The Magee Anesthesia Cares (MAC) Committee—comprised of dedicated Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) from UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital and other UPMC sites, along with their family members and friends —gathered for the second consecutive year to support Pittsburgh’s Mission of Mercy event. Held on Friday, November 1, and Saturday, November 2, 2024, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, this annual event provides essential dental, vision, and hearing care at no cost to underserved populations.
Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh is a volunteer-driven clinic that delivers free healthcare services to those in need, with no eligibility or insurance requirements. Local clinicians donate their time and expertise to make this possible.
“This event was a wonderful opportunity to share our skills and compassion,” remarked one of the MAC Committee organizers, Serafina Bear. “We cared for many from our local communities and even some who traveled from as far as North Dakota. The patients made every moment worth it—they were inspiring and incredibly grateful.”
During the event, Serafina and Elizabeth Chang, DNP, CRNA (both from Magee), volunteered on Friday, assisting with medical triage and patient escort. On Saturday, Donna Koleck, MHS, CRNA (Magee); Jason R. Bauer, MSN, PHRN, CRNA (UPMC Shadyside); Ali Bauer, CRNP, DNP (Carlow University), and Serafina continued to serve patients in medical triage.
Highlighting the critical demand for these services, many patients arrived as early as midnight, braving cold temperatures overnight to secure their place in line. By Friday afternoon, the line extended three city blocks, and by 3 p.m., the clinic reached capacity, prompting organizers to close its doors to new arrivals to accommodate those already waiting. On Saturday, dental care resources were fully utilized by noon, while vision and hearing services continued throughout the day. By the end of the event, volunteer clinicians had served a total of 1,676 patients, performing 401 hearing exams and 700 vision exams, capturing 687 dental images, and distributing 665 pairs of eyeglasses and 576 hearing aids.
TribLIVE covered the event, emphasizing the event’s profound impact on the community.
The next Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh event will be held on October 24-25, 2025. Those interested in supporting this impactful initiative can volunteer or make donations online here.
Please view our photo gallery for more images of MAC in action at the Mission of Mercy clinic.