National Nonprofit Honors UPMC Children's Hospital Staffer

Pam Berman, a Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, was recently named recipient of the inaugural Enduring Heart & Soul Transplant Coordinator Award, presented by the nonprofit Enduring Hearts. The award is designed to celebrate the invaluable role that pediatric heart transplant coordinators have in to coaching those going through the transplantation journey. The award also seeks to recognize one standout coordinator in the country for their exemplary care and service.

Berman’s nursing experiences in pediatric home care, neonatal and pediatric intensive care and transplant research paved the way for her transition to her current position in Pediatric Cardiothoracic transplant. Berman dedicated nearly 18 years of her career to providing transplant card to pre and post-heart transplant patients and their families.

She was nominated by Kelly Fleegle, mother of a son who received a heart transplant 23 years ago at the age of only 5 months old at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Fleegle was so grateful for the many contributions Berman made to his transplant team. “She deserves this award. Not just because she is an amazing transplant coordinator, but because she is a loving, caring, and just plain amazing person,” said Fleegle. “To us, she is more than just our coordinator, she is our friend, or better yet, family.”

“I was so surprised and sincerely honored to be chosen as the inaugural recipient of the Enduring Heart & Soul Transplant Award,” said Berman. “To have a family like the Fleegles take the time and effort to express their gratitude for the care I provided over many years was very heartwarming and an award in itself.”

Berman was in Atlanta last month at the 5th Annual Enduring Hearts Bourbon Gala & Auction, where she received recognition for the award in person. Enduring Hearts is the only national nonprofit organization with a mission to fund research that increases the longevity of pediatric heart transplants, improve the quality of life for children living with a new heart and eliminate pediatric heart diseases that may lead to a transplant. Since it was founded in 2014, the organization has raised more than $6 million.

The Stable Ground Foundation provided funding for The Enduring Heart & Soul Transplant Coordinator Award.