“My supervisor always says, ‘Today’s going to be great.’ So, when I step in here, that’s the first thing we say together.”
As Jamara P. passes through the cafeteria at UPMC Presbyterian, one of her co-workers can’t help but proclaim: “She makes the best sandwiches.”
What’s Jamara’s secret? It’s not an ingredient or anything included on a menu. It’s something much simpler.
“Making it with care and love,” she says. “I always tell people, ‘If I’m going to sit down and eat something, I want to make that same thing for the next person to be able to sit down and enjoy.’”
Jamara joined UPMC in September 2024, bringing that same care and love to her role as a food service attendant. She currently works at the deli in the cafeteria on the 11th floor. Her responsibilities also include being familiar with all the stations.
Jamara says she enjoys daily interactions with cafeteria patrons, discussing their meals and answering questions. It also allows her to get instant feedback.
“We get people who come back and say, ‘You made a wonderful sandwich,’" she says. "We get that at least multiple times a day. That’s good to hear."
Jamara realizes people often visit the hospital during challenging times, so she tries to bring the same positive energy to work every day. It’s a lesson she learned from her mother long ago.
“My mom always told me, ‘You don’t fight fire with fire. (If) somebody’s having a bad day, that doesn’t mean you have one, too,’” Jamara recalls. “My supervisor always says, ‘Today’s going to be great.’ So, when I step in here, that’s the first thing we say together.”
Before joining UPMC, Jamara had been a caretaker for 11 years, raising five children with an 18-year age gap between the youngest and oldest. She was interested in career opportunities at UPMC and decided to enroll in a program at the Energy Innovation Center Institute (EICI) in Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District.
As part of the program, she interviewed, job-shadowed, and was hired as a casual staff member. She also participated in a weeklong food nutrition training course at the EICI. After three months, she was promoted to a full-time staff member at UPMC.
Since then, she’s returned to speak to classes and share her experiences with individuals hoping to follow a similar path.
“That’s my favorite part,” Jamara says. “I always tell people, ‘It doesn’t matter your background. It doesn’t matter where you came from.’”
As for those signature sandwiches that she’s become known for, Jamara looks forward to continuing to serve them with a smile every day.
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