Code Blue and Gold

The quarterly newsletter of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Medicine

From NPR to the local news, the Department of Medicine is making headlines. Read more about how our experts are leading the charge on the global stage.

Sonya Borrero, MD, MS, was quoted in a recent WESA article on new IUD pain management guidelines. >> Read the story

Adam Brufsky, MD, PhD, was interviewed by the Journal of Clinical Pathways on some of the current treatment options for breast cancer. >> Read the interview

Divay Chandra, MD, MSc, was interviewed on the impact of lithium on emphysema in a recent Respiratory Report newsletter from the American Lung Association. >> Watch the interview.

Research by Aging Institute faculty including Bill Chen, PhD, Toren Finkel, MD, PhD, Aditi Gurkar, PhD, Stacey Rizzo, PhD, Matthew Steinhauser, MD, Jay Tan, PhD, and Bokai Zhu, PhD, was highlighted in the spring issue of PittMed Magazine. >> Read the issue

Becky Clarkson, PhD, was interviewed for the “Wellness Wednesday” segment on KDKA’s Talk Pittsburgh to explain the connection between the brain and bladder. >> Watch the interview

Rene Claxton, MD, MS, and Bob Arnold, MD, share their expertise on enhancing communication skills in a recent episode of The Curbsiders. >> Listen to their insights

Malamo Countouris, MD, MS, and Agnes Koczo, MD, provided an overview of UPMC’s Cardio-Obstetrics Program, dedicated to caring for patients of childbearing age who have or are at risk of having heart disease. >> Read the article

KDKA highlighted a new system developed to prevent infection outbreaks in hospitals by Lee Harrison, MD, MPH, and Alex Sundermann, DrPH >> Watch the story

Sawa Ito, MD, PhD, was chosen for Cures within Reach’s recent “Researcher Spotlight.” >> Read the feature

Read about efforts to address the opioid crisis by Raagini Jawa, MD, MPH and Jessica Merlin, MD, PhD, MBA. >> Read the article

Read how the care Angela Kohelis received as a double lung transplant from Joseph Pilewski, MD, changed her life and is inspiring others. >> Read the story

Pennsylvania Secretary of Policy and Planning Akbar Hossain toured innovative research facilities, including the lab of Melanie Königshoff, MD, PhD, on March 20. >> Read about the visit

Elena Morariu, MD, and Esra Karslioglu French, MD, MBA, explain how radiofrequency ablation may reduce symptom burden and preserve thyroid function in benign thyroid nodules. >> Read the article

Cristina Padilla, MD, MS, and her research were highlighted by UPMC Physician Resources. >> Read the article

The contributions of Beth Piraino, MD, who will retire as associate dean of admissions and financial aid in Pitt’s School of Medicine, was featured by PittWire. >> Read about her Pitt career

Benjamin Plotz, MD, has established a dedicated clinic to treat gout within the Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology. >> Read about the clinic

Lori Plung and Patrick Buckley, MD, MBA, contributed to two Health.com stories about Crohns Disease. >> Read about their tips for maintaining friendships and how to share your diagnosis with a partner

A newer experimental treatment of a LECOM student with colon cancer suggested by Ibrahim Sahin, MD, was highlighted by MedicalXpress.com. >> Read the story

Kathryn Schmitz, PhD, MPH, was interviewed by NPR about the impact exercise has on colon cancer survivors’ longevity >> Read the article

Good Morning America highlighted recent research by Bryant Shuey, MD, MPH, that showed young women are now binge drinking more than their peers >> Watch the story

Patrick Strollo, MD, was quoted in a recent Healio.com article about a new treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. >> Read the article

The UPMC K-CHAMP program, aimed at integrating primary care and nephrology, was highlighted in a recent feature by HealthManagement.org.  >> Read the article

Research by Daria van Tyne, PhD, focused on antibiotic-resistant bacteria was featured by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette>> Read the article

The labs of Flordeliza Villanueva, MD, MS, Daniel Shiwarski, PhD, and Melanie Königshoff, MD, PhD were among those visited by several state legislators recently, highlighting the impact of NIH funding cuts.>> Read the article

Research Matters

Several DOM faculty members have been featured by the University of Pittsburgh as part of the new Research Matters campaign:

Stephen Chan, MD, PhD: “Research Funding Makes Reducing Vascular Disease Risks Possible” >> Read more about his research

Toren Finkel, MD, PhD, and Anne Newman, MD, MPH: “Pitt Makes Aging Well Possible” >> Read more about their research

Kathryn Schmitz, PhD, MPH: “Research Funding Makes Innovation in Cancer Treatments Possible” >> Read more about her research