Three rivers converge in southwestern Pennsylvania at the point of Pittsburgh. Though the city retains (and is proud of) its reputation as a steel town, it no longer suffers the associated pollution. It has been repeatedly voted one of America’s most livable cities and has vast amounts of green space. Frick Park is like a small forest in the middle of Pittsburgh, many small parks provide respite from the busy streets throughout the city, and Point Park is one of the most beautiful spaces in Pittsburgh where you can walk along the river, see Heinz Field, and enjoy the sunset.

With its own lingo, they’re the Stillers not the Steelers and its yinz not y’all, this town has a culture all its own and many peculiarities for the visitor to discover. The cuisine is Pierogies and salads with fries. Wash it down with a local beer like Iron City, an American-style lager, or one of the many microbrews the area has to offer. Perhaps something from Church Brew Works, a brewery in a former church.

Welcome to the city of black and gold. Pittsburgh is Steelers Country and the hometown team couldn’t be more loved. With six Super Bowl wins, fans have dubbed the city Sixburgh. Tickets are expensive and tough to get, but if you go you’re in for a treat. Even if you don’t make it to Heinz Field, hit up a bar on game day for a taste of Steelers enthusiasm.

The baseball and hockey teams are also clad in black and gold. The Penguins have won three Stanley Cup titles and have made their city proud. They play in new Consol Energy Center, which the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University basketball teams also use. The Pirates baseball team has won five World Series, the last one in 1979. The team has been on a perpetual losing streak, but many locals love them anyway. Tickets are cheap and easy to come by and its always worth the trip to see the pierogi races, cheer on the team, and maybe eat a Primanti Brothers sandwich.

The city once known for steel production, pollution, and related respiratory ailments is now home to approximately twenty-five hospitals. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), a large group of teaching hospitals, urgent care centers, and other facilities, is a major provider in Pittsburgh. UPMC has an excellent transplant center at Presbyterian Hospital where the first transplant of a baboon liver into a human occurred in 1992. UPMC is also known for its research facilities and many important discoveries have been made here including the development of the polio vaccine by Jonas Salk.

There are many other excellent medical care centers in Pittsburgh including the West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS). The West Penn system is known for its Cancer Institute and Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Institute. Additionally, there are many independent providers in the city.

Pittsburgh is a good place for medical tourism as the city offers good care, new treatments, plenty of local sports to watch during recovery, and a beautiful city with many parks, good restaurants, and diverse neighborhoods to explore once you’re better.

All images are used via Creative Commons Attribution rights. View the original images on Flickr at: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4