowment,’ and they think they need thousands of dollars. But I started with $500, and my family and peers wanted to give, and it grew from there. You can start something and leave a legacy behind.”
Rehabilitation Science and Technology Alumni Startup Poised to Become “Google Maps for Sidewalks”
Also featured at the event was Eric J. Sinagra (SHRS ’14G), cofounder and chief executive officer of pathVu. He and Jonathan Duvall originally created the startup during their graduate studies together in the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology. Their company maps city sidewalk data and provides real-time navigation options for pedestrians, especially those using wheelchairs, mobility aids and strollers. Their app notes barriers to transit, such as rough sidewalks, missing curb ramps, stairs and steep hills.
Duvall, now a research biomedical engineer at Pitt who uses a wheelchair, and Sinagra, whose brother also uses a wheelchair, plan to make their app the “Google Maps for sidewalks.” Duvall nominated Sinagra for the Distinguished Alumni Award and was there to cheer for him.
Award Recognizes Occupational Therapist Who Works with People Experiencing Homelessness
Julia Lam (SHRS ’00, ’23G) attended not only to accept the Humanitarian Award but also to thank the faculty and staff who helped her pave her rather nonconventional career path.
“I feel like it’s so much more than just an individual award because the Department of Occupational Therapy was so crucial to me being able to pursue what I was interested in, to feel confident in doing that,” she said.
She used her training in rehabilitation science and occupational therapy to found Outreach Therapy, a nonprofit organization based in Pittsburgh that provides occupational therapy services to people experiencing homelessness. The organization meets people where they are in the community, helps them transition to new living environments and offers occupational therapy and life-skills building.
Her company builds upon experience she gained as president of Pitt’s Street Medicine organization as a graduate student.
She encouraged students and others who are early in their careers to speak up about their goals and interests: “Don’t be shy about telling people your interests or dreams—even if it’s untraditional. I told the faculty about my interests, and they were able to provide me with support and connections. But if I hadn’t spoken up about those things, I would never have gotten that support.”
Congratulations to All Award Winners!
Distinguished Alumni Awards:
- Teresa Brininger (’03G, ’05G), Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and Occupational Therapy
- Craig Coleman (SHRS ’00G), Communication Science
- Laura Critchfield (SHRS ’11G), Physician Assistant Studies
- Daniel Erb (SHRS ’81), Physical Therapy
- Kate Kohne (SHRS ’16G), Rehabilitation Counseling
- Linda McLinden (SHRS ’87), Health Information Management
- Eric Sinagra (SHRS ’14G), Rehabilitation Science and Technology
- Leigh Weiss (SHRS ’04), Athletic Training
- William Wilson (SHRS ’16), Emergency Medicine
Humanitarian Award:
- Julia Lam (SHRS ’00, ’23G), Rehabilitation Science and Occupational Therapy
Dean’s Choice:
- Jonathan Andino (SHRS ’08, ’11G), Athletic Training and Physical Therapy
- Kendrea Garand (SHRS ’10G), Communication Science and Disorders
Philanthropy Award:
- Meagan Sampogna Williams (SHRS ’00), Health Information Management
Research Discovery Award:
- Julie Fritz (SHRS ’98G), Physical Therapy
Rising Star Awards:
- Brandon Crooms (SHRS ’14G), Sports Medicine
- Mandi DeVito (SHRS ’13G), Rehabilitation Counseling
- Carrie Hoppes (SHRS ’17G), Physical Therapy
- Sally Klinner (SHRS ’24G), Physician Assistant Studies
- Sarah McKendry (SHRS ’22G), Occupational Therapy
- Christina Royster (SHRS ’10), Communication Science
- Justin Schindler (SHRS’16), Emergency Medicine
Browse Event Photos
View more photos from the reunion here.
To learn more about alumni involvement with SHRS, contact Maddy Dix at madelinedix@pitt.edu.
