PinnacleHealth Endocrinology Associates

08/09/2025

Did you know UPMC Children’s Specialty Services provides surgical care – simple to complex – in central Pa.?

The central Pa. pediatric surgical team provides comprehensive surgical care for conditions like abdominal pain, hernia, pectus excavatum and carinatum, tongue tie and more.

Among the team is Alissa Bergstresser, a certified nurse practitioner who cares for children, ages 0-18 years old, during all parts of their surgical journey – from the initial assessment to the surgery to the evaluation after surgery.

Simple to complex procedures are conducted at UPMC Harrisburg for newborns to young adults, and Alissa cares for inpatient pediatric surgery patients.

You may also see her at UPMC Lititz, where patients ages 3 and older can receive general, outpatient surgery procedures, such as inguinal (groin) hernias, umbilical (belly button) hernias, skin lesions, circumcisions or revisions of circumcisions, and gallbladder removal.

Learn about the conditions we treat close to home at https://go.upmc.com/1747Bo6B_.

08/07/2025

08/07/2025

“Breastfeeding can be a beautiful way to nourish an infant and bond with them, but it is not always easy to do,” shares Emma Outland, a board-certified lactation consultant at UPMC Harrisburg, during National Breastfeeding Awareness Month.

As a lactation consultant, Emma’s job is to help families meet their breastfeeding goals by providing education and support. This may include helping a parent latch their baby on the breast comfortably, teaching a parent how to use a breast pump, or helping them prepare to continue breastfeeding when they return to work.

Emma visits with families while they are in the hospital after delivery and continues to see families after leaving the hospital through UPMC’s breastfeeding support groups and outpatient appointments.

“It is such a privilege to be involved in a family's first few joyful, but stressful days after the birth of their child. There is nothing quite like seeing the excitement and relief on a parent's face when their newborn latches well on the breast or when they see breastmilk in their pump for the first time,” says Emma.

Not only does Emma help families with their babies, but she also teaches yoga – sometimes at 6 a.m.! She is a big music lover, who plays the electric bass and various percussion instruments.

To learn more about UPMC Magee-Womens lactation consulting and breastfeeding support, please visit https://go.upmc.com/1739BaDnV.

08/01/2025

Former patients of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) reunited with the nurses and staff at the NICU Reunion Pajama Party on Tuesday night. The event was organized by UPMC Magee-Womens and UPMC Children’s in Central Pennsylvania, with support from the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation. The reunion celebrated NICU graduates from 2022.

"Seeing these young children flourish is incredibly inspiring,” said Abby Flanders, executive administrator, Pediatric Service Line, UPMC in Central Pa. “At UPMC, our commitment is to deliver outstanding care to families across the region. That mission is achieved by the unwavering dedication and expertise of our NICU team, who go above and beyond for our patients every day.”

Held at the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg, the reunion gave former patients of the NICU units at UPMC Carlisle, UPMC Harrisburg, UPMC Lititz and UPMC Memorial, the chance to visit with providers and nurses. Kids were happy to explore exhibits, including KidsPlace, Carnival of Health, and the Backstage Studio. There were art and craft projects, story time, and videos for the little ones on the giant screen in the Digital Cinema.

UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital continues to lead in neonatal care by emphasizing family-centered support for families navigating the challenges of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With advanced medical technologies and a multidisciplinary team of specialists, the NICU is designed to provide critical care for the region’s most vulnerable newborns.

UPMC Children’s in Harrisburg offers 72 beds dedicated to infants, children, adolescents and teens, providing acute and critical inpatient pediatric care. UPMC brings nationally ranked care from UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh to families in central Pennsylvania, with direct access to its specialists when needed.

In 2024, more than 6,000 babies were delivered at UPMC Magee-Womens in central Pennsylvania, while the NICU units treated close to 600 severely or critically ill babies.

07/29/2025

We’re proud to share that UPMC Harrisburg has been ranked #7 in Pennsylvania and #2 in the Harrisburg metro area in the latest U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” rankings.

UPMC Harrisburg was also rated High Performing in orthopaedics and urology, reinforcing our commitment to providing exceptional, specialized care close to home. The evaluation of UPMC Harrisburg also includes data from UPMC West Shore and UPMC Community Osteopathic.

These achievements reflect the dedication of our entire team — physicians, nurses, support staff, and more — who work every day to deliver Life Changing Medicine to our community.

Most of all, thank you to the patients and families who put their trust in us. We’re honored to care for you.

07/28/2025

From diagnosis to treatment, our orthopaedic and sports medicine providers will guide you every step of the way, helping you return to what you love most. The road to recovery starts with the experts at UPMC Orthopaedic Care.

07/23/2025

When Jeff read on his patient portal that his biopsy came back positive for cancer, the news put him into a “tailspin.”

“I’m an engineer, and I’m kind of a type-A personality,” says Jeff, 43, of Dillsburg, Pa. “I need a schedule and a plan, and I always have a backup plan. This was a card that I was dealt where I was so lost. It was like, ‘I don’t know what the next step is.’”

Diagnosed with myxoid liposarcoma of the left thigh in April 2024, Jeff began treatment soon afterward with orthopaedic oncologist Lauren Zeitlinger, DO. After undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, Jeff was cancer-free by late fall.

Jeff is thankful to his entire care team.

“I felt like I was where I needed to be, with the best care, with the best doctors that I had,” Jeff says. “I was definitely going through some mental challenges, but having that team of folks was the perfect situation I could have been in.”

https://go.upmc.com/1648vIzn5

07/21/2025

For women, bladder leakage or a feeling as though their bladder is going to fall out, is something women often believe is a normal part of aging or a consequence of childbirth.

Michael Bonidie, MD, who specializes in urogynecology and is the director of Urogynecology for UPMC Magee-Womens in Central Pa., shares these symptoms are not only treatable—they’re also more common than most women realize.

Learn more about these symptoms and treatments available: https://www.cpbj.com/is-my-bladder-going-to-fall-out/

07/18/2025

UPMC was proud to partner with Girls on the Run Mid State PA for a hands-on summer workshop at UPMC Community Osteopathic in Harrisburg. Around 40 girls spent the afternoon exploring health care careers through interactive experiences and mentorship.

A highlight of the day was a demonstration of the DaVinci surgical robot led by Andrea Benton, MD, minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon at UPMC Magee-Womens in Central Pa. Each participant even had the chance to test the robot in demo mode—getting a firsthand look at how advanced technology supports surgical care.

The girls also put their creativity to work in a “Name the Robot” contest. The winning name, Helpful Hazel, captured the robot’s role in the operating room, and the team behind it was recognized for their innovation and teamwork.

Throughout the event, UPMC nurse educators guided participants through a mock operating room setup, offering an inside look at surgical prep and the collaboration that powers patient care.

Girls on the Run is a national nonprofit that inspires girls to build confidence and life skills through physical activity and mentorship. We’re honored to support the next generation of leaders in health care and beyond.

07/18/2025

In this summer edition of the , Glenn Klucka, DO, pediatric hospitalist, UPMC Children’s Harrisburg, speaks to the importance of wearing sunscreen.

Dr. Klucka also offers parents and caregivers some important reminders for keeping kids safe this season.

Remember to apply sunscreen every 90 minutes. For babies under six months, avoid using sunscreen and opt instead to wear protective hats and clothes while limiting time in direct sun.

Headed out on the road? You should still put sunscreen on. And never leave your child alone in a vehicle.

Keep kids hydrated and make sure they take breaks in a shaded or air-conditioned location in hot, sunny weather.

Fatigue, profuse sweating, and flushed face could be a sign of heat exhaustion. If a child is unable to wake up, is unresponsive, or has stopped sweating after prolonged heat exposure, that may be a sign of heat stroke, which needs emergency care.

Talk with your child’s pediatrician if you are concerned they may have a heat-related condition. If you don’t have one or need same-day care, consider visiting UPMC Children's Express Care in Mechanicsburg or Hummelstown.

07/16/2025

UPMC’s gynecologic oncology team provides compassionate preventive and treatment services for women with gynecologic cancer and other complex conditions of the female reproductive system. This includes ovarian, cervical, uterine, endometrial, peritoneal, vulvar, vaginal, and other pelvic diseases.

In a recent appearance on WHP’s Taking Care of Business, Sharon Fitzgerald, MD, gynecologic oncologist, discussed gynecologic cancers and the importance of routine gynecologic screenings. Listen to learn more about the services and treatments for patients.

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/459-taking-care-of-business-wi-23938092/episode/71225-upmc-gynecologic-cancer-285101692/

07/15/2025