Fun facts about new staff: Who knows how to play pickleball?

Get to know eight new coworkers through their answers to goofy questions. Find out who carries their own wine glass on camping trips, and who can play the accordion.

Keep reading even further to for a special UPMCE Fun Facts Throwback with a longtime staff member who grows his own extreme hot peppers.


Kelly Collier, Business Development Manager  

How did you get into the industry? After my undergrad, I somehow found myself building a startup called ActivAided Orthotics that developed orthopedic rehab products. Through that adventure, I’ve had the cool experience of working alongside physicians, patients, clinical staff, distribution channels, and so many other facets of the health care system to bring innovative products to life. I’m really excited to be able to share some of that experience to help new startups and transformative ideas become a reality in the next generation of health care!

Do you have an unusual talent or hobby? One of my favorite ways to explore new places when I travel is to find the biggest mountain(s) in the area and ride my bike up them. I’m a firm believer that one of the best ways to see the world is on two wheels (I’m that tiny dot on a bicycle in that photo of the squiggliest road in the world).

What’s in your perfect meal? A 5lb bag of Sour Patch Kids. Just kidding! Sort of.

Free space: Share any fun fact! My husband and I bought an old brick house in Oakland built in 1910 to completely gut, rebuild and restore to its former old-world glory because we are really naïve and really ambitious. Despite the woes of homeownership on top of renovation mayhem, it’s a fascinating look into historic Pittsburgh and how houses were built to last (or not) for 100+ years. (But also, if you’ve ever renovated an old house before, please send help!)


Deborah Osakue (Neme), Associate Program Manager

Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere? Houston.

Do you have an unusual talent or hobby? Blues dancing.

If any musician or band could give you a personal concert, who would it be? Penny and Sparrow.


Aishwarya Shivkumar (Ash), Product Analyst, Population Health

How did you get into the industry? This is my first job out of school. I have an engineering and business background, as well as some startup experience. Based on my experiences, I realized I was most interested in seeing how companies “cross that chasm” from creating an innovative product to actually acquiring customers to sell it to. What makes health care companies create products with that sticky effect (Like Apple does)? Enterprises is the perfect place for me to explore this.

Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere? Grew up in Mumbai, have been living in Pittsburgh for the past year and a half. I STILL HAVENT BEEN TO A STEELERS GAME. So, not a Yinzer yet.

What’s your favorite quote from a movie or TV series? “If I can’t SCUBA, then what’s this all been about? What am I working toward?” – Creed Bratton. The Office is my favorite show of all time.

If any musician or band could give you a personal concert, who would it be? The National, for sure.

Do you have an unusual talent or hobby? I don’t know if it’s unusual, but I know it annoys all my friends. I take “drinks with a view pictures” a lot, to the extent of carrying my own wine glass to camping trips so that I can take some fancy cocktail pictures.


Anton Prokuda, Software Test Engineer, Senior, MyUPMC

Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere? I came from Ukraine and used to live in California past 3 years. Then I moved to Pittsburgh to work at UPMC.

Do you have any kids? Any pets? I love parrots, and I have an African gray parrot, this is the most talkative kind of parrots.

What’s your least favorite word? Thirty, it’s hard to pronounce for me 🙂


Andrew Brehm, Software Engineer, Senior, MyUPMC

Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere? I grew up in Lewistown, PA. A small town about a half hour south of State College.

Do you have any kids? Any pets? I have four kids (17, 15, 12, and 5). And one dog (boxer).

Do you have an unusual talent or hobby? I play the accordion.

What’s in your perfect meal? Steak medium rare cooked on my charcoal grill, with grilled vegies, and watermelon for dessert.


Shraddha Gupta, Software Test Engineer, MyUPMC

Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere? India.

What’s your favorite quote from a movie or TV series? Winter is coming.

Do you have an unusual talent or hobby? I love cooking.

Where in the universe would you like to visit someday? Venice, Italy.

What’s in your perfect meal? I love Indian food.

Which is better: board games or video games? Board games.


Bryan Gallo, Software Engineer, Associate, Jupiter

Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere? I’m a returning Pittsburgh local, grew up just south of Pittsburgh in Green Tree. For the past year I’ve been working in Litchfield, Illinois which my previous team affectionately called Silicorn Valley. The picture is a sign from that town.

Do you have an unusual talent or hobby? Pickleball is a fun hobby and a bit unusual if you haven’t played it before. It’s a bit like tennis with wooden paddles and a wiffle ball instead of tennis rackets and a tennis ball. Some areas in Pittsburgh can get pretty competitive.

Where in the universe would you like to visit someday? I’d love to get the chance to visit Seoul, South Korea again. I spent 5 months there in a study abroad program where you could find me wandering the city, stuffing my face with Korean food, or getting schooled in a LAN gaming center.


Ramya Chakinarapu, Software Engineer, Senior, Abstraction Genie

Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere? Born and brought up in India. Came to Texas to get my master’s degree. Scored a job in Pittsburgh and settled here since 2007.

Do you have any kids? Any pets? Have a 5-year-old boy “Advaith,” who badly wants a pet but is scared to go near any.

What’s in your perfect meal? Spices. And should end with a dessert.

Which is better: board games or video games? Board games. Enough of screen time at work.

And now for the Fun Facts Throwback!

Scott Pattison, Manager, Software Test Engineer

How did you get into the industry? I started in the health care industry working for a wound care EMR in 2010 as a QA  Analyst. From there I was contacted by UPMC TDC division to come to a networking event which ended up being a recruiting event. I was given an offer I couldn’t refuse.

How long have you been working at UPMCE? Over 6.5 years.

What’s changed the most since you started here? Moving from the third floor to the second floor. I remember looking at the space on the second floor thinking to myself, this is such a huge space, how are we going to fill this up? Not only have we filled this space up on multiple occasions, but we have also added space in Bakery Square 2.0.

Thinking about your work, what is the funniest thing you used to use tech-wise that you don’t use anymore? When I worked in IT Support, I was given a Palm Pilot to use so I could have access to my Lotus Notes e-mail.

As technology has evolved throughout the years, what stands out to you the most? How powerful smartphones have become.

What’s your favorite part about working here? Working with some of the most brilliant and talented individuals. It’s truly a pleasure to get to know everybody in the office and hearing their stories or seeing their work.

Do you have an unusual talent or hobby? As a hobby, I like to go for distance runs. I have organized a UPMCE Run Club as a place for other runners to find someone to run with at various distances and paces.

Share any fun fact! I love spicy hot foods. In fact, I grow my own extreme hot peppers (Scotch Bonnet, Habanero, 7-Pot chili, and Bhut Jolokia also known as Ghost Pepper). I dehydrate them and grind them into a pepper powder. I have a couple different kinds at my desk including my Doom Shaker!

You Might Also Like…

more from the newsletter