Get to know your new coworkers through their answers to fun and goofy questions!
Shantanu ‘Shan’ Bhide
Senior Product Manager, MyUPMC
How did you get into the industry? Healthcare IT has been my passion all along. I love to design and deliver innovative software products and solutions. On one of the long distance flight to USA, I was offered an opportunity to set up Software Innovation Centers in healthcare IT space to solve business critical problems using emerging technology trends
Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere? I was born and raised in India. After few short term stays in mid-west USA, we chose Pittsburgh as our fa
mily home. It has been a fantastic experience to raise our family here. We love the combination of outdoor sports and adventures this region offers, including all four seasons.
Do you have any kids? Any pets? We are blessed with two wonderful children and a playful dog. We enjoy our outdoor trips and adventures very much.
What’s your favorite quote from a movie or TV series? Do, or do not. There is no “try” -Yoda
Do you have an unusual talent or hobby? I am a voracious reader. I recently finished a 600 pager book in 8 hours.
Where in the universe would you like to visit someday? I am curious to explore the life on planet Saturn, if I get a chance someday.
Fun fact! I love long distance running, swimming and hiking. I have completed last 6 Pittsburgh Half Marathons. I am going to miss it this time!
Matt Himrod
Senior Data Engineer
How did you get into the industry? My first job out of college was at the dental clinic at my school. Initially, I was just an IT Technician, but I moved on to administering the clinic software. Not long after, I decided to move to Pittsburgh to be with my then-boyfriend who is now my husband. Soon after moving, I got an integration engineer job for a startup company that was later acquired by Philips Sleep and Home Respiratory
Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere? I’m originally from Wheeling, WV. After a few years in Cleveland, OH for school and my first job, I moved to Pittsburgh in 2007.
Do you have any kids? Any pets? My husband and I have had a rescued pitbull named Toby. He had a very rough life before the rescue, and still has some fear and anxiety issues. He’s afraid of anything that’s not nailed down, and he takes some time to adjust to new people. He loves to lounge on the couch on piles of pillows, which is his preferred place to sleep. He’s really cute and a huge goofball who has been a great addition to our small family.
Where in the universe would you like to visit someday?
Well, I’d like to visit the moon
On a rocket ship high in the air
Yes, I’d like to visit the moon
But I don’t think I’d like to live there
Though I’d like to look down at the earth from above
I would miss all the places and people I love
So although I might like it for one afternoon
I don’t want to live on the moon
(Note: this isn’t mine – it’s from Sesame Street)
What makes you a geek (if you consider yourself one)? I think it’s hard to work in a team like Data Engineering and not consider yourself a geek, wouldn’t you say? I suppose I consider myself more of a hacker, but not the typical sensationalized version of a hacker. The word originally described someone who persistently works at something to creatively solve a problem or create something better. I’ve always enjoyed technology, and I’ve joked that if it has buttons and blinky lights, I’m interested in it. I was the kid who took things apart and put them back together to see how they worked. This led to my tinkering with electronics as a teen and later with computers. I was always more into creating programs rather than just playing games. I don’t know that I really believed that this would become the foundation of my career, but here we are!
