Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Media Relations >
  • News Releases >
  • 042023 mercy pavilion
Media Relations
News Releases
Central Pa. News
North Central Pa. News
Contact Us
Experts
Community-Focused News
Media Kits
Media RSS
Media Relations
News Releases
Central Pa. News
North Central Pa. News
Contact Us
Experts
Community-Focused News
Media Kits
Media RSS

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Unveiling the UPMC Mercy Pavilion: Home to UPMC Vision Institute and UPMC Rehabilitation Institute

For Journalists

Sheila Davis
Manager
412-313-6070
davissn2@upmc.edu

Gloria Kreps
Vice President
412-417-2582
krepsga@upmc.edu

Want to Make an Appointment or Need Patient Information?
Contact UPMC at

1-800-533-8762.

Go to Find a Doctor to search for a UPMC doctor.

UPMC color stacked

4/20/2023

PITTSBURGH — UPMC today unveiled the UPMC Mercy Pavilion, home to the UPMC Vision Institute and UPMC Rehabilitation Institute. Through patient-focused design and innovative technologies, the pavilion is one of the first-of-its-kind in the nation — a place of life-changing care for people with routine and advanced vision and physical rehabilitation needs.

“As we celebrate the opening of our new building, we also demonstrate our commitment to the city, this community and all the communities we serve,” said Leslie C. Davis, president and CEO of UPMC. “We are excited about the economic potential this facility brings, helping us to care for patients from this region and patients who will travel here from all over the world.”

UPMC Mercy Pavilion was designed with significant input from José-Alain Sahel, M.D., director of the UPMC Vision Institute, and Gwendolyn Sowa, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute, in close collaboration with firm HOK.

Mercy Pavilion releaseThe UPMC Vision Institute harnesses the clinical and research expertise of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh Department of Ophthalmology to deliver comprehensive clinical care and conduct research to better understand, treat and prevent vision impairment and blindness. It offers ophthalmology services including specialized services for the cornea, retina, optic nerve, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology and orbital disorders.

Additionally, the UPMC Vision Institute will house the UPMC Urgent Eye Care Clinic, an optical shop, and street lab — a state-of-the-art space for clinicians, researchers and patients to interact and model real-life situations where vision loss is a factor in a fully monitored and controlled environment. It’s features focus on accessibility, reflecting the needs of patients receiving care at the pavilion.

Jose Alain Sahel release“I have always believed that we need to view patients as people first,” said Sahel. “Taking this view, we have a more holistic approach to caring. We will work with human sciences at the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University to better understand and meet patients’ expectations, while developing novel approaches to restorative therapies and access to care.”

The UPMC Rehabilitation Institute is one of the largest rehabilitation networks in the United States. UPMC’s physiatrists and rehabilitation professionals offer tailored treatment programs to restore function and improve quality of life for patients, including specialized clinical services for brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke and musculoskeletal pain.

Gwendolyn Sowa release rs“This pavilion is designed to address each person’s unique needs and conditions,” said Sowa. “We have gone beyond simply creating an accessible space — we’re creating a sense of community. Our spaces were designed with input from people with lived experience to inform how visitors will navigate this new environment. We have used lighting, materials, and textures in unique ways, robust concierge services welcoming and guiding people in this new space, and an innovative and captivating art program to ensure that people receiving care will flourish here.”

The UPMC Mercy Pavilion also offers collaborative spaces for community education, a rooftop garden, and a life skills apartment for patients to improve their mobility in a setting similar to home. The new Uptown Café will provide dining options to patients, visitors and members of the surrounding community, and a retail pharmacy will be available to supply needed medications.

The pavilion will be open for patients on May 1.

To learn more about the services and features of UPMC Mercy Pavilion, visit UPMC.com/MercyPavilion.


PHOTO DETAILS: (click images for high-res versions)

First photo:
CREDIT: UPMC
CAPTION: Exterior of UPMC Mercy Pavilion

Second photo:
CREDIT: UPMC
CAPTION: José-Alain Sahel, M.D.

Third photo:
CREDIT: UPMC
CAPTION: Gwendolyn Sowa, M.D., Ph.D.

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login