David and Joanie Wallis are proud to call Muncy, Pa., home. As former third generation Muncy business owners and lifelong residents, they have been very active in the community for decades. David served on the board of directors of UPMC Muncy, and Joanie is a leader in the hospital’s auxiliary. When they think of UPMC Muncy, they don’t just think of it as a hospital. They consider it a gem for the entire region.
“When I go into the hospital, I see caring, familiar faces,” said David. “I see people I know and trust.”
Staff Like a Second Family
David recalls a time when he wasn’t sure there would always be a hospital in Muncy. He was on the board of directors of Muncy Valley Hospital in 1994 when, like other small hospitals across the country, they were considering how they could best serve the needs of their community into the future. They knew they couldn’t do it alone. With high-quality, compassionate, accessible, and cost-effective health care on their minds, the hospital, along with Divine Providence Hospital, joined with Williamsport Hospital to form Susquehanna Health (short for Susquehanna Rural Healthcare Alliance). In 2016, Susquehanna Health joined the UPMC network — and UPMC Muncy has continued to thrive, due in part to the proactive thinking of those board members over 25 years ago.
“It was a difficult decision, ” David recalls. “But looking back, we made the right choice. UPMC has made sure high-quality care remains available in Muncy for our community and the surrounding area.”
Over the years, David and Joanie have been regular faces at UPMC Muncy. Joanie spends a lot of time at the hospital as an active auxiliary volunteer and considers many of the staff to be friends.
She’s been involved in various auxiliary fundraisers including the annual Lawn Party and Lights of Love. Over the years, these fundraisers have supported projects at UPMC Muncy and at Muncy Place, part of UPMC Senior Communities. One of the auxiliary’s largest gifts was a $200,000 donation toward a major renovation and expansion of the emergency department at UPMC Muncy.
“Dave and Joanie Wallis are the best examples of dedicated volunteers, responsible citizens, and true leaders in the Muncy community,” said Ron Reynolds, president, UPMC Muncy and UPMC Lock Haven. “Their commitment to UPMC Muncy is unprecedented and they have served in a special way for decades. This type of remarkable dedication from our community members is what makes our hospital so special and has allowed us to thrive for so long.”
For Joanie and David, they know the importance of having quality care close to home and how important it is for the community to support the hospital.
Relationships Matter
Whether it’s laboratory work, same-day procedures and screenings, or physical therapy services, Joanie and David know the team of providers, staff, and volunteers at UPMC Muncy are second to none when it comes to creating the very best patient experience. They say it’s because the team at UPMC Muncy treats patients like family, and those relationships matter.
“When I need care, I want to see someone who knows me,” said Joanie. “I’ve been to the emergency department and as soon as I see those familiar faces, I know I’m in good hands. The nurses, doctors, and all the staff at the hospital are members of the community and we know each other. That makes a difference.”
UPMC also has expanded the number of specialists visiting the clinic in Muncy, so more specialized care is available to the community. As a part of the UPMC family, David and Joanie know they have quick and easy to access a higher level of care when they need it.
In fact, when David recently needed heart care, he went to the emergency department at UPMC Muncy. The team transitioned his care to the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Williamsport. There, cardiothoracic surgeons Leslie Webb, MD, and Michael Lazar, MD, completed an innovative heart valve procedure — under the watchful eye of Robert Trautwein, MD, David’s cardiologist. The transition was seamless, and David and Joanie are grateful that the UPMC hospitals in the region work so well together to ensure quality care right here in the community.
David and Joanie know the team at UPMC Muncy that has cared for them over the years will continue to take good care of them and the community in the future.
“Trust means a lot in health care,” said David. “I know if they tell me at UPMC Muncy that I need more specialized care, they will get me to the right place at the right time.” Joanie couldn’t agree more.