UPMC Hamot Leadership

Lisa Smith Presta, Esq.

Chair, UPMC Hamot Board of Directors

Lisa Presta is a senior partner at the law firm of MacDonald Illig Jones & Britton LLP and the Chair of its Litigation Department. She handles complex, multiparty litigation matters involving commercial disputes, employment issues, and professional services in both state and federal courts. Via appointment by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Ms. Presta serves on the statewide, 12-attorney Rules of Evidence Committee. She also serves by appointment on the federal Lawyers Advisory Committee of the Judicial Council of the Third Judicial Circuit, which comments on proposed rules and acts as a liaison between the Court and the legal community.

In addition to Ms. Presta’s role as chair of the UPMC Hamot Board of Directors, she is a past president of the Erie County Bar Association and the Achievement Center Board of Directors. She currently serves as a board member of the Erie Club.

Ms. Presta graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, the University of Pittsburgh, and Pennsylvania State University.

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Brian Durniok

Market President, Northwest Pa. and New York
President, UPMC Hamot

Brian Durniok was named president of UPMC Hamot, as well as president of the Northwest Pa. and Western New York markets, in December of 2023. Prior to this appointment, he served for nearly seven years as president of UPMC Northwest and five years as president of UPMC Chautauqua.

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Emily Shears, MPH

Vice President of Operations, UPMC Hamot

Emily Shears is the vice president of operations and started her career at UPMC Hamot 18 years ago. Most recently, she worked as the vice president of quality for the entire Northwest Pa. and New York Region. She earned a master's Degree in public health and epidemiology from the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health. Ms. Shears previously held roles as director of operations and director of infection prevention, pharmacy, patient safety, quality improvement, and regulatory/accreditation programs. 

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Gregory K. Beard, DO

Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, UPMC Hamot

A board-certified surgeon and medical director of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at UPMC Hamot, Gregory K. Beard, DO, completed a fellowship in trauma/surgical critical care at UPMC Presbyterian. He earned his medical degree from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences and completed a surgical residency at Kennedy Memorial Hospital. Dr. Beard is part of the surgical and trauma team at Great Lakes Surgical Specialists.

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Bradley N. Dinger

Chief Financial Officer, UPMC Hamot

Brad Dinger was appointed chief financial officer of UPMC Hamot in June of 2018. As chief financial officer, he is responsible for developing, interpreting, coordinating, and administering policies on finance and related issues in support of the corporation's goals and objectives. Mr. Dinger also oversees finances for UPMC Chautauqua, UPMC Kane, and UPMC Northwest.

Prior to being appointed to this position, Mr. Dinger served as the director of finance for UPMC Hamot and the treasurer of the Hamot Health Foundation. He has worked in the UPMC Hamot health system since 2005. Before joining UPMC he was senior vice president and chief financial officer for Parker/Hunter Incorporated, a stock brokerage and investment banking firm headquartered in Pittsburgh.

Mr. Dinger received his bachelors of science in Business Administration and Accounting from Gannon University and is a certified public accountant.

James E. Donnelly, RN, BSN, MBA

Chief Nursing and Quality Officer

James E. Donnelly joined Hamot Medical Center (now UPMC Hamot) in 1998 and currently serves as both the chief nursing officer and chief quality officer. In this capacity, he has full responsibilities for nursing services throughout UPMC Hamot, as well as oversight of the Emergency Department.

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Charles “Boo” Hagerty

Chief Development Officer, Hamot Health Foundation

Charles "Boo" Hagerty is the chief development officer of the Hamot Health Foundation. Mr. Hagerty first joined UPMC Hamot in 2001 as the vice president of marketing and corporate communications. He transitioned to vice president of strategic resources in 2009 before being named vice president of northern tier markets for UPMC Health Plan in 2012.

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Melonie Jackson, MBA

Vice President of Human Resources, UPMC Hamot

Melonie Jackson joined UPMC Hamot as vice president of human resources in July 2018. Ms. Jackson oversees human resources for the Northwest Pa. and New York region as well as the North Central Pa. region. She is responsible for daily human resources activities, including employee relations, employee safety and wellness services, talent acquisition, compensation, and regulatory compliance.

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Lynn M. Rupp

Vice President of Administrative Services, UPMC

Lynn Rupp serves as Vice President of Administrative Services at UPMC Hamot as well as serving as President of Regional Health Services. In this capacity, she oversees the physician network for the northern region of UPMC and works directly with the orthopaedic, trauma, radiology, and neuroscience service lines. She also serves on the board of directors for the UPMC Hamot Surgery Center.

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Mark A. Papalia, FACHE

President, UPMC Kane

Mark A. Papalia, FACHE, was appointed president of UPMC Kane on June 1, 2018. Mr. Papalia began his career at UPMC Kane in January of 2005 as financial analyst and was later promoted to director of finance in 2009. Most recently, Papalia has served as director of operations.

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