Magee Matters Spring 2024 : Honoring Diana Brucha’s Career in Women’s Health Care at Magee-Womens
By Gina Edwards
Diana Brucha’s career as the Director of Graduate Medical Education (GME) and steward of GME in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital deserves celebration. With dedication and expertise spanning decades, Diana has been instrumental in shaping the future of hundreds of residents and fellows who have gone on to lead, advance science, innovate, educate, and care for thousands of women.
Throughout her tenure, Diana has exhibited deep commitment to the excellence and success of the department’s residency and fellowship training programs. Her creativity, intelligence, meticulous attention to detail, unparalleled organizational skills, and compassionate nature have earned her the respect and admiration of colleagues, trainees, faculty, and everyone privileged to work with her.
Diana’s unwavering support of the residents and fellows has been instrumental in fostering a learning environment conducive to professional development, ensuring that trainees receive the highest quality education, resources, and mentorship necessary to achieve their personal career goals.
Under Diana’s watch, the programs at UPMC Magee-Womens have consistently attracted top talent and gained national recognition. Her expertise in managing the progressively complex coordination of GME programs has streamlined processes and improved efficiency at UPMC Magee-Womens and programs across the country where her legacy will endure.
Reflecting on her time at UPMC Magee-Womens, Diana shared some of her personal story, special memories, and plans for retirement.
How did you get started in your role at UPMC Magee-Womens?
Way back in the summer of 1984, I walked into Doctor Caritis’ office to interview for a position as a medical secretary/receptionist in the department. At that time, the department had a very small number of faculty, and my responsibilities were to answer the department’s main phone number, transcribe patient chart dictations, and provide administrative support to Dr. Kathleen McIntyre-Seltman, who was the most junior faculty in the department. (My most challenging task in those early days was to learn to spell faculty names and learn who was whom!) Shortly after starting and getting settled into life at UPMC Magee-Womens, my manager informed me that she was leaving; this change started my lifelong journey into the world of graduate medical education, or GME.
In addition to my role in the residency and fellowship programs, during my nearly 40 years at UPMC Magee-Womens and UPMC, I have held various job titles and additional responsibilities, including:
• Faculty Contracts, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
• Grand Rounds Conference/CME Coordinator
• Ob-gyn Outreach Lecture Series Coordinator
• Course Coordinator, Fourth-Year Medical Student Clerkship, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
• Course Coordinator, Third-Year Medical Student Clerkship, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
• Receptionist/Medical Secretary for the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Services, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital
What has been your favorite part about working here?
My favorite part of working here has been the people — not only those in the department but throughout the hospital. For me, UPMC Magee-Womens has always felt like a community hospital where “everyone knows your name!” This culture was one of the selling points that I discussed with applicants to our training programs. The wonderful physicians and staff members really do become a part of your work family, and the love here is one of the reasons I stayed so long.
I stay in touch with and follow the career paths of our graduates who have both stayed and moved on. I am still amazed to this day at their accomplishments as they continually move women’s health care to the next level. I hope that our alumni and staff can recall their time at UPMC Magee-Womens and remember at least one interaction with me where I was able to help them in some way and that this brings a smile to their faces. My goal in life and in my career has always been to go above and beyond to assist people in whatever way I can, and I hope that I have been successful. My upbringing in a large Italian family has instilled my love and importance of famiglia, and I hope that our alumni always feel the love of their UPMC Magee-Womens family and me!
Do any moments or memories stand out from your career? What’s next for you?
There are so many memories that I will cherish but the one I hold the dearest to my heart is when Dr. Gabriella Gosman, former program director of the residency, and I were both selected as winners of national awards from The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for our contributions to resident education. The honor of winning an annual ACGME award is a huge privilege and honor in and of itself, but to receive it the same year as she did was icing on the cake.
The presentation of our awards was at the March 2020 ACGME annual meeting in San Diego. I vividly recall the opening remarks, including a light-hearted announcement that we should refrain from handshaking to reduce the spread of COVID, which was making its way through the U.S.
Once I returned home, there were more restrictions in place, including the need for me to wait a week before I could visit my mom. She ended up passing away a few days after my return and was interred the same day that the world shut down due to the pandemic. This time became the most challenging time of my career as I dealt with the grief of losing my mother (my rock); having to work from home; watching how the pandemic was affecting our residents, faculty, and other frontline health care workers; having no face-to-face interactions with anyone except my loving and devoted husband and dog; and the unknown of the pandemic.
These back-to-back experiences really cemented the highs and lows of life for me, which was a pivotal point in my decision to retire as soon as things got back to “normal.” I’m not sure if we will ever get back to pre-COVID “normal,” but for me, it is time to move on and travel the world with my husband Kevin, the other rock in my life! Peace and love.
“I have zero doubt that Diana Brucha is the best program manager in any specialty in the country. Diana has been such an incredible partner in the relentless improvement of our residency and fellowships. Her creativity and go-go-go approach to this profession have resulted in incredible excellence. Her work means that tens of thousands of patients benefit from the outstanding care of Magee graduates for decades to come. I am so honored to have worked shoulder-to-shoulder with her and will never forget her awesomeness!”
Read the full Spring 2024 issue of Magee Matters here.