Meet The Physicians at Pediatric Alliance!
Mary Pagnotto, M.D., F.A.A.P., I.B.C.L.C. — Pediatric Alliance — Northland Division (6 years)
Birthplace: Baltimore, MD
Education: Bethel Park High School/ Princeton University/ Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Training: Pediatric Residency, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Hospital Affiliations/ Teaching: West Penn Hospital, Magee-Women’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh/ Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Topics of Interest: Teaching residents in clinic; any issues that arise for my patients.
My Inspiration: I decided to pursue a career in medicine after undergoing a year of chemotherapy for rhabdomyosarcoma when I was in 9th grade. My oncologist, Dr. Julie Blatt (then on staff at CHP), was a great role model for me at that time. During medical school, I was convinced that I would pursue a fellowship in Pediatric Oncology once I finished residency. But then during residency, I worked in my current office one afternoon per week with Dr. Donald Kilpela. Dr. Kilpela was an inspiration to me – he had a wonderful bedside manner and I could tell he was making a difference in the lives of his patients every day. Also, as a general pediatrician, he was actively involved in the community and able to achieve a great work/family balance. Because of him, I decided not to do a fellowship and joined Northland as soon as I completed my residency in 2007.
School Memories: I was a cheerleader during my four years at Princeton and got to follow the basketball team to the NCAA tournament twice. Go Tigers!
Funniest On-Call Page: 3-year-old patient ate cheese doodles from toilet (after his older brother threw them in)!
Advice For a First-Time Nursing Mom: “Breast-feeding for the first time is difficult. If anyone tells you otherwise they have never done it. If you get through the first two weeks you will be successful, so just keep trying and ask for help when needed.”
In My Spare Time: My 5-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son take up most of my time. I enjoy doing service activities at my church and volunteering in the church nursery. I also plan to serve as camp doctor this summer at a Young Life camp in Rockbridge, VA.
Tunes That Move Me: I don’t have an iPod. I mainly listen to Fresh Beat Band with my kids in the car. My main exposure to mainstream music is through Kidz Bop CDs.
Favorite Vacation Spot: Aruba, because the weather is always perfect!
Always in the ‘Fridge: Skim milk – I drink 2 gallons per week.
What People Don’t Know: I am a world champion baton twirler! I was a member of the Modernettes – a twirling group out of Finleyville. We won numerous national titles and a world title in Montechiari, Italy in 1996.