D onating blood has always been a greatway to help others in need. BeginningFriday, July 1, it’s also an excellent

opportunity to earn additional paid time off.Under the UPMC blood donation pro-

gram through Central Blood Bank (CBB),staff members who register to donate bloodon three occasions between July 1, 2005, andJune 30, 2006, will receive one PTO day.Staff who donate six times between July 1,2005, and June 30, 2006, will receive twodays of PTO.

The PTO day(s) will be added to yourPTO bank after the close of the fiscal year.You must be actively employed by UPMCon June 30, 2006, to earn any PTO underthis program.

“Giving blood is a selfless act that saveslives. UPMC has long encouraged physiciansand staff members to donate blood,” says GregPeaslee, senior vice president, HumanResources. “We hope that this incentive ofaccruing additional PTO will spur more indi-viduals to donate blood on a regular basis.”

UPMC has partnered with CentralBlood Bank to offer the PTO incentive.CBB will track staff donations and providethat information to UPMC.

July 1, 2005

http://extra.upmc.comhttp://extra.infonet.upmc.com

A t a press conference June 20, UPMCCancer Centers and the University ofPittsburgh Cancer Institute announced

the receipt of a $20 million gift from Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. Hillman to supportcancer research. Mr. and Mrs. Hillman werejoined at the press conference by JeffreyRomoff, president, Universityof Pittsburgh Medical Center,and other leaders of UPMC,the University of Pittsburgh,and the University of Pitts-burgh Cancer Institute. Thegift is the largest contributionever given to UPMC and theUniversity of Pittsburgh by asingle donor.

The Hillman Fellows Program for Inno-vative Cancer Research, supported by the$20 million gift from the Henry L. HillmanFoundation and The Hillman Foundation,will provide seed money for scientists toexplore new areas of cancer research in stemcell biology, cancer vaccines and cellular thera-pies, methods for diagnosing and monitoringcancer, and programs for cancer prevention.

The program is part of an overall five-year,$200 million plan to expand the HillmanCancer Center’s research laboratories andfacilities, recruit world-class clinicians andscientists, broaden clinical research studiesas well as community outreach and educa-tion, and increase development of researchendowments. A major capital campaign tosupport the overall program is in the earlyplanning phase.

New benefit for commuters can save you money

Page 2

Right or wrong?

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Hillmans contribute $20 million toUPCI and UPMC Cancer Centers

Building on success

U PMC conducted a successful pilot ofthe PTO incentive program at severallocations. “At each site, there has been

a notable increase in the number of volun-tary blood donors. The numbers we haveseen have convinced us to expand the pro-gram systemwide,” says Mr. Peaslee.

Blood drive information is published reg-ularly in Inside Extra! For more informationabout blood donation, call CBB toll-free at1-866-DONORS1 (1-866-366-6771).

When you register to donate, you will berequired to sign a form authorizing CBB torelease all information related to your dona-tions to UPMC.

You may be deferred for donation if you received a tattoo,experienced an accidental needlestick injury, or traveledoutside of the United States or Canada in the past 12months. Deferrals will be reviewed and monitored by CBB.If you have been informed by CBB that you are ineligibleto donate blood for at least one year, you should not presentto donate. You will not be eligible for the PTO programuntil your deferral has expired.

Save a life, receive PTOUPMC offers new incentive to staff who are frequent blood donors

BLOOD DONATION SAVES LIVES. CONSIDER THE FACTS:• There is no manufactured substitute for blood.

Volunteer donors are the only source for bloodand blood products.

• Every three seconds someone needs blood.

• It takes about three gallons of blood to supportthe entire nation’s blood needs for one minute.

• Car accident victims who have suffered massiveblood loss can need transfusions of 50 pints ormore of red blood cells.

• Most people in general good health can safelydonate blood every eight weeks (56 days). Youmust weigh at least 110 pounds and be 17years old (there is no upper age limit).

Source: Central Blood Bank

Senior Games score big win

C ongratulations to the athletes, volun-teers, and sponsors of the 2005Summer National Senior Games.

UPMC played a major role in the games as asponsor and the official medical provider.During the recently concluded two-weekevent, more than 10,000 athletes from 50states competed in 18 sports throughout thePittsburgh region.

UPMC researchers alsoused the Senior Games asan opportunity to studythe health and fitness ofsenior athletes, 50 years ofage and older. Hundredsof competitors completeda comprehensive health surveyand participated in studiesfocusing on the effects of exerciseon bone mineral density, leanmuscle mass, neurocognitivefunction, rotator cuff injuries, andbody composition.

CBB conducts blood drives at mostUPMC hospitals and other health systemfacilities. Some UPMC hospitals work withother agencies, such as the American RedCross, to hold drives.

“In the near future, UPMC will beworking with these agencies so that our PTOincentive program is truly a systemwide ini-tiative for all staff,” says Mr. Peaslee.

Mrs. Elsie Hillman, joined byUPMC President Jeffrey Romoff

and Mr. Henry L. Hillman, speaksat a June 20 press conference

announcing a $20 million gift tosupport cancer research.

HITTING THEIR STRIDEUPMC St. Margaret President David Martin and SusanHoolahan, vice president, Clinical Services (center), joinfellow staff to take advantage of warm weather and thegrand opening of the new campus walking course at UPMCSt. Margaret. The .33-mile course was developed as part ofthe hospital’s wellness initiative. Maps of the course andfootprints painted on the sidewalk encourage staff to addwalking to their workdays. Three laps around the courseequals one mile.

On this rare occasion, you overslept. To make

matters worse, the kids have been less than

cooperative. On this nightmare of a weekday

morning, you’re running late. To save time,

you drive by your assigned staff parking area

and take a space in patient parking. At lunch,

you validate your parking ticket with the office

parking stamp so you won’t have to pay to

move your car from patient parking to your

assigned area.

Wrong.

Unauthorized use of any parking area or parking validation by UPMC staff

is a theft of services and is subject to disciplinary action up to and

including termination of employment. Patient parking is a top priority at all

UPMC facilities. However, staff members are encouraged to contact the

parking office for their hospital or facility for information about affordable

parking options.

The streak continuesBarring a significant injury or illness, DaveGulasy will reach a major athletic milestonein a few months. On Oct. 5, 2005, thesenior financial analyst for UPMC plans tolace up his New Balances and celebrate5,000 consecutive days inwhich he has gone running.

Mr. Gulasy began his runningstreak Jan. 28, 1992, twodays after Super Bowl XXVI. “I started with a goal of running10 consecutive days, whichgrew into 50 days, then 100days, and so on,” says Mr. Gulasy, who dutifullyrecords his daily mileage in a calendar. Theresident of North Huntingdon, Westmore-land County, runs two or three miles everyday. On weekdays, he runs the trails inSchenley Park or around the Schenley Ovalbefore going into work at Forbes Tower inOakland. On the weekends, he runs on thetrack at either Norwin High School or SerraCatholic High School.

Mr. Gulasy believes it’s important to run ondifferent types of surfaces. The dirt and claytrails of Schenley Park and the rubberized

or cinder surfaces of most high schooltracks are gentler on the knees than jar-ring asphalt streets.

Over the past 13-plus years, Mr. Gulasy hasrun in many different weather conditions.

But the variety of weather —from blistering summer heatand humidity to bone-numbingcold — carry special appeal.

“Every day is different. Theseasons are different. I workin an office, and I can honestlysay that I enjoy experiencingthe weather, whatever theconditions,” says Mr. Gulasy.

His drive to run every day has nothing to do with establishing records or preparingfor competitive races. Mr. Gulasy runs forhimself and for his health. “I like that I feelgood afterward, and that it keeps mehealthy. I feel my running is directly relatedto my good health,” he says.

He has no plans to hang up his runningshoes. “There is no definite end in sight.There is always another number to beat,”says Mr. Gulasy.

2

For detailed information about these programs, visit Infonet athttp://extra.infonet.upmc.com.

EVENTS/CLASSESAdvances in the Treatment of MelanomaThursday, July 7, 6:30 to 8 p.m.Hillman Cancer Center

Advances in Complex Esophageal SurgeryWednesday, July 13, and Thursday, July 14Charles G. Watson Surgical EducationCenter, UPMC Presbyterian

ERCP and EUS in PancreaticobiliaryDiseases and GI Clinical Advancesfrom Digestive Disease WeekThursday, July 28, and Friday, July 29Omni William Penn Hotel

RESEARCHSTUDIESIf your child is diagnosed with attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)and he or she is currently takingConcerta, Metadate, or Ritalin LA, heor she may be eligible to participatein a research study. Participants mustbe between the ages of 6 and 12. Formore information, contact Heidi Kippat 412-246-5661.

Researchers at the University of Pitts-burgh Medical Center are seekingseverely overweight children betweenthe ages of 8 and 11 for participationin a research study. For more informa-tion, call 412-647-7181.

PERKSDoo Wop Holiday Reunion ShowWhat: Save up to $3 on tickets to thisholiday show; tickets are $48.50, $30,$23, and $17. Where: Mellon Arena When: Friday, Dec. 30, 7 p.m.How: Call 412-642-1977 by Wednesday,Dec. 21, to order tickets. Mention thatyou are a UPMC employee.

WWE RawWhat: Save up to $5.25 on tickets tothis wrestling event; tickets are $42,$31.50, $21, and $15.75.Where: Mellon Arena When: Monday, Aug. 8, 7:45 p.m.How: Call 412-642-1977 by Friday, July 29, to order tickets. Mention thatyou are a UPMC employee.

M E E T T H E P E O P L E O F U P M C

Retirement Centerplans customer survey

T he UPMC Retirement Center willconduct a customer satisfaction surveybeginning this month. If you have con-

tacted the UPMC Retirement Center, youmay be called at your home to answer severalsurvey questions about your experience.

The survey should take less than 10 min-utes to complete. Survey results will be used toensure that staff members receive quality serv-ices through the UPMC Retirement Center.

Survey representatives will identify them-selves as employees of Maritz Researchcalling on behalf of the UPMC RetirementCenter. All calls will be made between 4 and8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. Saturday.

UPMC staff may obtain informationand updates about their retirement accountsin the UPMC Savings and Cash BalancePlans by logging on to Your BenefitsResources™ (http://resources.hewitt.com/upmc). To contact the UPMC RetirementCenter, call toll-free 1-877-206-8264. Centerrepresentatives are available from 9:30 a.m.to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

This information is not applicable to thestaff of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburghbecause they have not been integrated intothe UPMC Retirement Program.

Volume 16, No. 13July 1, 2005

Extra! is published biweekly for staffof the University of Pittsburgh MedicalCenter by UPMC Corporate Commun-ications, Forbes Tower, Suite 8044,3600 Forbes Ave. at Meyran, Pittsburgh,PA 15213. E-mail story suggestions orcomments to extra@upmc.edu.

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center isan equal opportunity employer. Policy prohibitsdiscrimination or harassment on the basis ofrace, color, religion, national origin, ancestry,sex, age, marital status, familial status, sexualorientation, disability, or veteran status. Further,UPMC will continue to support and promoteequal employment opportunity, human dignity,and racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. Thispolicy applies to admissions, employment, andaccess to and treatment in UPMC programs andactivities. This commitment is made by UPMC inaccordance with federal, state, and/or local lawsand regulations.

R IGHT OR WRONG?

A series of real-life scenarios and the ethical decisions that UPMC staff make nearly every day.

B eginning Sept. 1, eligible UPMC staffwho pay for parking at non-UPMCaffiliated public and private lots near

their work or transit locations can reduceparking expenses by as much as 30 percent bycontributing to a Commuter Parking Account.

Staff members may elect up to $200 amonth to contribute on a pretax basis to theparking account. To be reimbursed, staffsubmit eligible parking receipts and a claimform to the commuter benefit administrator,ADP. Reimbursement is sent directly to thestaff member by separate check or by directdeposit into a chosen bank account. TheCommuter Parking Account works verysimilar to a flexible savings account, exceptthe “use it or lose it” rule does not apply toparking accounts, and the election can be

changed on a monthly basis and roll fromyear to year.

Commuter parking accounts are not for useby staff who park at UPMC-affiliated lots andare already having deductions taken on a pretaxbasis. Additionally, accounts cannot be used forparking at or near your residence, nonwork-related parking, parking for family members,gas/mileage, or other transit expenses.

From Aug. 1 to 15, staff may initiallysign up to participate in the parkingaccounts beginning in September. Enroll-ment and account access will be onlinethrough ADP’s secure website, linked to MyHUB. New sign-ups or changes to electionsare permitted on a monthly basis but mustbe submitted prior to the 15th day of theprevious month.

New benefit for commuters can save you moneyWatch Extra! for more information,

or contact the Employee Service Center at 1-800-994-2752, option 3.