Maja Sarac, MHA, has received UPMC’s Award for Commitment and Excellence in Service (ACES). The ACES Award honors staff whose everyday actions, and in some instances, personal acts of courage and compassion exceed the high level of service that the community has come to expect from UPMC. Each year, less than one percent of UPMC staff from across the health system receives this honor.
Maja has been a member of the ID Division for the past four years serving as the Project Manager for the Ryan White grant programs of the Pittsburgh Area Center for Treatment (PACT) clinic, a specialty program serving persons with HIV, as part of the UPMC Center for Care of Infectious Diseases (CCID). Maja embodies UPMC values daily managing various complex grant programs, federal grant compliance requirements, and resources to meet patient needs. Her effort in managing these processes is outstanding.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, PACT requested Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for two federal Ryan White grants. Her nominator states “Maja solicited input from the team and developed the initial response. She encouraged each of us to think outside the box in developing the proposal and responding to the various grant request components.” Maja’s initiative led to an award of over $160,000 to meet COVID clinical needs, address patient education, respond to patient PPE requests, and expand the food program acknowledging the needs of a growing number of food-insecure patients. Maja takes a lead role in quality projects. Recognizing that PACT clients were experiencing a lack of dental care during the pandemic, Maja facilitated funding for PACT client dental care. She recommended expanded process improvements increasing availability and use of dental services by patients following dental practices reopening.
While Maja demonstrates all of the UPMC’s core values, the values she embodies the most are Responsibility and Integrity; and, Excellence and Innovation through her professionalism, diligence, kindness, and quiet capability. Her initiative and devotion in meeting the needs of patients is exceptional. We are fortunate to have Maja as a member of our team.
Congratulations Maja on this well-deserved honor. Thank you for your hard work and dedication!