The Food and Nutrition Department at UPMC Passavant lives by a mantra: food is medicine. “A simple meal can provide comfort, reduce anxiety, improve medication adherence, and support healing,” says Justin Craver, Director of Hospitality, Director of Food and Nutrition at UPMC Passavant.

March 1st is Peanut Butter Day. Who knows where it came from and why it is even on the calendar! However, as a chef and educator, I can utilize it in so many scrumptious ways. Not just simple PB&J, I’m thinking more in terms of protein bars or breakfast protein shakes (recipes can be found in Northern Connection’s online edition!).

March is Women’s History Month and Pittsburgh certainly has many memorable women to celebrate. Our city has a rich history of female history-makers, from pioneers in healthcare and education to innovators, artists, and local leaders. 

Did you know that back in the mid-1800s doctors did not wash their hands between examining patients? In 1847, Ignaz Semmelweis, a doctor in Hungary, noted that if he cleaned his hands with a chlorinated lime solution in the maternity ward after dissecting a corpse, it drastically reduced fatal childbed fever. The “experts” back then were offended by his discovery and had him dismissed from his position. They cited their status as being gentlemen as preventing them from spread

GIBSONIA, PA (February 2, 2026) Enjoy an energizing and inspiring evening as St. Barnabas Charities honors Kat Timpf at the annual St. Barnabas Founder’s Day Celebration to be held Thursday, April 23, 2026 at the Pittsburgh Marriott North in Cranberry Twp. Founder’s Day tickets are on sale now and event proceeds support residents and patients who rely upon the St. Barnabas Free Care Fund.

This month we’re featuring Pittsburgh writer Lisa Slage Robinson, author of Esquire Ball: Stories From the Great Black Swamp, which was just released in February. Robinson was named a finalist for Midwest Review’s Great Midwest Fiction Contest, and her work has appeared in many literary publications.

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) is an international organization founded by Jane Cunningham Croly on April 24, 1890. The local chapter, GFWC Intermediate League, started in Butler in 1950. It was created as a club for women whose ages fell between those of the junior and senior women’s clubs. A candidate for membership should be at least 21 years of age.

North Hills residents now have access to the most sophisticated radiation oncology treatment at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC Passavant, with the addition of a new, advanced linear accelerator (linac) used to treat cancerous tumors and destroy cancer cells while sparing surrounding normal tissue.

Check out all the area happenings this March!

Have you ever felt like a contortionist when trying to apply sunscreen, lotion, medication, or simply wash a part of your back that you cannot reach? If so, there is a solution—Solo Beauty.

There is one resolution many women aim for the year to come - feeling and looking our best! And perhaps it works in January, but come February, the intention is still there but the motivation does fizzle out a bit.

Pittsburgh author Sharon Flake released the second book of her three-book children’s series, Hattie Mae Begins Again, on January 13, 2026. The series chronicles the adventures and challenges of young Hattie Mae, who leaves home to attend an elite boarding school in Philadelphia.

The Norwegian have a term called “friluftsliv”, which translates to “open-air living”. The concept celebrates being in nature purely for recreational reasons, no matter the time of year or the temperature. Norway even has several outdoor kindergartens, where the children spend 80% of their time outdoors, as well as “libraries” where you can borrow outdoor gear for recreation. 

Not long ago, preventive care meant stopping by your doctor’s office once a year, getting a quick exam, and hearing, “Everything looks fine.” In 2026, preventive care means much more than that. Today, it’s about keeping things fine; through proactive, personalized, and smarter healthcare that focuses on preventing problems before they disrupt your life.Think of preventive care as routine maintenance for your body.

Your heart works hard every day to keep you healthy and active. But when it isn’t pumping as well as it should, even simple tasks can feel exhausting. Heart failure impacts more than 6 million people in the United States, and the number continues to grow each year.