AHN Receives Generous Gift to Advance Programs for Clinician Diversity, Community Health Equity and Medical Education

$250,000 commitment from Terry and Janet Serafini marks Western Pennsylvania couple’s latest charitable gift to AHN

PITTSBURGH – Allegheny Health Network (AHN) is pleased to announce that it has received a generous gift from Terry and Janet Serafini. Totaling $250,000, the funding will support four programs across AHN’s Medicine Institute, Neuroscience Institute and Cardiovascular Institute. Collectively, the programs aim to foster diversity among health care providers, promote health equity across our region and support medical education for tomorrow’s caregivers.

A significant portion of the funding will support the ‘TRIUMPHS’ program within the AHN Medicine Institute. TRIUMPHS – which stands for ‘Today’s Residents Inspiring those Underrepresented in Medicine: Pipeline for the Health Sciences’ – is a mentorship program and collaboration between the AHN Internal Medicine Residency Program, Pittsburgh Public Schools and Highmark Health. As part of the program, medical residents provide longitudinal mentorship for high school students who are interested in pursuing careers in medicine. Students also spend time at AHN hospitals alongside medical teams, learning to navigate health care and a path towards medical education.

Another portion of the funding will support the AHN Healthy Food Center (HFC) at AHN Allegheny Valley Hospital in Natrona Heights. Its opening last June marked the sixth HFC location across AHN’s footprint. Provided by the AHN Center for Inclusion Health, the HFC acts as a ‘food pharmacy’ where patients who are food insecure and often struggle to properly manage health conditions can obtain free, nutritious food items, as well as education on disease-specific diets. Patients are also connected with various community-based resources to help address other social challenges they might face.

Part of the gift will also benefit the AHN Cardiovascular Institute’s ‘Innovation Fund’ which supports various projects aimed at improving heart health in underserved communities. One such project entails the production of educational videos including tips for improving heart health.

Lastly, a portion of the funding will be allotted to the Neurology Residency Program Fund. Based at AHN Allegheny General Hospital, the Neurology Residency Program places a strong emphasis on traditional bedside teaching and the use of sophisticated technology in all aspects of the neurosciences, including neurosciences research. Residents work closely with faculty and are trained in the latest cutting-edge treatments of neurological disorders.

Both native to Western Pennsylvania, Terry and Janet have long supported AHN and its mission to improve health and wellness in our communities. This is their third charitable gift to the network.

Also strong supporters of education, and with a particular passion for students who do not have the means to further their education, in 2018 the couple established the Serafini Scholarship at the AHN Citizens School of Nursing. The scholarship provides financial support for students hoping to attain their dreams in the nursing profession. An additional gift from the Serafinis in 2021 helped to improve access for minority students to Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine (STEMM) programs through AHN’s Simulation, Teaching and Academic Research (STAR) Center.

“We are deeply appreciative of the generosity of Terry and Janet Serafini and grateful for their continued support of AHN. Their profound commitment to increasing access to education creates an abundance of opportunities for better health and wellness in our communities,” said Mitch Beckman, chief development officer, Highmark Health.

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