Kimberly Fierst Memorial Fund

As part of the memorial efforts for Kim and her community, we are extending her legacy of helping others through a mental health fund at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and a scholarship for graduating seniors at Thomas Jefferson High School (TJHS).

My Friendship with Kim

I was one of the unlucky few from our group that only met Kim in middle school. During that time, I was a floater - sort of a friend to a few people, never really a vital member of any group. I remember doing laps around the middle school during track practice, wishing I'd find friends. When I met Kim while playing volleyball, I distinctly remember consciously deciding that I needed to make this girl my friend. As luck would have it, Kim would have made friends with anyone, and she was more than willing to accept me into her circle. Our friend group took shape in eighth grade. I started going to school every day with increased confidence and excitement - finally knowing that my friends would be waiting for me when I got there. It was the best feeling in the world.

Once we got to TJ, I felt we all had an even stronger footing of where we fit. I'd say we were the "smart, nice girls". Kim and I ran track and cross country together, where we were deemed "the twins" by our coaches. I have three sisters, but Kim always felt like my fourth. I used to love escaping my house to "hang with the guys" at hers. Through Kim and her family, I developed a love for Penguins hockey and a never-ending list of movies I needed to watch ("What? Jen! How have you never seen Napoleon Dynamite??"). I could never keep up with the banter and pop culture references, but I loved being a part of it.

After high school, Kim was always my first call when I wanted to complain, share some excitement or needed a deep belly laugh. Kim is, to this day, the wittiest, goofiest, kindest, most loving and selfless person I've had the pleasure to meet. When I came home for the holidays, we'd always meet for a run at Mowry Park, dreaming up when we'd run the Pittsburgh Marathon together and when we'd live in the same neighborhood again.

Kim was incredibly capable of lifting her friends' spirits and being there whenever needed. She would drop anything for the people she loved. Hell - I think she'd drop anything for a stranger she had met a minute ago. While contemplating returning for a graduate degree, she was my biggest cheerleader. She'd always tell me, "Jennifer, stop that! You are the smartest person I know and can do anything you want". Not because it was true but just because she knew I needed the encouragement.

She was a triple threat - beauty, brains and endless kindness. She excelled in every aspect of her life but one. Kim would help anyone and prioritize anything above her self-care. In the years we all tried to assist and encourage her to seek help for her eating disorder, she would ensure that she had checked every box. And then she'd change the subject. I wore her down with an endless array of recommendations, vegan recipes and concerned phone calls, text messages and emails. Our friends and her family did the same, if not more. I also tried guilt after losing an incredible friend to a tragic car accident in the spring of 2021. I remember telling her I could not survive losing another friend and that she needed to get better for me. It was selfish and not helpful, but when I say we tried every avenue - we tried every avenue, even the "bad" ones.

We lost Kim in late October of 2021. I felt so many worlds crumble around me after losing her. The pain is still so fresh, and I've come to accept that there is a Kim-sized hole in my heart that will never be filled. However, I see that her loss may be a lifeline for someone else struggling - that deep pain can reveal deep purpose. I desire to be an advocate for mental health awareness.

More About Kim

Kim was a loving daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology at Allegheny College. In 2014, Kim received her Master of Science (MS) in Health Care Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), where she was Secretary of Heinz Health Care Club and various other extracurricular activities. She worked for Jefferson Regional Medical Center and UPMC, before spending two years at the Cleveland Clinic. Kim would spend the rest of her career quickly scaling the ladder at Highmark Health. She became the Director of the Episodic Portfolio within the Curated Health Solutions team in December 2020.

Kim had a passionate love for Pittsburgh and all Pittsburgh sports teams. She loved to go fishing with her family, exercise, and read in her free time. One of her favorite movies was the Mighty Ducks. She was a consistent volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House.

CMU Mental Health Fund

A portion of the memorial funds will be used for a Kimberly Fierst Memorial Health Fund at Carnegie Mellon University, within the Highmark Center for Health, Wellness and Athletics. The mission of the new facilities is to provide resources that will help students establish a foundation for a lifetime of physical, spiritual and emotional health. The spaces and programs will help students live healthier, richer and more balanced lives - the balance desperately needed for us all.

TJHS Memorial Scholarship

A portion of the funds will also be used to establish a scholarship for graduating seniors at Thomas Jefferson High School (TJHS) in West Jefferson Hills, PA. The scholarship will support females pursuing a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) degree who also have a personal proclivity toward community service.