Discovery Channel Premieres LIFE CHANGING MEDICINE In Collaboration With UPMC; Hosted By Discovery Channel's Chief Medical Expert, Dr. John Whyte

-Premieres Saturday, September 10, 2011, 8AM/ET on Discovery Channel-

(Silver Spring, MD) Discovery Channel in collaboration with UPMC will premiere a health documentary, LIFE CHANGING MEDICINE, that profiles life changing innovations in heart surgery for children, muscle-restoring regenerative medicine for wounded warriors, high-tech sports medicine, and life saving operations for babies still inside their mothers' wombs. Discovery Channel's Chief Medical Expert Dr. John Whyte, will host the program, airing Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 8 AM ET.

Among the UPMC physicians leading the work in medical breakthroughs are Joseph Losee, MD, Director, Reconstructive Transplantation Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; Vijay Gorantla, MD, PhD, Director of Pittsburgh Composite Tissue Allotransplantation Program; Stephen Badylak, DVM, PhD, MD, Deputy Director of McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Stephen Emery, MD, Co-Director, Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC.

"The compelling stories in this show range from cutting edge surgical procedures and new medical technology," Dr. Whyte says, "to smart hospital rooms that we used to think were just science fiction. Discovery Channel is delighted to collaborate with UPMC on this one-of-a-kind documentary that will entertain, educate and inform viewers."

This documentary is part of a series of collaborations between Discovery Channel and UPMC this past year. These include over 50 podcasts to help educate physicians on the latest medical information on a wide variety of topics such as cancer care, heart disease, and women's health. Future projects are in the works. "Discovery Channel and UPMC are like-minded organizations, in pursuit of innovation and excellence. Our partnership gives us an opportunity to educate consumers about the advancements in medicine and technology that are both forward-looking and practical" states Dr. Whyte.

It's a rare opportunity to collaborate on a program that highlights the often groundbreaking and life changing care that we deliver every day to our patients. This showcases just a sampling our finest physicians and hospitals who provide the world-class care that ranks among the nations' best," said Marshall W. Webster, MD, executive vice-president, UPMC, and president UPMC Physician Services Division.

LIFE CHANGING MEDICINE premieres Discovery Channel Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 8 AM ET and repeats Saturday, September 17 and September 24 - both airings at 8 AM ET. Check local listings. www.discoverychannelpatiented.com

About Discovery Channel

Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.8 million U.S. homes, can be seen in over 210 countries, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world.

About UPMC

UPMC is a $9 billion global health enterprise with more than 50,000 employees headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., and is transforming health care by integrating more than 20 hospitals, 400 doctors' offices and outpatient sites, a health insurance services division, and international and commercial services. Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, UPMC is redefining health care by using innovative science, technology, and medicine to invent new models of accountable, cost-efficient, and patient-centered care. For more information on how UPMC is taking medicine from where it is to where it needs to be, go to www.UPMC.com.