Donations Support AHN STEMM Opportunity for Minority Student Populations

Terry and Janet Serafini, GE Healthcare Foundation and AHN team up to offer local students medicine-based curriculum, fostering an inclusive and enriching environment in math, sciences

Pittsburgh, PA—The Simulation, Teaching and Academic Research (STAR) Center at Allegheny Health Network (AHN) is a renowned, internationally accredited place of learning where effective hands-on simulations promote self-discovery and professional growth. The Center has extensive experience training thousands of medical and nursing students and practicing healthcare providers each year.

Through a transformational gift from Terry and Janet Serafini, the STAR Center will extend their services to a younger target audience of students in grades seven to twelve, with a focus on students from disadvantaged communities. The STAR Center is keenly focused on addressing the disparities of access to Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine (STEMM) programs and as such will focus this funding specifically to advance opportunities for minority students. Additional funding to extend the initiative is provided by the GE Healthcare Foundation.

“We are thrilled that the generous donations from Terry and Janet Serafini and GE Healthcare will fund the STEMM pilot program at Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship, which has a high percentage of minority student populations,” said Dr. Dona Wilfong, Vice President of Simulation Education at AHN. “The STEMM program seeks to introduce pupils from various backgrounds to a curriculum at the STAR Center designed to challenge and inspire them."

Terry Serafini was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania and co-founded COMPUTERPEOPLE, Inc., a computer systems development firm, and CompuCom, Inc., a digital imaging microfilm solutions company. He has always been a strong supporter of education. Realizing that there are so many qualified and capable students in the community who often do not have the means to further their education, Terry and his wife Janet generously established the Serafini Scholarship at AHN Citizens School of Nursing in 2018 to provide financial support for students hoping to attain their dreams in the nursing profession.

“As a math major from IUP who grew up in Penn Hills, this opportunity definitely hits home for me,” said Mr. Serafini. “I am honored to have been able to help so many achieve their potential and if my gift can ignite the interest of even one child at the STAR Center and encourage them to gain further knowledge of the sciences, then it is money well spent.”

“Students in many schools, unfortunately, do not have access to quality STEMM education,” said Allie Quick, Chief Philanthropy Officer at AHN. “This funding from Terry Serafini and GE Healthcare Foundation will ensure student success through providing materials and simulations created to be fun, interactive, engaging and relevant to the members of a young audience in a diverse and inclusive learning environment.”

The GE Healthcare Foundation, an independent charitable organization funded by GE Healthcare, is committed to transforming our communities and shaping the diverse workforce of tomorrow by leveraging the power of GE. GE Healthcare Foundation is developing skills by bringing innovative learning in community health globally and STEM education, scaling what works, and building sustainable solutions.

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