UPMC Executive Believes Healthfulness Depends Mostly on Your Environment

Scott Lammie becomes the first Dignity & Respect Champion of 2016

Everybody seems to know, or has heard of, Scott Lammie. When his name comes up, it brings a smile to people’s faces. That’s because of the way he lives his life. Scott is not an observer of life in Greater Pittsburgh, he’s an active participant in making our region a better place for all. Scott serves as the Chief Financial Officer of UPMC Health Plan and is Senior Vice President of UPMC’s Insurance Services Division. He has worked in the healthcare field for more than 30 years and has learned the impact a community can have on its people.

“Since working in healthcare, I have a greater appreciation for all of the factors that determine a person’s health status. Roughly 80% of health status has nothing to do with healthcare delivery per se, but rather is determined by the person’s psycho-socio and socio-economic circumstances and the environment in which the person lives, works, and plays,” Scott said.

Scott’s father died of cancer when he was seven years old. Scott and his four brothers and younger sister were raised mostly by their mother and they all learned the importance of helping one another. When his mother remarried, his step-father was very community oriented, so from a young age Scott understood how helping others could make a huge impact on improving a community.

“I have learned over my lifetime that people are the product of their environment. If a community isn’t safe, clean, and diverse; has poor educational outcomes; and offers limited employment opportunities, its people will suffer. Every citizen has the ability to help strengthen our underserved communities so that every person and family will have access to support, mentoring, and opportunity to help them lead healthy and successful lives,” Scott explained.

Scott walks his talk. He is active on many volunteer boards focusing on economic development and community service that supports the Pittsburgh community including Duquesne University, The Forbes Fund, Hill House Association, Laurel Highlands Council Boy Scouts of America, Little Sisters of the Poor, Manchester Bidwell Corporation, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Corporate Circles Board, Southwestern Pennsylvania Food Security Partnership, United Way of Allegheny County Tocqueville Society and Impact Cabinet, and Urban Innovation21.

Candi Castleberry Singleton, Founder and CEO of the Dignity & Respect Campaign nominated Scott Lammie because of the great humanitarian work he does for the Pittsburgh region. “When I think of a Dignity & Respect Champion, I see Scott. He is one of the only people I know who has the bandwidth and willingness to cross demographic, economic, racial, faith and education barriers to help individuals and organizations as a whole. I don’t know how he has the time to be a CFO, serve on multiple boards and donate his time to improving the community, but we are all beneficiaries of his efforts.” Candi said.

The Dignity & Respect Campaign is an awareness initiative designed to join individuals, community leaders, community organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and corporations under the common notion that everyone deserves dignity and respect. A Dignity & Respect Champion is someone ― nominated by a co-worker, family member, or friend ― who embraces diversity, embodies compassion, and demonstrates mutual respect. For more information and to take the Dignity & Respect Pledge, visit dignityandrespect.org or to nominate a Champion visit surveymonkey.com/s/DR_champion