Oakmont Resident Named 2013 UPMC Senior Services Grand Champion

An Oakmont resident who spent his entire career in the gerontology field is being recognized for his hard work.

Paul Winkler, president and CEO of Presbyterian SeniorCare, was recently named the recipient of the 2013 UPMC Senior Services Grand Champion award in recognition of his 32 years of service to seniors. 

Winkler said he is honored to receive the award, which is the highest honor awarded by UPMC Senior Services.

“My passion and commitment have been to create and support quality living and care options for seniors," Winkler said in a statement. “As CEO of Presbyterian SeniorCare, I look forward to advancing this work with UPMC Senior Services, and our many relationships with supporters and other providers across the region’s health care and senior services network, so that older adults and their families can live life to the fullest.”

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Winkler, 57, grew up in Penfield, a tiny town in Clearfield County near Du Bois and worked as an orderly at a hospital when he started college at Penn State's DuBois campus.

Although he was majoring in pre-law, the newspaper reports that he started researching Penn State's programs and changed to health care administration, continuing his studies at the University of Pittsburgh and later a residency with the John J. Kane Hospital, owned by Allegheny County.

After seven years with the Kane Regional Centers, he in 1987 joined Presbyterian SeniorCare, which serves thousands of seniors each year throughout western Pennsylvania. The organization has main campuses in Oakmont and Washington along with several other locations.

Winkler's service is extensive. He served as chair of the board of LeadingAge PA (formerly PANPHA), a statewide organization representing more than 360 not-for-profit senior service organizations. 

Winkler also served as chair of the National Advisory Committee at the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health, Health Administration Program. 

He is the founding director and former chair of the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and immediate past board chair of Family Hospice and Palliative Care.He has served in leadership roles with boards of Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania and Southwestern Pennsylvania Partnership for Aging. 

Under his leadership, Presbyterian SeniorCare has increased its specialization in care for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and has provided affordable living accommodations to serve low-income seniors. 

Deborah Brodine, president of UPMC Community Provider Services, said Winkler's dedication to senior causes is evident through his service. 

“His passion for improving the lives of seniors and his vision for advocacy in the elderly community are truly exemplary. Paul has demonstrated unwavering commitment to senior care, particularly through his leadership in numerous state and local organizations. UPMC Senior Services is proud to recognize him for such exemplary work on behalf of the seniors in western Pennsylvania.”

A committee selected Winkler from more than 100 nominations.

Winkler will receive the award Oct. 2 during the annual UPMC Senior Services Celebrating Senior Champions Dinner at the Omni William Penn Hotel. 

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