The celebration was made even sweeter by UPMC Harrisburg’s recent recognition as the Harrisburg Metro area’s top-ranked hospital by U.S. News & World Report.
August 27, 2026
HARRISBURG, Pa. – Former patients of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) reunited with the nurses and staff at the NICU Reunion Pajama Party on Wednesday night. The event was organized by UPMC Magee-Womens and UPMC Children’s in Central Pennsylvania, with support from the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation. The reunion celebrated NICU graduates from 2023 and was attended by more than 50 families.
“It’s incredibly meaningful for our NICU team to see the babies we once cared for now thriving as happy, healthy children,” said Dr. Greg Barretto, regional medical director, UPMC Children’s in Central Pa. “Caring for our smallest and most vulnerable patients is a privilege and watching their growth and success reminds us why we do this work. Events like this reunion bring families and caregivers together to celebrate life, resilience and the remarkable journeys these children have taken since leaving the NICU.”
Held at the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg, the reunion gave former patients of the NICU units at UPMC Carlisle, UPMC Harrisburg, UPMC Lititz and UPMC Memorial, the chance to visit with providers and nurses. Kids and their families explored interactive exhibits, including KidsPlace, the UPMC Science Center and a live animal exhibit featuring a visiting sloth. Attendees also enjoyed arts and crafts activities and family photo sessions.
UPMC continues to lead in neonatal care by emphasizing family-centered support for families navigating the challenges of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With advanced medical technologies and a multidisciplinary team of specialists, the NICU is designed to provide critical care for the region’s most vulnerable newborns.
UPMC Children’s in Harrisburg offers 72 beds dedicated to infants, children, adolescents and teens, providing acute and critical inpatient pediatric care. UPMC brings nationally ranked care from UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh to families in central Pennsylvania, with direct access to its specialists when needed. In 2025, 377 severely or critically ill babies were treated at the NICU units at UPMC Magee-Womens in central Pennsylvania.
UPMC Harrisburg, including UPMC West Shore and UPMC Community Osteopathic under the same license, has been recognized as the area’s top hospital for 2026-2027 by U.S. News & World Report. The hospital was ranked No. 1 in the Harrisburg Metro area which includes hospitals in Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties, and No. 7 in Pennsylvania among U.S. News’ latest edition of Best Hospitals. The recognition affirms UPMC’s local and national reputation for quality and innovative care.
For more information about UPMC services in central Pennsylvania, visit UPMC.com/CentralPa.
A family pose at one of the exhibits during the NICU Reunion Pajama Party at the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg.
Members of the UPMC team gather to celebrate former NICU patients and their families at the reunion event.
Smiles all around as a family pose with UPMC Health Plan mascots at the NICU Reunion Pajama Party.
A proud mother and her twins enjoy an evening of celebration and reconnection with their NICU family.
Malini Mattler
717-418-4833
mattlerm@UPMC.edu
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