Celebrating Champions of Excellence in Service to Others

Presented by UPMC Senior Services and UPMC Western Behavioral Health

The 17th Annual "Celebrating Champions" dinner and silent auction takes place Thursday, October 16, at The Westin Pittsburgh. Co-hosted by UPMC Senior Services and UPMC Western Behavioral Health, the event recognizes esteemed individuals and organizations who have improved the quality of life in our region. This year's distinguished honorees are united in their service to older adults and behavioral health.

Guests will have the opportunity to greet honorees during a cocktail reception, place bids on items in a robust silent auction, and enjoy a superb dinner. The highlight of the evening is the awards presentation, which celebrates the extraordinary impact that this year’s honorees have made throughout our region and beyond. The event is made possible by sponsorship from UPMC For Life, Oakdale Seniors Alliance, Gumpher Electrical Service, Concentra, and many other generous businesses and individuals.

The Grand Champion Award is the highest honor presented and is bestowed upon a person who has provided exceptional leadership in improving the wellbeing of countless individuals across

our region. Tracey Conti MD, MBA, is our 2025 honoree. Dr. Conti most recently served as the UPMC Andrew W. Mathieson Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC. She held several roles in the department including vice chair for education and practice integration, program director of the UPMC McKeesport Family

Medicine Residency Program, and executive vice chair. Dr. Conti is a native of Pittsburgh and graduated from Woodland Hills Senior High School. She is a graduate of Temple University School of Medicine and completed her family medicine residency at the University of Maryland where she served as chief resident. Dr. Conti is fellowship trained in women’s health and faculty development and received her master’s in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh Katz School of Business.

Dr. Conti served the communities of Pittsburgh for 25 years. She was the medical director of the Matilda Theiss Health Center in the Hill District and was the lead investigator in seeking fund-

ing as a Federally Qualified Health Center status for that site. This grant brought many needed resources including social work and on-site medication dispensing to this community. The majority of Dr. Conti’s clinical care has been in the McKeesport area where she practiced at the Latterman Family Health Center and UPMC McKeesport. She has participated in many youth and community

educational outreach programs and was a founding board member for the 9th Street Free Clinic in Rankin.

Dr. Conti is passionate about health equity and considers it a driving force in her medical career. Her clinical and advocacy interests include health disparities and health care delivery to underserved communities, medical education, and women’s health. She is a champion for patient empowerment through education and the development of strong patient-physician partnerships to optimize individual, family, and community health care. Currently, Dr. Conti is the vice dean of Clinical Affairs and vice president of Academic Practices at SSM Health and St. Louis University.

The 2025 Community Champion Award, given to acknowledge an organization that has demonstrated transformative leadership in improving communities in and around the Pittsburgh region, is being presented to Kane Community Living Centers.

Caring for elderly people and adults who require skilled nursing care has been the responsibility of Kane since 1958. In 1984, four separate geographic areas were selected to expand nursing care to

residents of Allegheny County into their communities. Four Centers in Glen Hazel, McKeesport, Ross Township, and Scott Township continue to provide convenient alternatives for families who remain active in their loved ones’ lives. Similarly at Kane, residents can remain engaged with their life-long communities.

With an extensive range of medical resources, specialty care units, therapy treatments, and recreational programs, Kane is a trusted source for long and short-term care for a diverse popula-

tion including persons with dementia, substance use disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Kane’s strength is the unwavering compassion and commitment of staff, many of whom

are members of the community in which they work, dedicated to providing good care to neighbors, friends, and family.

The Caregiver Champion Award recognizes extraordinary individuals whose commitment to the realm of caregiving significantly enhances the wellbeing of others. Our 2025 Caregiver Champion is Allegheny Family Network, led by Ruth Fox, chief executive officer.

More than 40 years ago, Ruth began her career as a nurse and an active volunteer in her community. She was involved in various initiatives, from homeless and housing coalitions to com-

munity mental health and support programs, all while practicing as a nurse. In 1998, Ruth transitioned into the mental health field at Community Human Services here in Pittsburgh. During her ten years there, she rose to become the director of residential programs.

Ruth’s unique combination of professional and personal experiences makes her exceptionally qualified to serve as the chief executive officer of Allegheny Family Network. As a parent of

four children, one of whom was diagnosed at age eight with major depression and agoraphobia, Ruth has a firsthand understanding of the challenges families face.

Under Ruth’s leadership, Allegheny Family Network has grown from a small operation with just five employees, a chat line, and a resource library to one of the largest family organizations of its

kind in the country. The organization now employs more than 40 dedicated employees who are all equipped with personal experience raising children with emotional and/or behavioral challenges.

Allegheny Family Network offers, through “lived experience,” a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet the unique needs of families in Allegheny County and across the state through shared experiences, informative resources, educational programs, and strong advocacy efforts, ensuring families have the tools and guidance they need to thrive.

Proceeds from the dinner and auction support two outstanding causes, the UPMC Senior Communities Benevolent Care Fund and the UPMC Western Behavioral Health Foundation. In its 17-year history, this event has contributed more than $2.4 million toward philanthropic care.