Going Forward by Giving Back

This month, we visit with Amber Conway, a project manager in our Clinics and Practices who is pursuing an advanced degree as a nurse practitioner (CRNP). She is also the ambulatory business unit leader for the Bridges EHR project, the primary point of contact to ensure a smooth integration across the organization.

“I knew I wanted to make a difference,” says Amber Conway. “My passion for helping others has always been a part of who I am.”

With certification just around the corner in December, Amber is ready to make her mark in outpatient psychiatry, with a focus on addiction medicine, trauma-informed care, and bridging the mental health gap in our rural communities. “Seeing firsthand how severely underserved mental health and addiction care are in our communities ultimately drove me to pursue this certification,” she says. “The mental health-psych NP has given me the tools to change that, with purpose and compassion.”

Thanks to the Sophia E. Powell Nursing Scholarship, Amber has been able to pursue her nurse practitioner (CRNP) certification without the weight of financial worry, and she credits the experience as truly life-changing. “Receiving this award validated my efforts, affirming that others believed in my ability to make a difference. I'm incredibly grateful for the support. UPMC has invested in my growth, and it’s a privilege to be able to reinvest that gift into the very community I call home… to bring real, sustainable resources back to a population that needs it most.”

The fund was established in 2022 in honor of Sophie Powell, who received excellent care at UPMC Western Maryland following a bad fall. The award pays up to $20,000 for one year of education. To date, three candidates have received this distinction. This year’s deadline is Monday, June 30, and the application can be found online for those already enrolled in a CRNP program.

Amber is also passionate about advocacy and education, and she hopes to support new nurses and providers as a mentor or preceptor in the future. For those who have not taken the next step toward an advanced degree, she says, “Don’t wait for the perfect time to apply. It rarely comes.” Instead, she urges her comrades to take the leap. “You are capable of more than you know, and the growth you’ll experience is worth every sacrifice.” Amber believes in surrounding yourself with people who believe in your journey.

For years, Amber worked as an imaging technologist, but her heart was leading her to do more at the bedside. She returned to school to pursue a degree in nursing and spent time in the NICU, in procedural nursing and administration, and in quality and project management. These diverse roles broadened her horizon, and she began to see opportunities not just to treat patients, but to improve systems, support her colleagues, and advocate for change.

She’s a bit of a dreamer, by her own admission, and collects seashells from all of her travels. “They serve as daily reminders to stay grounded and appreciate the beauty in all of creation,” says Amber. “I am just a small part of this amazing world.” Amber says that she and her husband are slowly conquering their bucket list to visit every state and as many countries as possible during their golden years.

The most rewarding part of working here at UPMC, she says, is knowing you are a part of something bigger than yourself, collaborating with a care team that shares the same mission to improve lives. “There’s a unique camaraderie and sense of purpose that comes with hospital and community-based mental health care,” says Amber. “And system-level challenges fuel my desire to be part of ongoing improvement.”

Here's to the dreamer who is living the dream!