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We asked local health groups who stood out during the pandemic; they answered all of Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — As America celebrates this holiday weekend, it’s also a time to reflect on the first half of 2020. Channel 11 asked UPMC and Allegheny Health Network about some of their workers they believed earned special recognition. While the intent was to thank them, they thank all of Pittsburgh in return.

UPMC’s Dr. Anish Ghodadra is the medical director of the facility’s 3D Printing Program.

“So as the COVID pandemic started we were made aware of a shortage in the nasal swabs that were going to be used for testing patients for the COVID-19 virus. So we sought to utilize the tools and expertise our of 3D printing program to see if we could develop a solution to bolster the supply of the nasal swabs that were used,” Ghodadra said. “So what we did is develop a novel design of nasal swabs and began manufacturing that swab at Presby. And we developed a swab that’s now being used in over 12,000 patients in 13 sites across Pennsylvania.”

While the team is working nonstop to create something that could help others, they said their inspiration came from all of us.

“As a Pittsburgh native there is really is such a sense of community in Pittsburgh. There’s a sense of pride in the work that you do to help the community,” said UPMC biomedical engineer April Krivoniak.  “Just to be a true supporter of the Pittsburgh community, I think this is something that is happening across the nation of course, but at the capacity that it’s happening here - that’s always unique to his area.”

“I’ll never forget a colleague of mine giving me a little card that was made by his 8-year-old daughter thanking us for all of hard work with patients and working with the swabs,” Ghodadra added. “Those little gestures go a long way into helping us work through the long days and long nights that has come with this pandemic.”

Helping kids understand the pandemic was the goal of Dr. Deborah Rotenstein from Allegheny Health Network.  She wrote a book about the coronavirus.  Her granddaughter was her inspiration.

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“I had promised my almost four-year-old granddaughter who lives in Israel, who I was visiting in January, that I would be back for Passover. And then COVID struck and I couldn’t come,” said Rotenstein.

The book is available on Facebook for free. It helps children at the level they understand.

“You have to relate to the things that they relate to,” Rotenstein said while reading part of the book.  “Washing hands and faces, washing counters, not going any places.  Or my sister’s school play is not taking place, the library is closed, birthdays on hold because of the coronavirus. “

The healthcare workers said they relied on each other for support so they were there to help others.

“When I when I reflect on it, it’s almost indescribable,” said UPMC Chief Quality Officer Tami Minnier.  “The greatest part of it was that camaraderie. There was no other mission than to keep our patients and our employees safe during this time and our community safe.  For me, it was just a astounding to be a part of it and to see the response.

But they all say this pandemic is far from over.

“Every single one of us have someone in our life who’s vulnerable,” Minnier explained. “For those people, for the people you love that you need to protect, please, please don’t drop any of the precautions.  Wear a mask, wash your hands, be thoughtful with social distance.  You can still live your life doing that.”

And on this July 4th holiday weekend like none other, there’s a sense of pride like none other among Pittsburgh’s strong group of healthcare workers.

“I’m super proud of America and the way that we came together to help each other during these times,” Minnier said.  “It makes you really believe everything is possible, and that we can make a difference if we all work together.”