Building the Committee
Every search begins by assembling a search committee that reflects a broad range of expertise, roles, and perspectives. Chosen for their insight and judgment, committee members are entrusted with guiding the process, approaching the search with care, fairness, and confidentiality from the outset. Committee members are appointed following suggestions from chiefs, directors, or executive leaders. All of our committees aim to have representations from faculty of all career stages, covering a wide range of research expertise.

Defining What Matters Most
Early conversations focus on clarifying the role itself. The committee crafts a position description and agrees on the qualities that matter most, aligning expectations with the department’s strategic priorities. Beyond credentials and experience, these discussions often explore leadership approach, values, and long-term vision.

Casting a Wide Net
Once a position is posted, the committee carefully reviews applications and résumés of candidates who have applied to a specific posting, evaluating each candidate against the agreed-upon criteria. Through discussion and comparison, a broad pool of applicants is refined into a ranking list, most often selecting the top 10 candidates for virtual interviews with the committee.

Getting to Know the Semifinalists
The virtual interviews offer the committee members an opportunity to hear directly from candidates about their ideas, experiences, and leadership philosophies. These conversations provide early insight into how each candidate might fit within the organization. Our virtual interviews are recorded so that committee members or executive leaders can revisit these at any time.

From Interview to Campus Visit
From there, a select group of finalists emerges by a ranking process through committee voting. Campus visits of the top 3-5 candidates allow for deeper, more personal engagement through extended conversations with leadership, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders, as well as presentations and tours. These visits give candidates a chance to envision themselves in the role, while the community gets to know them as potential colleagues.

Reflecting and Recommending
After these visits conclude, the committee gathers feedback from across the organization. This collective input is thoughtfully discussed and synthesized, leading to a final recommendation of 2-3 potential applicants to our Department Chair. It is at this point that the search committee has concluded its work and hands over to the Department Chair.

Throughout the process, the goal remains constant: to identify a candidate, who brings not only the right skills and experience, but also the vision, values, and collaborative spirit needed to thrive in our Department. When done well, every search process becomes more than a hiring exercise and develops into an investment in the organization’s future. We undergo extensive debriefing after a candidate has been signed and appointed, so that we continuously refine our search process to identify the best possible candidates for our Department.

From Alpine skiing to hockey, athletes around the world are preparing for the upcoming Winter Olympics. While typically touted as the ‘Cradle of Quarterbacks,’ Western PA is no slouch in developing remarkable Winter Olympians and Paralympians either, with competitors from the Keystone State earning medals since the first games held in Chamonix in 1924.

See if you can take home the gold in this quiz about Winter Olympians and Paralympians with ties to Western PA.

Take the Quiz!

Hover over (or tap if on mobile) the empty space below each question to reveal the correct answer. Let’s go!

Calendars

L to R: Mehak Khela, Francesca Yanosick, Skylar Strickland, Matt Freidhoff, Maris Leonard, Linda Banks

The DOM would be nothing without the amazing sacrifices of our faculty, trainees, and staff. Here are a few contributions that deserve special shoutouts.

Thank you to…

Rocky Schoen, MD, MPH, Jeff Dueker, MD, and Cheryl Leow, MA, for improving colon cancer screening through their landmark clinical trial, FORTE. 

Dhiraj Yadav, MD, MPH, Marcy Gelman, MS, MPH, and Melanie Mays for their assistance in improving clinical trials support services. 

Jane Liebschutz, MD, MPH, Amar Bansal, MD, and Ian Barbash, MD, MS, for advancing initiatives that support a healthier, more resilient community and bringing the Department’s strategic priorities to life. 

Charles Geyer, MD, for his leadership and commitment to advancing cancer research, delivering exceptional patient care, and training the next generation of oncology leaders. 

Karen Scandrett, MD, MPH, for your dedication to educating and mentoring physicians focused on delivering thoughtful, patient-centered care for older adults. 

Kelli Waggett and Sydney Fitzpatrick, for helping us highlight our staff whose commitment to the DOM’s vision resulted in numerous service milestones over the past year. 

Dana Ascherman, MD, and Nichole DeGasperi, for their memories and kind words about Linda Sadej. 

Maureen McNulty, for 34 years of dedicated service to the University and for her lasting contributions as student services coordinator for the ICRE. 

John Cooper, Alane Wholey, and Stacey Rosleck from University Marketing and Communications, for developing the new faculty profile template and thoughtfully incorporating the many requests and needs from across the Department. 

Chelsea Dempsey-Jones, for her assistance in completing faculty profiles, helping showcase our expertise and strengthen visibility across the Department and beyond. 

Jimette Gilmartin, for her unwavering compassion and guidance in relation to appointments and promotions for all our faculty throughout their careers. 

Matt Freidhoff, for his outstanding contributions in event-planning, particularly with this year’s Update in Internal Medicine Conference.  

Missy Evanko, for stepping in during critical grant submissions and ensuring successful outcomes through expertise and teamwork. 

Emily Buland, for navigating complex financial challenges and providing thoughtful guidance to support the Department’s work. 

Staff from across the Department of Medicine celebrated milestone service anniversaries from 5 to 45 years in 2025.

45 years

Linda Sadej // Executive Assistant // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Linda began her career with the University of Pittsburgh in 1980 in the Department of Plastic Surgery. Over the years, she has contributed her expertise to the Departments of Neurology and Medicine, demonstrating her versatility and commitment to excellence. Throughout her tenure, Linda has been a beacon of knowledge and kindness, serving as the divisional expert on promotion pathways and university policies. Her support has been instrumental in the success of numerous high-level publications, grants, and conferences.

Linda’s role extends far beyond her job description – she is the central glue that holds the Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology together. Her dedication, expertise, and compassionate nature make her an invaluable member of our team.

Please join us in celebrating Linda’s extraordinary milestone and in expressing our heartfelt gratitude for her years of service and commitment to the University of Pittsburgh.

40 years

Debra Galvin // Pre-Award Administrator // DOM Research Administration

Kim Reynolds // Academic Program Manager // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

30 years

Jill Kirsch // Research Project Manager // General Internal Medicine

Patrick McCarthy // Diabetic Educator // Endocrinology and Metabolism (UPMC)

Carol Mitchell // Clinical Research Nurse Manager // Infectious Diseases

Wily Ruiz // Laboratory Manager // Renal-Electrolyte

20 years

James Buckreis // Director, Operations // Endocrinology and Metabolism (UPMC)

Dennis Clayton // Laboratory Manager // Renal-Electrolyte

Joann Fultz // Senior Research Specialist // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Charlene Gergely // Academic Support Coordinator // General Internal Medicine (UPMC)

Katie Hainaut // Associate Administrator – Finance // Cardiology

Edward Hughes // Post Award Administrator // DOM Research Administration

Tripti Joshi // Senior Accountant // General Internal Medicine

Frances Kerr // Admin Assistant – Senior // Endocrinology and Metabolism (UPMC)

Brian Philips // Research Scientist // Vascular Medicine Institute

Shelley Rowe // Applications Systems Analyst III // General Internal Medicine

Xiao-Hong Wang // Laboratory Manager // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

10 years

Nancy Abubaker // Clinical Research Coordinator II // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Amanda Auer – Porch // GME Academic Manager // General Internal Medicine (UPMC)

Jessina Barnett // Medical Assistant, Expert // General Internal Medicine (UPMC)

Terri Bathory // Sr. Diabetes Educator, CDCES // General Internal Medicine (UPMC)

Brittani Beacom // OP Nurse Coordinator I // Endocrinology and Metabolism (UPMC)

Mary Brown // Data Clerk II // Infectious Diseases (UPMC)

Sara Calhoun // Finance Manager // Vascular Medicine Institute

Lynn Caroline // Medical Assistant, Expert // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine (UPMC)

Mia Crumpler // HIM Analyst // General Internal Medicine (UPMC)

Monica Czesnakowski // Medical Assistant, Expert // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine (UPMC)

Danielle Ferry // Clinical Research Manager // Cardiology

Steven Haberley // LPN LEAD // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology (UPMC)

Kathryn Haynes // Research Scientist // Aging Institute

Jared Hill // OP Nurse Coordinator I // Endocrinology and Metabolism (UPMC)

Twanda Johnson // Medical Assistant, Senior // General Internal Medicine (UPMC)

Ella Kaplan // Supervisor, Social Work // Infectious Diseases (UPMC)

Emily Klawson // Project Manager // General Internal Medicine

Lauren Kudrick // Global Project Mgr, HIV AIDS // Infectious Diseases

Kelsey Linnon // OP Nurse Coordinator I // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (UPMC)

James Martin // Laboratory Manager // Infectious Diseases

Bryar-Leigh McClure // OP Nurse Coordinator I // Endocrinology and Metabolism (UPMC)

Andrea Radziminski // Administrative Coordinator // Aging Institute

Shari Reynolds // Clinical Trials Manager // Endocrinology and Metabolism

Anna Marie Rompala // Administrative Assistant // Vascular Medicine Institute

Michael Sciullo // Database Administrator // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Maria Spanos // Sr. Practice Manager // Classical Hematology (UPMC)

Tara Stakich // Senior Clinical Program Manager // Geriatric Medicine

Barbara Suchonic // Executive Administrator I // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine (UPMC)

Yi Yin Tai // Senior Laboratory Specialist // Cardiology

Janice Thieret // Research Program Coordinator // General Internal Medicine

Michelle Wysong // AIP Manager // Infectious Diseases (UPMC)

Sandra Ziros // Medical Assistant, Expert // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine (UPMC)

5 years

Lane Alexander // Project Coordinator // General Internal Medicine

Mara Barron // Grants Assistant // DOM Research Administration

Stephanie Fedro-Byrom // Lead Research Program Coordinator // General Internal Medicine

Leticia Candra // Clinical Research Coordinator // Classical Hematology

Jessica Caratelli // Clinical Research Coordinator // Cardiology

Laura Conley // Professional Staff Nurse, OP // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology (UPMC)

Hunter Coyle // Laboratory Technician // Infectious Diseases

Isabel Crevasse // Instructional Designer // General Internal Medicine

Jayeeta Das // Laboratory Specialist // Cardiology

Chelsea Douglass // Surgery Scheduler // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (UPMC)

Christina Evans // OP Nurse Coordinator I // Classical Hematology (UPMC)

Katherine Haar // Dietitian – AIP // Infectious Diseases (UPMC)

Jillian Herschlag // Lead Dietitian // Endocrinology and Metabolism (UPMC)

Alexandra Huffman // Office Coordinator // Geriatric Medicine (UPMC)

Eun Mi Ju // Senior Laboratory Technician // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Allison Lear // Lead Sleep Technologist // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine (UPMC)

Sophia Lieber // Laboratory Research Specialist // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Tammy Lindemuth // Patient Services Representative // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (UPMC)

Bridget Mayrer // Data Scientist // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Jaivon McFadden // Patient Access Specialist II // Infectious Diseases (UPMC)

Michelle McGuire // Post Award Grants Specialist // DOM Research Administration

Apsara Mishra // Clinical Research Coordinator // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Takeshi Murai // Research Scientist // Aging Institute

Lea Odorisio // OP Nurse Coordinator II // Geriatric Medicine (UPMC)

Christine Patterson // OP Nurse Coordinator I // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (UPMC)

Morgan Patterson // OP Nurse Coordinator I // Endocrinology and Metabolism (UPMC)

Allyson Podrasky // Admin Assistant – Intermediate // General Internal Medicine (UPMC)

Mandi Robosky // Sr. Practice Manager // General Internal Medicine (UPMC)

Victor Rodriguez // Financial Assistant // Cardiology

Elizabeth Schwartz // Sr. Professional Staff Nurse, OP // General Internal Medicine (UPMC)

David Scott // Research Program Supervisor // General Internal Medicine

William Slivka // Pulmonary Technologist II // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine (UPMC)

Valerie Smith // Professional Staff Nurse, OP // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology (UPMC)

Xuejiao Sun // Laboratory Research Technician III // Renal-Electrolyte

Steven Swanger // Clinical Research Coordinator // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Sarah Thomas // Medical Assistant, Expert // General Internal Medicine (UPMC)

Temekia Thompson // Patient Svcs Representative II // General Internal Medicine (UPMC)

Shuxia Wang // Laboratory Research Technician III // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Jolyn Ward // Medical Assistant, Expert // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine (UPMC)

Shawn Williams // Lead Surgery Scheduler // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (UPMC)

Sarah Wygant // OP Nurse Coordinator I // Classical Hematology (UPMC)

Faculty

Amesh Ashok Adalja, MD // Adjunct Assistant Professor // Infectious Diseases

Henrietta Afari, MD // Assistant Professor // Cardiology

Ali Atoui, MD // Assistant Professor // Classical Hematology

John Byrd, MD // UCR Visiting Professor // Malignant Hematology and Medical Oncology

Claire Durkin, MD // Assistant Professor // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Shaid El-Akawi, MD // Clinical Assistant Professor // General Internal Medicine

Danielle Fayad, MD // Clinical Assistant Professor // Infectious Diseases

Stephanie Gambino, MD // Clinical Assistant Professor // Endocrinology and Metabolism

Mary Hon, MD // Clinical Assistant Professor // General Internal Medicine

Nick Huang, MD // Clinical Instructor // General Internal Medicine

Sonya John, MD // Clinical Assistant Professor // Cardiology

Joseph Kovacs, MD // Clinical Assistant Professor // General Internal Medicine

Andreas Kyvernitakis, MD // Clinical Assistant Professor // Cardiology

Fei-Pi Lin, MD // Clinical Assistant Professor // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Dana Loll, PhD, MHS // UCR Visiting Research Associate Professor // General Internal Medicine

Hetal Mistry, MD // Assistant Professor // Malignant Hematology and Medical Oncology

Sonia Rupcic, PhD // Adjunct Instructor // General Internal Medicine

Katherine Shipman, PhD // Research Instructor // Renal-Electrolyte

Sanjay Sridaran, MD // Clinical Assistant Professor // General Internal Medicine

Yujie Sun, MD // Clinical Assistant Professor // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Kari White, PhD // Visiting Adjunct Associate Professor // General Internal Medicine

Postdocs

An-Chi Cheng, PhD // Postdoctoral Associate // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Smitha Edakalavan, PhD // Postdoctoral Scholar // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Veronica Hong, PhD // Postdoctoral Scholar // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Shifang Li, PhD // Postdoctoral Associate // Aging Institute

Lauren Roe, PhD // Postdoctoral Scholar // Geriatric Medicine

Abhishek Sengar, PhD // Postdoctoral Associate // Cardiology

Archana Shrestha, PhD // Postdoctoral Associate // Cardiology

Afsara Zaheed, PhD // Postdoctoral Scholar // General Internal Medicine

Staff

Benafsha Ayeen // Grants & Contracts Assistant // Research Administration

Hayden Bash // Genetic Counseling Assistant // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Lotte Brewer, MPH // CONVERGE Communications Specialist // General Internal Medicine

Miaoyan Chen, ScM // Data Analyst // General Internal Medicine

Riley Coulter // Laboratory Research Technician II // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Blake Degioanni, MS // Data Analyst // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Danielle DeRose // Post Award Specialist // Research Administration

Carrie Haney, MPH // Catalyst Data Analyst // General Internal Medicine

Kelsey Humes // Student Program Coordinator // General Internal Medicine

Jessica Hutchison // CRNP, Senior // Geriatric Medicine

Katelyn Kelsey, MPH // Catalyst Research Coordinator // General Internal Medicine

Jean Kosobucki // Manager, Communications and Programming // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Mollie Lewis // Laboratory Research Specialist // Vascular Medicine Institute

Aiden Mohideen // Laboratory Research Technician // Vascular Medicine Institute

Ethan Rodriguez // Grants & Contracts Assistant // Research Administration

Abbey Setlik // Laboratory Research Technician II // Aging Institute

Johanna Spisak // Grants & Contracts Specialist // Research Administration

Capresia Stone // Medical Assistant // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Amy Travis // Clinical Research Coordinator // Cardiology

Adriana Tufino, MSc // Laboratory Research Technician // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

September 2025 – December 2025

Rohit Aggarwal, MD, MS, and the UPMC Myositis Center’s efforts in developing a new framework for conducting clinical trials in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies was discussed in a recent UPMC Physician Resources article. >> Read the story

UPMC Physician Resources highlighted a virtual osteoporosis clinic led by Carolyn M. Casey, DO, designed to increase access to specialty care for patients facing a new diagnosis of osteoporosis or who are being managed longitudinally. >> Read the story

Stephen Chan, MD, PhD, was interviewed by Pitt Health Sciences to discuss sotatercept, a new FDA-approved treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension. >> Read the story

Renee Cloutier, PhD, helped develop a new website that tracks which Pennsylvania programs have received settlements from opioid manufacturers and distributors, featured in a story on PittWire. >> Read the article

Michael Curren, MD, MS, was interview by MedTech Dive on wearables and blood pressure for a recent story. >> Read the article

The UPMC Liver Health and Recovery Clinic, led by Alison J. Faust, MD, MHS, was highlighted by UPMC Physician Resources in a recent article. >> Read the story

AI-driven ECG tools developed by Tanmay Gokhale, MD, PhD, to identify high-risk pulmonary embolism patients were featured in a story by PittMed. >> Read the story

Aditi Gurkar, PhD, was interviewed by the BBC on what you can do now to improve your health in your 70s. >> Read the article

Gavin Hickey, MD, contributed to two recent features highlighting the 40th anniversary of the artificial heart program at UPMC. >> Read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article  and the Tribune-Review article

PittMed highlighted the Institute for Clinical Research Education (ICRE) as a national leader in multidisciplinary research training in a recent story. >> Read the article

Aleesha Kainat, MD, discussed how low-dose aspirin may benefit adults with type 2diabetes in a recent U.S. News & World Report article.  >> Read the story

Noor Khan, MD, talked with MedPage Today about the issues with online companies selling unregulated weight loss drugs. >> Read the article

Anita Leon-Jhong, MD, was interviewed by Physician’s Weekly about research that shows engaging in patients’ health-related social needs is linked to burnout. >> Read the article

David Levinthal, MD, PhD, discussed the diagnosis and treatment of cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) in adults on a GI Insights Podcast. >> Listen to the full episode

Jason Ng, MD, contributed to a MedicalNews Today story about how mangoes may be more likely to help prevent type 2 diabetes than a low-sugar snack. >> Read the article

MedicalNews Today also reached out to Jason Ng, MD, on how diet can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. >> Read the article

Gina Piscitello, MD, MS, joined a recent GeriPal Podcast to discuss slow codes.>> Listen to the podcast

September 2025 – December 2025

Martina Anto-Ocrah, PhD, was selected for the National Academies’ U.S.-Africa Frontiers Program. >> Read more

Karl Bezak, MD, and Gina Piscitello, MD, MS, were selected as Fellows of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM).

Sonya Borrero, MD, MS, was named one of three “Women Shaping the Future of Healthcare in Pittsburgh” by North Hills Monthly Magazine. >> Read more

Hannah Burkholder, DNP, CRNP,  Austin Griffith, PA-C , Tyler Hays, PA-C , and Tauna Price, DNP, CRNP, were all nominated for the 2025 APP Preceptor of the Year Award.

New Hillman Cancer Center Director, John C. Byrd, MD, was named to the National Academy of Medicine. >> Read more

John C. Byrd, MD, was also awarded the 2025 Excellence in Scientific Service Award from Blood Cancer United at this year’s American Society of Hematology conference. >> Read more

Andrea Carter, MD, MS, was appointed the UPMC GME Professional Development Taskforce Co-Chair.

Aravind Cherukuri, MBBS, PhD, was named as one of the 2026 Senior Vice Chancellor’s Research Seminar Speakers. He will present his talk on immune-driven precision kidney transplant medicine on January 16. >> Read more

Cornelius Clancy, MD, Yohei Doi, MD, PhD, John Kirkwood, MD, Minh-Hong Nguyen, MD, Ryan Shields, PharmD, and Sally Wenzel, MD, were among the 15 University of Pittsburgh faculty members named to Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers list, an annual compilation of researchers whose work has made a significant impact across a broad range of disciplines. >> Read more

René Claxton, MD, and Rebecca Mancoll, MD, were both awarded the UPMC Physician Excellence Award – Senior Physician Excellence in Clinical Care.

Anna Coronata, MD, won the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) Mid-Atlantic Regional Bite-Sized Teaching Competition with her talk, “Circle of Control: Managing Moral Distress in Medicine.”

Deborah DiNardo, MD, MS, received the Anne Preston Advancement of Women in Medicine Award from the Western PA Chapter of the American College of Physicians.

Donna Durant, CRNP, received the Advanced Practice RN Nightingale Award, one of only 17 awarded statewide. >> Read more

Pouneh Fazeli, MD, MPH, was an invited speaker at the XXXVI Chilean Congress of Endocrinology and Diabetes hosted by the Sociedad Chilena de Endocrinología y Diabetes in La Serena, Chile in October.

Sarah L. Gaffen, PhD, received the 2025 Carnegie Mellon University Alumni Achievement Award for her trailblazing research on IL-17 and immune defense! >> Read more

Paulomi Gohel, MD, Sarah Merriam, MD, Ibrahim Halil Sahin, MD, Khako Shaverdashvili, MD, PhD, Swetha Tummala, MD, and Jesse Wang, MD were recently named Pitt Med Professionalism Accolade Awardees.

Scott Herrle, MD, received the 2025 Clinical Practice Award from the Western PA Chapter of the American College of Physicians.

George Jabbour, MD, and a team of cardiologists and electrophysiologists at UPMC Altoona recently performed their 2,000th WATCHMAN™ implant procedure. >> Read more

Sarah Jones, MD, MS, is one of nine recipients of the UPMC Excellence in Patient Experience Award.

Anna Kirillova (Mentor: Stephen Chan, MD, PhD) won the Early Career Investigator Award from the American Heart Association’s Council on Genomic and Precision Medicine >> Read more

Jillian Kyle, MD, was elected the Secretary/Treasury of the SGIM-Mid-Atlantic Region.

Anita Leon-Jhong, MD, is the recipient of this year’s Richard E. Deitrick Humanity in Medicine Award from the Allegheny County Medical Society.

Jane Liebschutz, MD, MPH, is president elect of the Association of Chiefs and Leaders of General Internal Medicine (ACLGIM).

Jason Ng, MD, Margaret Zupa, MD, MS, and Joseph Roy are the recipients of the 2025 T1D Exchange Outstanding Adult Team Award in honor of their knowledge of QI methodologies in a clinical setting.

Beth Oczypok, MD, PhD, received the John Derrickson Early Career Physician Service Excellence Award from the Western PA Chapter of the American College of Physicians.

John Pacella, MS, MD, led the first ultrasound renal denervation procedure in Southwest Pennsylvania on September 30. >> Read more

Deirdre Quinn, PhD, MSc, was named as one of the 2026 Senior Vice Chancellor’s Research Seminar Speakers. She will present her talk on reproductive health and health care for women veterans September 18. >> Read more

Priya Rastogi, MD, was recently named Chair of the NRG Oncology Breast Cancer Committee.

The Nature Communications article, “Neutrophils and galectin-3 defend mice from lethal bacterial infection and humans from acute respiratory failure,” by lead author Prabir Ray, PhD, is one of twelve high-impact publications of 2024 that will be highlighted in a lightning talk on January 14. >> Read more

Jane Schell, MD, was selected as an Institute on Healthcare Improvement Fellow through a scholarship from the John A. Hartford Foundation.

Kathryn Schmitz, PhD, MPH, was appointed deputy director of the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. >> Read more

Iain Scott, PhD, was named Associate Director of the Vascular Medicine Institute. >> Read more

Yinan Shi, PhD, (Mentor: Stephen Chan, MD, PhD) won the Early Career Investigator Award from the American Heart Association’s Council on Cardiopulmonary, Critical Care, Perioperative and Resuscitation.

Sruti Shiva, PhD, was named Scientific Director of the Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania. >> Read more

Bryant Shuey, MD, MPH, was named as one of five fellows for the National Academy of Medicine’s State Health Policy Fellowship program. >> Read more

Brielle Spataro, MD, MS, was awarded the UPMC Physician Excellence Award.

Yusheng Yeh, PhD, RD, (Mentor: Babak Razani, MD, PhD) was a finalist for the Early Career Investigator Award from the American Heart Association’s Council on Basic and Cardiovascular Sciences.

Yvette Yien, PhD, was awarded the 2025 International Human Heme Biosynthesis and Porphyrias Research Prize for her outstanding contributions to heme biology research. >> Read more

Several staff members from DOM Research Administration received School of Medicine Research Administrator Awards at this year’s event including Erica Carson (Rising Star), Heather Dandar (Stand Out Performer), Samantha DiSalvio (Mentoring), Missy Evanko (Innovator), Georgette Lamanti (Stand Out Performer), Lynne Lewis (Career Achievement), Dan Parker (Innovator), Crystal Regan (Rising Star), and Perrie Williams (Stand Out Performer). >> Read more

Faculty Promotions, Appointments, and Tenure

September 2025* – December 2025

Promotion to Professor of Medicine 

Dan Zandberg, MD // Malignant Hematology and Medical Oncology
Effective December 1, 2025

John Evankovich, MD // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
Effective December 1, 2025

Alexandra Mieczkowski, MD, MS // General Internal Medicine
Effective November 1, 2025

Shi Shujie, PhD // Renal-Electrolyte
Effective November 1, 2025

Promotion to Research Assistant Professor of Medicine  

Andrew Nickerson, PhD // Renal-Electrolyte
Effective September 15, 2025

Conferral of Tenure 

Jonathan Alder, PhD // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
Effective December 1, 2025

*Other September 1 promotions were included in the fall 2025 issue.

L to R: Minjie (Jessica) Guo, MD; Mary Connolly, MD; Angela Heysel, MD; Kelley Bellia, DO; Celestine Chistensen, MD

The United States faces an unprecedented shortage of geriatricians at the very moment older adults represent the fastest-growing segment of the population. In the 2025 national match, only 145 of 388 certified geriatrics fellowship slots (~37%) were filled, one of the lowest fill-rates among medical subspecialties. Because many programs failed to fill all (or any) of their slots, the actual number of trainees entering geriatrics remains far below what is needed to replace retiring clinicians, even as the demand for expert care for older adults continues to rise.

Against this backdrop, Pitt/UPMC has reshaped how trainees discover, pursue, and advance in geriatric medicine. With new integrated training pathways, expanded scholarly options, and more intentional recruitment strategies, the institution is working to build a sustainable pipeline of geriatric clinicians and academic leaders.

Guaranteed Pathway: A New Integrated Approach to Training

In 2022, Pitt/UPMC received ACGME approval for its four-year Internal Medicine–Geriatrics Integrated Training Program, a redesigned pathway that blends three years of internal medicine residency with one year of geriatrics fellowship. Graduates are eligible to sit for both the Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine board exams at the end of the four-year sequence.

This structure provides clarity for residents from the start of training and integrates geriatrics into all the first three years of residency, helping them build their clinical practice, learn key skills, develope expertise, and form relationships in the field of geriatrics early on in their training. These trainees benefit from protected time during PGY4 for deeper professional development. This may include research, coursework, quality-improvement initiatives, or other scholarly work, making the program especially appealing to those interested in academic geriatrics.

The program offers two integrated IM-Geri slots each year, and its first class is midway through training, assuring that future fellowship classes have local, well-trained residents from UPMC’s own residency four years in advance.

Strengthening Recruitment and Retention

Recognizing that interest in geriatrics often begins before residency, often inspired by exposure to strong role models, Pitt/UPMC reexamined opportunities for connecting with learners. Faculty teach geriatrics principles to all second-year medical students, and clinical electives in geriatrics are available to third- and fourth-year students. Geriatrics research faculty welcome learners at all levels to participate in ongoing research projects. Elective rotations in geriatric medicine are offered to UPMC internal medicine and family medicine residents throughout the UPMC system. Internal Medicine residents at UPMC Presbyterian-Shadyside who are interested in caring for older adults but uncertain about formal training can participate in a geriatrics “track” throughout their 3 years. This track gives them mentored geriatrics outpatient experience and exposure to other clinical experiences.

One consistent challenge nationally is the structure of traditional one-year geriatrics fellowships. Residents who discover a passion for geriatrics often prefer to remain at the institution where they trained and develop their careers within that supportive culture, rather than relocate for a single-year fellowship. With this in mind, Pitt/UPMC has taken steps to make academic geriatrics training more flexible and accessible. The institution continues to offer four traditional one-year Geriatric Medicine fellowship slots and also offers an optional second research or clinical specialization year for fellows interested in academic careers. Opportunities for a second training year are available to all incoming fellows. Fellows wishing to develop research careers have opportunities for a three-year fellowship with bridge funding to independence. Hospitalists within UPMC are able to train in a part time capacity over multiple years in order to become certified in geriatrics.

Investing in the Future of Geriatrics

Through these innovative pathways and recruitment strategies, Pitt/UPMC is working to help solve a national workforce crisis. By offering multiple entry points – accessible electives in geriatrics for medical students and residents, a geriatrics-interest track, integrated residency-fellowship training with guaranteed 3+1 matching, and traditional fellowship with options for extended training – Pitt ensures that future geriatricians can choose the option that best aligns with their goals while benefiting from robust mentorship and research opportunities.

As the country’s aging population expands, the need for skilled geriatricians will only become more pressing. Pitt/UPMC’s commitment to reimagining training is positioning the institution, and the field, to meet that need with a new generation of physicians dedicated to advancing the care of older adults.