Captions: Dr. Greg Bisignani
Dr. Heather Walker
By Melissa Williams Brown
Contributing Writer
GREENSBURG — Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School Alumni like Dr. Gregory Bisignani and Dr. Heather (Heinrichs) Walker credit their successful career paths to dedicated faith-centered educators in the Diocese of Greensburg’s Catholic school system.
Their faith helped them get through the past year on the front lines of a pandemic that stressed the health care system.
Bisignani, a 1985 graduate, said GCC gave him a strong academic and spiritual foundation that he still carries with him today in his professional and personal lives.
“Without any hesitation or doubt and with 100% certainty, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing today if it weren’t for the foundations set in me when I was a student at Greensburg Central Catholic. I hold that in the highest esteem,” Bisignani said.
For the past nine years, the Latrobe resident has been president of the Greensburg Central Catholic Alumni Association, noting that alumni are an integral part of the community as teachers, coaches, administrators, parents, volunteers and benefactors.
“I’m so thankful to be a graduate of Greensburg Central Catholic High School,” he said.
Bisignani, an orthopedic surgeon, was GCC team physician for 23 seasons, retired as boys’ varsity bas-ketball coach two years ago and was chairman of the Advisory Council for five years. He was honored with the prestigious Centurion of the Year award in 2021.
He and Walker periodically teach a medical perspectives class for juniors and seniors going into health care.
He said GCC is second to none on an academic and spiritual level. His four children are all proud gradu-ates. Like their dad, they took the virtues instilled at GCC with them to college
Bisignani said he is most proud that his children go to Mass every Sunday. They are parishioners of Our Lady of Grace Parish, Greensburg.
He credits his faith-filled experience at GCC for helping to deal with being on the health care front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“A lot of things we do in our decision making comes down to our faith. I learned that early on at Greensburg Central Catholic,” he said.
Walker couldn’t agree more.
Walker, a 1991 graduate, is assistant director of the Emergency Department at Westmoreland Hospital and president of Westmoreland Emergency Medicine Specialists.
She says she always strived to use the gifts given to her.
“Success is about what kind of person you’ve become. It’s how you use those gifts to improve the lives of the people around you,” she said.
Walker was featured virtually as Distinguished Centurion for Achievement in 2021. She and her hus-band, Brad, live in Greensburg with their son, Sean, a freshman at GCC.
Walker is thankful to the community for their generosity during the pandemic. Donations of personal protective equipment, meals and baked goods, and handmade yard signs reading “Stay Strong” and “We are Grateful For Our Hospital Workers,” put a smile on her face during long days and nights.
“I pray on my way to a shift for the safety of myself and my family, my co-workers, staff and everyone in the building, and for help and guidance when I need to make decisions quickly. I draw strength from that,” she said.
