Jun2026 | Code Blue and Gold

A More Transparent Promotion Process

K B — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 05:17:24 +0000

For many faculty, promotion and tenure can feel like a lengthy and opaque process, with timelines, documentation requirements, and pathway expectations that are not always intuitive. As standards within the School of Medicine continue to evolve and review processes become increasingly rigorous, the Department of Medicine has expanded efforts to help faculty better understand expectations, prepare stronger portfolios, and navigate advancement more efficiently.

To help clarify the process at the SOM level, the Department hosted a Q&A session for Division and Center Chiefs with SOM Vice Dean Joseph Losee in March, which focused specifically on aligning departmental practices with SOM expectations. That session reinforced that the 2025 SOM Appointment and Promotion Guidelines represent the most significant update to the promotion framework in recent years. Reviews are now more rigorous, early promotion applications are under heightened scrutiny, and pathway selection – particularly for clinicians – carries more weight than previously.

Since navigating these changes can be confusing, the DOM Faculty Advancement webpages now provide pathway-specific guidance, timelines, portfolio checklists, and frequently asked questions in one place. The DOM has also implemented a portfolio pre-screening process that identifies gaps or concerns before a case reaches the A&P Committee, reducing delays and providing faculty an opportunity to assemble a strong portfolio on the initial submission.

The importance of early planning and timely responses throughout the review process is underscored by an analysis of 109 faculty actions completed between January 2023 and May 2026 that found that the median total time from A&P Committee approval to promotion effective date is approximately 11.5 months. The Department’s turnaround (from committee meeting to nomination entry) has a median of 13 days, which means the vast majority of the overall timeline is attributable to the SOM and provost-level review process. Tenure-track cases take approximately five months longer on average than appointment-stream cases, a distinction worth communicating to faculty and division chiefs early in the process.

Faculty responsiveness remains one of the most significant factors in how long a promotion takes. When the SOM requests revisions or additional documentation, a prompt and thorough response keeps the case moving. Delays – even by a few weeks – can push a case back by months, particularly given the timing of external reference letters, as they cannot be solicited until the portfolio is complete and approved by the SOM. So, anything that stalls that step has a cascading effect on the overall timeline. Looking ahead, the SOM is implementing a new system that will allow faculty to respond to portfolio revision requests in real time, which should meaningfully reduce one of the most common sources of delay.

To further support faculty development, the Department recently created a Faculty Development Framework by Pathway and Seniority that maps available development programs to faculty career track and career stage. The framework, available on the DOM website, covers four tracks – Research/Investigator, Clinician, Clinician-Educator, and Leadership – across all career stages from new faculty through senior professor. Programs are categorized as core, supplemental, or advanced, and the document includes direct links to each resource. Division chiefs may use it as a practical guide during annual faculty performance evaluations.

Building on these efforts, the Department is preparing to launch a Quarterly Faculty Advancement Workshop Series in partnership with the DOM Faculty Development Subcommittee. The series, which will be offered during Grand Rounds off weeks, will provide practical, step-by-step guidance on pathway selection, scholarly portfolio development, career planning, faculty evaluations, mentorship, and navigating the review process. Additional details will be shared as scheduling is finalized.

For more information, please contact DOM Faculty Affairs (facafmed@pitt.edu)

– Gavin Arteel, PhD

Trivia N’At

K B — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 05:16:26 +0000

From trailblazers and titans to pivotal moments in history, test your knowledge of the Pittsburgh people, places, and events that helped forge the history of the United States of America over the past 250 years.

Grab an Iron City and see how much Yinzer history you really know.

Take the Quiz!

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

•••

1. In 1753, a young George Washington was sent into the Ohio Country by the Governor of Virginia to deliver an ultimatum to French forces. On his return journey, he nearly drowned in a freezing local river when he was thrown from his raft. Which river was it?

A) The Monongahela River
B) The Allegheny River
C) The Ohio River
D) The Youghiogheny River

B) The Allegheny River. While trying to cross the icy river, Washington fell into the water and had to spend a freezing night on an island before the river froze over enough for him to walk to the shore.

2. Built by the French in 1754 at the strategic forks of the Ohio River, Fort Duquesne was the ultimate prize of the French and Indian War. How did the British finally capture the site in 1758?

A) They led a brutal, months-long military siege that starved out the garrison.
B) They arrived to find the fort already burned and abandoned by the French.
C) George Washington led a successful midnight bayonet charge over the walls.
D) A Native American alliance betrayed the French and opened the fort gates.

B) They arrived to find the fort already burned and abandoned by the French. In November 1758, a massive British expedition led by General John Forbes (with Colonel George Washington commanding a regiment) marched on Fort Duquesne. Outnumbered, cut off from supplies, and losing the support of their Native American allies, the French evacuated. They burned the fort to the ground before the British arrived. General Forbes immediately claimed the smoking ruins, ordered the construction of a new, massive stronghold named Fort Pitt, and wrote a letter from the site dating it from “Pittsbourgh”—marking the official birth of the city’s name.

3. During the Revolutionary War, Fort Pitt served as the Western Headquarters for the Continental Army. In 1778, the first peace treaty between the newly formed United States and a Native American nation was signed here. Which nation was it?

A) The Iroquois
B) The Cherokee
C) The Delaware (Leni Lenape)
D) The Shawnee

C) The Delaware (Leni Lenape). The Treaty of Fort Pitt (1778) granted the U.S. permission to pass through Delaware territory and even proposed the revolutionary idea of a 14th state entirely managed by Native Americans, though the treaty was ultimately broken.

4. In July 1794, the Whiskey Rebellion reached a violent climax just south of Pittsburgh when hundreds of armed rebel farmers laid siege to and burned down the mansion of the regional tax collector. What was the name of this historic estate?

A) Oliver Miller Homestead
B) Bower Hill
C) Woodville Plantation
D) Compass Inn

B) Bower Hill. Bower Hill was the plantation home of General John Neville, a wealthy veteran of the Revolutionary War who accepted the position of regional tax supervisor. On July 16 and 17, 1794, local “Whiskey Boys” attacked the estate, resulting in a fierce gun battle and the death of rebel leader James McFarlane. The mansion was completely burned to the ground, an escalation that directly prompted President George Washington to march federal troops into Western Pennsylvania to restore order.

5. While waiting for a specialized keelboat to be made in Pittsburgh, Meriwether Lewis recruited his first crew members for his monumental American expedition with William Clark including a loveable Newfoundland dog. What was the dog’s name?

A) Scannon
B) Sailor
C) Seaman
D) Shannon

C) Seaman. Purchased in 1803 for a whopping $20 (Equivalent to $600 today), Seaman was the only non-human animal to complete the entire three-year trip. For nearly a century, historians mistakenly believed that Lewis’s dog was actually named Scannon until a 1984 study.

6. During the Great Pittsburgh Fire of 1845, the flames spread rapidly across the Monongahela Wharf, destroying a landmark wooden structure designed by the “Father of American Suspension Bridges,” John A. Roebling. Which historic crossing was lost to the fire?

A) The Smithfield Street Bridge
B) The Point Bridge
C) The Roberto Clemente Bridge
D) The Wabash Bridge

A) The Smithfield Street Bridge. The original structure at this location (then known as the Monongahela Bridge) was Pittsburgh’s very first river crossing. John A. Roebling had recently outfitted it with his revolutionary wire-suspension cables. When the fire tore through the city on April 10, 1845, the bridge’s wooden superstructure caught fire and collapsed into the river in less than fifteen minutes. Undeterred, Roebling was immediately hired to build an even stronger, fully suspension-based replacement on the same piers, which opened just a year later. The current bridge, designed by Gustav Linderthal, is actually the third bridge at that site, built in the 1880s.

7. What Pittsburgh manufacturing center was the site of deadliest civilian disaster of the Civil War?

A) Fort Pitt Foundry
B) Allegheny Arsenal
C) Cambria Iron Works
D) Lawrenceville Locomotive Works

B) Allegheny Arsenal. The Allegheny Arsenal was a crucial supplier for the Union Army until a tragic explosion on September 17, 1862, which killed 78 workers, mostly young women.

8. In 1875, Andrew Carnegie built his first steel mill, the Edgar Thomson Steel Works, in the communities of Braddock and North Braddock. What revolutionary process did this mill use to mass-produce steel for America’s expanding railroads?

A) The Siemens-Martin process
B) The Bessemer process
C) The Crucible process
D) The Open-hearth process

B) The Bessemer process. By adopting this process, Carnegie drastically dropped the cost of steel, fueling the construction of America’s skyscrapers, bridges, and rail networks.

9. On November 15, 1881, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions was formed at Turner Hall in Pittsburgh. Five years later, this organization reorganized into what massive, historic federation of labor unions that shaped the American workforce?

A) The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)
B) The Knights of Labor
C) The American Federation of Labor (AFL)
D) The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)

C) The American Federation of Labor (AFL). Founded under the leadership of Samuel Gompers, the AFL became one of the most powerful labor entities in the world, fighting for the eight-hour workday and safer conditions.

10. Born in Burrell Township in Armstrong County, this pioneering stunt journalist traveled around the world in 72 days and exposed the horrific conditions of New York insane asylums. Who was she?

A) Ida Tarbell
B) Nellie Bly
C) Jane Swisshelm
D) Winnie Blake

B) Nellie Bly. Born Elizabeth Cochrane, Bly was a trailblazer for investigative journalism and women in the newsroom, starting with her first writings under the pseudonym “Lonely Orphan Girl” for the Pittsburgh Dispatch. Bly left Pittsburgh for New York, where she was hired by the New York World where she feigned insanity to investigate reports of neglect at the Women’s Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell’s Island.

11. The 1892 Homestead Strike near Pittsburgh remains one of the most significant and violent confrontations in American labor history. What major, long-lasting impact did the outcome of this conflict have on the United States workforce?

A) It led directly to the passage of the first federal laws establishing the mandatory eight-hour workday.
B) It effectively crushed union representation in the steel industry for over forty years, shifting the balance of power decisively toward industrial corporations.
C) It prompted the U.S. Supreme Court to permanently outlaw the use of private security forces like the Pinkertons in labor disputes.
D) It forced Andrew Carnegie to dissolve his steel empire and distribute his corporate shares directly to his employees.

B) It effectively crushed union representation in the steel industry for over forty years, shifting the balance of power decisively toward industrial corporations. The defeat of the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers at Homestead was a catastrophic blow to the early American labor movement. By successfully utilizing the state militia to break the strike and hiring non-union “scab” labor to reopen the plant, management proved that organized workers could not withstand the combined might of massive industrial capital and government intervention. Following the strike, steel companies across the nation drastically cut wages, lengthened shifts to 12 hours (seven days a week), and systematically blacklisted union organizers. This effectively eliminated meaningful unionization in major American steel mills until the late 1930s, cementing corporate dominance over the workforce during the height of the Gilded Age.

12. Before he ever entered the electrical industry, the Pittsburgh industrialist George Westinghouse completely transformed American infrastructure at just 22 years old with his first major invention in 1869 that solved a deadly railroad crisis and fundamentally changed how goods and people moved across the expanding United States. What was this invention?

A) A vulcanized rubber switching tie that prevented train derailments on sharp mountain curves.
B) A compressed-air brake system that gave the engineer direct control to stop all railcars simultaneously, drastically increasing permissible train speeds and freight capacities.
C) A standardized, automatic knuckle coupler that replaced the hazardous link-and-pin system connecting railroad cars.
D) A steam-powered rotary track-clearing plow that kept vital northern rail lines open during severe winter blizzards.

B) A compressed-air brake system that gave the engineer direct control to stop all railcars simultaneously, drastically increasing permissible train speeds and freight capacities. In the mid-19th century, stopping a train was an incredibly slow and dangerous chore. When the engineer blew the whistle to slow down, teams of brakemen had to manually sprint across the roofs of rushing, swaying cars to turn heavy iron wheel brakes on each individual car. Because cars stopped at different rates, trains frequently crashed into themselves, and heavily loaded freight trains were strictly limited in how fast they could safely travel or how long they could be. Westinghouse’s revolutionary Air Brake changed everything by automatically triggering the brakes on decoupled cars. By taking the human error and delay out of braking, the invention allowed American railroads to safely run much heavier trains at double the previous speeds, thereby lowering shipping costs, accelerating the expansion of the western frontier, and providing the logistical backbone for the entire U.S. industrial revolution.

13. In the late 19th century, many commercial food processors routinely used toxic chemical preservatives and cheap fillers to disguise rotting ingredients. How did the H.J. Heinz Company respond to this widespread industry problem, forever changing American consumer standards?

A) By inventing the first artificial refrigeration systems to eliminate the need for chemical preservatives entirely.
B) By packing products in opaque stoneware crocks to block sunlight from spoiling the contents.
C) By utilizing clear glass bottles to display the purity of their ingredients and actively campaigning for federal food safety regulations.
D) By establishing a private, nationwide network of inspectors that completely bypassed government oversight.

C) By utilizing clear glass bottles to display the purity of their ingredients and actively campaigning for federal food safety regulations. Henry J. Heinz bet his company’s success on consumer trust. While competitors hid questionable ingredients in opaque containers, Heinz insisted on clear glass bottles so shoppers could see the quality of his “57 Varieties” (starting with his unadulterated horseradish) before spending a dime. And, when the fight for federal food safety standards heated up, Heinz broke ranks with the rest of the food manufacturing industry, aggressively lobbying President Theodore Roosevelt and Congress to pass the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. Heinz proved to the nation that mass-producing clean, safe, and unadulterated food was not only possible but highly profitable, setting the baseline for modern American public health laws.

14. While Harry Davis and John P. Harris did not invent motion pictures, their opening of the Smithfield Street “Nickelodeon” in Pittsburgh on June 19, 1905, fundamentally transformed the global entertainment industry. What was the truly revolutionary business innovation behind their storefront theater?

A) It was the first venue to combine live vaudeville acts and synchronized talking sound with short silent films.
B) It established the first permanent, standalone theater dedicated exclusively to showing moving pictures continuously for a five-cent admission.
C) It introduced a strict, high-priced reservation system that transformed cinema from a working-class distraction into an elite cultural event.
D) It pioneered the use of a rear-projection system that hid the loud, hazardous film equipment behind a translucent screen to shield the audience from noise and fire risks.

B) It established the first permanent, standalone theater dedicated exclusively to showing moving pictures continuously for a five-cent admission. Before Davis and Harris opened their Pittsburgh storefront, films were generally treated as novelty side-shows. They were usually squeezed into the end of live vaudeville variety acts, penny arcades, or traveling carnivals as a brief closing attraction. By taking a small storefront and filling it with simple wooden chairs, Davis and Harris dedicated the space entirely to screening movies on a continuous loop for just a nickel. Their concept removed film from the upscale theater circuits and made it cheap, highly accessible, and independently sustainable. The idea was so wildly successful that it sparked a massive national phenomenon: between 1907 and 1908, the number of “Nickelodeons” across the country doubled to 8,000. By 1910, an estimated 26 million Americans were visiting them every single week, effectively creating the modern moviegoing public and launching the global film distribution industry.

15. During World War I, Pittsburgh’s industrial might earned it the nickname “The Forge of the Universe.” Western Pennsylvania industries produced an astonishing amount of the steel used by the U.S. and its Allies for helmets, ships, and shells. Approximately what percentage of Allied steel came from the region?

A) Between 10% and 15%
B) Between 25% and 30%
C) Between 60% and 65%
D) Over 80%

C) Between 60% and 65%. The industrial capacity of Pittsburgh mills like Homestead, Edgar Thomson, and Duquesne was absolutely vital to the Allied victory in 1918, supplying the literal backbone of the war effort.

16. On November 2, 1920, Pittsburgh’s KDKA made history by broadcasting the returns of the Harding-Cox presidential election. What major milestone did this achieve?

A) The first transatlantic broadcast
B) The first commercial radio broadcast in the world
C) The first sports broadcast
D) The first emergency broadcast system test

B) The first commercial radio broadcast in the world. Before KDKA, wireless communication was primarily a two-way tool used by the military, shipping industries, and specialized amateur “ham” operators who built their own equipment to chat with one another. When a local Pittsburgh department store took note of the broadcasts of Frank Conrad, a Westinghouse engineer in the Steel City, they began selling ready-made radio receivers to the general public. Based on this initial commercial success, Westinghouse executives realized that instead of selling expensive two-way communication equipment to a tiny market, they could manufacture and sell thousands of simple, pre-assembled home receivers to everyday families, creating the modern concept of broadcasting.

17. While Pittsburgh artist J. Howard Miller’s famous 1942 “We Can Do It!” poster is globally recognized today as “Rosie the Riveter,” modern historical research has corrected two major misconceptions about it. What was the actual original purpose of the poster, and who is now known to be the real-life inspiration for the image?

A) It was a public recruitment tool to get women into factories, inspired by Michigan worker, Geraldine Hoff
B) It was a localized, internal motivational poster for existing workers of both sexes, inspired by California worker, Naomi Parker
C) It was a national advertisement for steel manufacturing, inspired by local Pittsburgh worker, Sarah Miller
D) It was an anti-war protest graphic, inspired by activist, Dorothy Day

B) It was a localized, internal motivational poster for existing workers of both sexes, inspired by California worker, Naomi Parker. The “We Can Do It!” poster was never actually meant to recruit women to the workforce, nor was it widely seen during World War II. Rather, it was displayed strictly to Westinghouse employees in the Midwest for a brief two-week period in February 1943 before disappearing for nearly forty years. As for the inspiration: while the media long reported that the original wire photograph Miller used for inspiration depicted a Michigan woman named Geraldine Hoff, recent evidence proved the photo actually showed Naomi Parker working at the Alameda Naval Air Station in California. The iconic image was only rediscovered in the 1980s, when it became a celebrated symbol of feminism and erroneously adopted the nickname “Rosie the Riveter.”

18. On September 1, 1971, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh made Major League Baseball history against the Philadelphia Phillies by doing something that had never been done in the sport before. What historic milestone did his starting lineup achieve that evening at Three Rivers Stadium?

A) It was the first time a starting lineup consisted entirely of players born outside the United States.
B) It was the first all-Black and Latino starting lineup in Major League Baseball history.
C) It was the first time every starting position player successfully recorded a hit and a stolen base in the same game.
D) It was the first lineup to feature three sets of biological brothers playing on the field at the same time.

B) It was the first all-Black and Latino starting lineup in Major League Baseball history. When the Pirates took the field that evening, manager Danny Murtaugh rolled out a groundbreaking lineup that featured legends like Roberto Clemente (Puerto Rico), Willie Stargell (United States), Manny Sanguillén (Panama), and Al Oliver (United States). Remarkably, the history-making moment wasn’t treated as a premeditated publicity stunt; Murtaugh famously noted afterward that he simply penciled in the nine best players he had available to win the game. The Pirates won the matchup 10-7 and went on to win the World Series that same year, proving that their talent-heavy, diverse roster was a winning formula.

Upcoming Events

K B — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 05:15:35 +0000

Need more information about UIM 2026? Want to find out when you’ll finally be able to play pickleball during Picklesburgh? Or are you just trying to find a way to beat the heat? From fireworks to festivals, here are a few ways to enjoy summer around town.

Local and Regional Events

59th Annual Carnegie International
May 2 – January 3, 2027
Carnegie Museum of Art

Staff Council & The Pitt Therapy Dogs
June 30
Cathedral Commons Room

Big Butler Fair
July 3 – 11
Butler Fairgrounds

Pittsburgh’s Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks
July 4
Downtown Pittsburgh

Northside Music Festival
July 10 – 12
Pittsburgh’s Northside

Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Schenley Park Race Weekend
July 18 – 19
Schenley Park

Picklesburgh
July 16 – 19
Downtown Pittsburgh

62nd Annual Zelienople Horse Trading Days
July 16 – 18
Downtown Zelienople

Moraine State Park Regatta
August 1 – 2
Moraine State Park – South Shore

Pittsburgh Restaurant Week – Summer
August 10 – 16
Pittsburgh

Little Italy Days
August 13 – 16
Liberty Ave, Bloomfield

Ascending Star Lecture: Mehret Birru Talabi, MD, PhD
August 20
Scaife Hall

Squirrel Hill Night Market
August 22
Murray Ave, Squirrel Hill

Ascending Star Lecture: Lan Coffman, MD, PhD
August 28
Scaife Hall

Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival
Weekends and Labor Day August 22 – September 27
West Newton, PA

Soul Food Festival
September 4 – 6
Downtown Pittsburgh

State of the Department
September 9
Scaife Hall

Pittsburgh Irish Festival
September 11 – 13
Carrie Blast Furnaces

Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival
September 17 – 20
August Wilson African American Cultural Center

The Future of Metabolic Medicine: Care Integration, Innovation, & AI
September 22
The Oaklander Hotel

Pitt Homecoming
September 24 – 27
Oakland

Calendars

Medicine Grand Rounds

Pitt Events Calendar

UIM 2025 Info

DOM-O Arigato

K B — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 05:14:48 +0000

L to R: Mehret Birru-Talabi, MD, PhD; Margaret Ragni, MD, MPH; Flordeliza Villanueva, MD // Photo credit: Matt Freidhoff

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…

Daria Van Tyne, PhD, for sharing her expertise and helping highlight groundbreaking research that is advancing the future of phage therapy and the fight against antibiotic-resistant infections.

Manisha Jhamb, MD, MPH, Melanie Weltman, PharmD, and Linda-Marie Lavenburg, DO, MS, for their dedication to improving outcomes for patients with chronic kidney disease through innovative, team-based care.

Thomas Radomski, MD, MS, and Matt Freidhoff for overseeing the organization of Research Day. Additional thanks to all the staff, faculty, judges, and participants for making this year’s Research Day another huge success, showcasing the innovation, collaboration, and scientific excellence that drive discovery across the Department.

Carolyn Fernandes, MD, for sharing her expertise and helping our readers travel safer and smarter.

Kaleab Abebe, PhD, and CBQM, for strengthening research through collaborative scientific partnership and methodological excellence.

Gavin Arteel, PhD, and Jimette Gilmartin, for their ongoing efforts to support faculty success through transparent guidance, professional development, and career advancement resources.

Serafina Lanna, Dan Shiwarski, PhD, and Jesus Tejero, PhD, for investing in and inspiring the next generation of scientists and physician-researchers.

Our graduating clinical fellows, whose dedication, curiosity, and commitment to exceptional patient care have strengthened our Department, and whose future contributions to medicine will continue to make us proud.

Our fellowship program directors and coordinators, for their unwavering dedication to educating, mentoring, and supporting the next generation of physicians.

Michael Donahoe, MD, for his steadfast leadership as Executive Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs and for repeatedly stepping forward to serve as Interim Chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine during times of transition.

Christopher Faber, MD, for his years of dedicated service and his lasting contributions to pulmonary medicine.

Enrico Novelli, MD, MS, for shining a light on classical hematology and sickle cell disease research.

Anne Immekus, for her exceptional partnership with the Department of Medicine and her years of compassionate, thoughtful support in advancing our philanthropic mission.

Kathleen Hartle, for her 24 years of dedicated service to the University, including her years in the Division of Infectious Diseases.

Wily Ruiz, for his 30 years of dedicated service as Laboratory Manager for the Apodaca Lab.

Lynda Ihrig, for her 11 years of dedicated service in the Vascular Medicine Institute.

And Richard P. Simmons, for his extraordinary generosity and enduring commitment to advancing care for patients with interstitial lung disease through the Dorothy P. & Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease.

Your Ticket to Safe Travels

K B — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 05:13:32 +0000

Preparing for a summer getaway often means comparing hotel reviews, mapping out sightseeing stops, and making sure passports are up to date. But one important part of travel planning is frequently overlooked: preparing for the health risks unique to your destination.

“Young, healthy travelers often don’t think about seeking travel advice before a trip,” said Carolyn Fernandes, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, and Director of Travel Health in the Division of Infectious Diseases. Many people assume that because they’re healthy or staying at a resort, they don’t need to think about travel-related illnesses.

Even travelers visiting well-known vacation destinations can encounter health risks that aren’t top of mind. Food- and water-borne illnesses such as hepatitis A or typhoid remain concerns in many parts of the world, while mosquito-borne diseases, including malaria, dengue, and Zika, may require preventive medications or precautions depending on where travelers are headed.

Travel Advice Tailored to You

That’s where UPMC’s Travel Health Program comes in.

Part of the Center for Care of Infectious Diseases, the program provides individualized pre-travel consultations for tourists, business travelers, students, missionaries, and medically complex patients. Expert providers specializing in infectious diseases, travel medicine, and tropical medicine evaluate each traveler’s medical history alongside their itinerary to develop a personalized plan for staying healthy abroad.

A consultation isn’t just about vaccines. “We review your medical history, medications, allergies, planned activities, and exactly where you’ll be traveling,” Fernandes explains. Whether you’re visiting urban areas or remote regions, hiking, scuba diving, or going on safari, each itinerary presents different risks.

Based on those factors, providers recommend destination-specific vaccinations, malaria prevention when appropriate, strategies to avoid mosquito-borne illness, guidance on food and water safety, and advice on concerns ranging from altitude sickness to travel medical evacuation insurance.

Travelers often go to the Pitt Vaccination and Health Connection Hub, to receive recommended travel vaccines, as they maintain an up-to-date inventory. The Hub also offers travel consultations for adults and children with a PharmD.

The recommendations are informed by the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and the U.S. Department of State, helping travelers navigate changing global health conditions. Active disease outbreaks, such as the recent Ebola outbreak in parts of Central Africa, can alter recommendations for travelers, making expert guidance especially valuable.

For travelers with chronic medical conditions, weakened immune systems, pregnancy, or advanced age, the consultation becomes even more important.

“Some travelers may not be able to receive certain vaccines or medications,” Fernandes said. “In some cases, we may recommend modifying travel plans if the health risks are too high.”

Care That Continues After You Return Home

The clinic’s expertise doesn’t end when the trip does. UPMC’s Travel Health Program also evaluates patients who become ill after returning home, treating conditions ranging from traveler’s diarrhea and insect-related skin conditions to more serious illnesses such as malaria and dengue fever.

One symptom should never be ignored after international travel.

“Fever, especially after returning from a country where malaria occurs, deserves immediate medical attention,” Fernandes said. “Malaria can become life-threatening very quickly in travelers who have no natural immunity.”

Planning Ahead for Peace of Mind

Ideally, travelers should schedule a consultation four to six weeks before departure. That allows enough time to receive recommended vaccinations, which often require about two weeks to become effective, and to begin preventive medications if needed.

Fernandes also encourages travelers to prepare for the unexpected by packing more than just their passport.

“Be sure to bring enough of your regular prescription medications for your entire trip,” she said. “It’s also helpful to pack basic over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers, antihistamines, anti-diarrheal medication, antacids, and treatments for insect bites. Having these readily available can save you from searching for a pharmacy in an unfamiliar place.”

Whether the destination is a tropical beach, a business conference overseas, or an African safari, a pre-travel consultation can provide something every traveler values: confidence.

By addressing health risks before takeoff, and offering specialized care if illness develops afterward, the UPMC Travel Health Program helps travelers focus less on what could go wrong and more on enjoying the journey.

To schedule a comprehensive pre-travel consultation or learn more about the program, visit upmc.com/services/division-infectious-diseases/services/travel-health.

Why, Hello!

K B — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 05:12:04 +0000

Introducing your newest DOM faculty, postdocs, and staff colleagues hired or appointed March 1, 2026, through May 31, 2026.

Faculty

Tânia Amorim, PhD // Research Assistant Professor of Medicine // Endocrinology and Metabolism

Rolando Cuevas, PhD // Research Assistant Professor of Medicine // Cardiology/VMI

Sae Jang, MD // Assistant Professor of Medicine // Cardiology

Doureradjou Peroumal, PhD // Research Instructor of Medicine // Cardiology

Postdocs

Qing Cao, PhD // Postdoctoral Associate // Aging Institute

Rim Nassar, PhD // Postdoctoral Associate // Vascular Medicine Institute

Melissa Tosiano, PhD // Postdoctoral Scholar // Infectious Diseases

Staff

Arianne Alfonso // Laboratory Research Technician // Cardiology

Jenna Baughman // Administrative Coordinator III // Aging Institute

Lauren Bailey // Research Facilitator // Aging Institute

Evelyn Bak //Clinical Research Coordinator // Renal-Electrolyte

Asriel Barnabei // Administrative Coordinator III // Aging Institute

Maya Brown // Laboratory Technician // Infectious Diseases

Deepa Debnath // Laboratory Research Technician III // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Heather Derda // Administrative Coordinator // Cardiology

Katherine Doas // Executive Administrative Project Manager // Chair’s Office

Evalien Duyvesteyn // Laboratory Technician // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Madeline Godobba // Manager – Clinical Research Coordinator // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Stormy Green // Clinical Research Coordinator II // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Jada Khalil // Post Award Grants Specialist // Research Administration

Todd Harvey // Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator // Infectious Diseases

Meghan Mannion // Clinical Research Coordinator // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Jamie Manzer // Assistant Director of Research // Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Jessica Moreno // Assistant Director – Business Administration // Cardiology

Destinie Olesko // Post Award Grant Specialist // Research Administration

Brenna Oliveira Bernardno // CONVERGE Administrative Assistant // General Internal Medicine

Ashley Ottavio // CRNP, Senior // General Internal Medicine

Khalid Rahim // Grants & Contracts Specialist III Budget Coordinator // Research Administration

Vaishnavi Sankaran // Clinical Research Coordinator // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Mukilan Selvakumar // Laboratory Research Assistant // Cardiology

Jaspreet Singh // Research Data Analyst II // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Gayathri Viswanathan // Research Scientist // Vascular Medicine Institute

In the News

K B — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 05:11:53 +0000

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.

Ian Barbash, MD, MS, reflected on the care he received during a recent ICU stay and the lasting impact it has had on his approach to patients and colleagues in a UPMC First Friday feature. >> Read the story

Researchers from the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine including Kambez Benam, DPhil; Divay Chandra, MD, MSc; Belinda Rivera-Lebron, MD, MSCE; and Patrick Strollo, Jr., MD, were featured in UPMC Physician Resources research highlights examining pulmonary disease mechanisms. >> Read the article

Karl Bezak, MD, discussed AI-powered telepalliative care on the GeriPal Podcast. >> Listen to the podcast

Sonya Borrero, MD, MS, was quoted by MedPage Today about the growing body of evidence supporting over-the-counter abortion medication. >> Read the article

Sonya Borrero, MD, MS, was also quoted by NPR on medication abortion. >> Read the story

John Byrd, MD, was featured on The Cancer Letter podcast discussing his new leadership role and the future of cancer research. >> Listen to the podcast

Julia Foldi, MD, PhD, is helping advance a first-of-its-kind breast cancer vaccine study aimed at preventing breast cancer before it develops. >> Read the story

Gavin Hickey, MD, is leading a team-based program reshaping recognition, response, and survival in cardiogenic shock. >> Read the article

Raagini Jawa, MD, MPH, contributed to a recent Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story about medetomidine withdrawal cases in the Pittsburgh region. >> Read the article

Noor Khan, MD, was quoted by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about balancing healthy eating and weight loss. >> Read the article

Agnes Koczo, MD, was featured in a Williamsport Sun-Gazette explainer on spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), highlighting the condition’s causes, diagnosis, and treatment. >> Read the article

Agnes Koczo, MD, was also featured in a Williamsport Sun-Gazette patient story about a young woman who experienced a heart attack caused by spontaneous coronary artery dissection. >> Read the story

Tamar Krishnamurti, PhD, is part of a national effort to redesign fetal monitoring during labor. >> Read the story

Anita Leon-Jhong, MD, was featured in a Pitt News article for her team’s work serving Pittsburgh’s unhoused community. >> Read the story

Fei-Pi Lin, MD, was highlighted in a recent UPMC Physician Resources article on a new multidisciplinary Wilson disease clinic integrating liver and neurologic expertise. >> Read the story

Niveditha Manivannan, MD, and Divya Sistla, MD, were featured by UPMC Physician Resources for their roles in UPMC’s multidisciplinary adrenal disease program. >> Read the article

Elizabeth Mosley, PhD, MPH, and Sonya Borrero, MD, MS, provided an overview of SAPA, a new framework they developed goes beyond “unintended pregnancy,” for the Population Council. >> Read the story

David Nace, MD, MPH, discussed the shortage of geriatricians in the Pittsburgh region with WESA. >> Read the article

Quyen Nguyen, MD, was featured for leading UPMC’s multidisciplinary HHT Center of Excellence. >> Read the article

John Pacella, MS, MD, discussed the growing role of renal denervation for patients with treatment-resistant hypertension and the challenges of expanding access to this innovative therapy in a TribLive feature. >> Read the article

Gina Piscitello, MD, MS, discussed unilateral DNR orders and their health equity implications on the GeriPal Podcast. >> Listen to the podcast

Samir Saba, MD, shared insights on restructuring cardiovascular care and addressing physician workforce shortages through training innovation on a recent Becker’s Healthcare: Cardiology and Heart Surgery Podcast. >> Listen to the podcast

Samir Saba, MD, was also featured by TribLive discussing how advances in electrocardiogram (EKG) technology are helping clinicians detect abnormal heart rhythms and improve cardiovascular care. >> Read the article

Anum Saeed, MD, discussed new cholesterol screening guidelines and the importance of earlier intervention to reduce cardiovascular risk in a TribLive feature. >> Read the article

Frank Sciurba, MD, led landmark Phase III COPD biologic trials highlighted by AstraZeneca. >> Read the announcement

Bryant Shuey, MD, MPH, led a JAMA Internal Medicine study highlighted by MedPage Today examining obesity and heavy alcohol use. >> Read the article

Sara Spinella, MD, appeared in an ASAM educational video on trauma-informed care for alcohol use disorder. >> Watch the video

Natalie Stokes, MD, MPhil, MSc, was quoted by The Wall Street Journal about the increasing availability of flavored vaping products and what consumers should know about their safety. >> Read the article

Patrick Strollo, Jr., MD, also led a sleep apnea drug trial covered by U.S. News & World Report and several trade publications. >> Read the coverage

Honors

K B — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 05:10:03 +0000

March 2026 – June 2026

Whether it’s in patient care, innovative approaches to education, or new scientific discoveries, the DOM is being awarded. Read about all the latest honors across the department.

Jonathan Alder, PhD, was named the Outstanding Research or Clinical Mentorship Award at this year’s PACCSM Rogers Day.

Sareen Ali, MD; Justin-James Chua, MD; Panagiotis Gourlias, MD; Eric Mi, MD; and Almog Shalit, MD, have been named the 2027–2028 Chief Residents for the Internal Medicine Residency Program.

Mazen Al-Qadi, MD, is the 2026 recipient of the John W. Kreit Outstanding Educator Award.

Martina Anto-Ocrah, PhD, MPH, has been nominated for the 2026 Tällberg-SNF-Eliasson Global Leadership Priz, which recognizes leaders with the courage & vision to shape our world.

Dana Ascherman, MD, is this year’s recipient of the Arthritis Foundation’s Pamela Massey Partners for Patients Award. >> Read more

Shauna Assadzandi, MD, was appointed the Director of the Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program.

Amar Bansal, MD, and Gina Piscitello, MD, MS, are among the 2026 Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Early-Career Physician Award recipients, honoring compassionate, patient-centered care at the end of life. >> Read more

Kambez H. Benam, DPhil, received the Respiratory Health Award’s Research Innovation and Translation Achievement Award at the American Thoracic Society Conference in recognition of his commitment to advancing respiratory health through translational innovation and collaborative science >> Read more

Tara Bickers, MSN, FNP-C, and Brooke Heiple, MSN, FNP-C, were joint recipients of the Outstanding Clinical Service Award at this year’s PACCSM Rogers Day.

Scott Biggins, MD, MAS, is the 2026 GI Fellowship Teaching Award winner.

Mehret Birru Talabi, MD, PhD; Lan Coffman, MD, PhD; and Daria Van Tyne, PhD, are among this year’s Health Sciences Ascending Star honorees, recognizing innovative midcareer faculty for excellence in research, mentorship, and impact. >> Read more

Mehret Birru Talabi, MD, PhD, and Flordeliza Villanueva, MD, are the 2026 recipients of the Margaret Ragni Award for Advancement of Women in Medicine & Science. >> Read more

Sonya Borrero, MD, MS, was appointed to the National Academies Committee on Contraception Access. >> Read more

Stephen Chan, MD, PhD, is a 2026 Harrington Scholar-Innovator. >> Read more

Julie Childers, MD, is the 2026 recipient of the Kenneth E. Schuit Award, recognizing the dean’s master educators, from the Pitt School of Medicine Curriculum Colloquium.

Matthew Chinman, PhD, received a 2026 Gold Telly award as executive producer of “Prevent Harmful Behaviors from Undermining Readiness.”

Suzanne Colilla, DNP, CRNP, is the 2025 Geriatrics Teacher of the Year Award for a Healthcare Professional

Brenna Conroy, DO, is the recipient of the 2026 UPMC Mercy Hospitalist Physician Colleague Award.

Tulio Correa, MD, was a recipient of the DTO ATC 2026 Travel Grant for his study on transplantation from HBV NAT-positive donors to HBV-negative recipients.

Rolando Cuevas, PhD, was among the winners at this year’s 2026 Postdoctoral Research Symposium sponsored by the Office of Academic Career Development. >> Read more

Laura DeCastro, MD, is the 2026 recipient of the Bernard Forget Award for Mentorship from the American Society of Hematology. >> Read more

Charles Dela Cruz, MD, PhD, received the Assembly on Pulmonary Infections and Tuberculosis Senior-Level Peer Recognition Award at the American Thoracic Society Conference, honoring his longstanding contributions to research, clinical care, mentorship, and leadership. >> Read more

Claire Durkin, MD, MSCE, has been selected as the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Hepatology Editorial Fellow.

Adriana Estrada-Bernal, PhD, was awarded the Outstanding Research Prefix Faculty Award at PACCSM’s Rogers Day.

Christopher Faber, MD, is the 2026 honoree of the PACCSM Legacy Award.

Allison Faust, MD, MHS, was one of this year’s awardees of the Community Liver Alliance “You Make a Difference” awards.

Amber Flanigan, MSN, RN, received the Lorenzetty Outstanding Nursing Award at this year’s PACCSM Rogers Day.

Sarah Gaffen, PhD, has been named a Distinguished Fellow by American Association of Immunologists. >> Read more

Mark Geraci, MD, is President-Elect of the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine.

Aditi Gurkar, PhD, was named Associate Chief of Research in the Division of Geriatric Medicine.

Parham Habibzadeh, MD, and Matthew Nguyen, MD, are 2026 recipients of the ASCO Annual Meeting Merit Award.

Veronica Hong, PhD (Saloman lab), was awarded the American Association of University Women American Postdoctoral Research Fellowship.

Varun Jain, MD, MBA, was one of six recipients of the 2026 American College of Gastroenterology Medical Resident Clinical Research Award.

Shannon Joy, CRNP, was a nominee for the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Cameos of Caring® Award.

Robin Jump, MD, PhD, was named Associate Chief of Faculty Advancement and Research Development in the Division of Geriatric Medicine.

Anat Kohn, MD, PhD and Alicia Rizzo, MD, PhD, were joint recipients of the Bernie Pennock Outstanding Young Investigator at this year’s Rogers Day in PACCSM.

Jillian Kyle, MD, was the recipient of the Clerkship Preceptor of the Year Award at this year’s Pitt School of Medicine Curriculum Colloquium.

Vladamir Lamm, MD, won the 2026 American Gastroenterological Association Shark Tank with his start up, Edulis Therapeutics.

Kelly Loughridge received the Outstanding Technical Service Award at this year’s PACCSM Rogers Day.

Randolph Lyde, MD, PhD, and Ryan Sweeney, MD, have been named joint Chief Fellows for the 2026-2027 academic year for the Hematology/Oncology fellowship.

Rachel Markovitz, CRNP, was a nominee for the APP Preceptor of the Year Award.

Kelly Martin MSN, CRNP, BC, received the Board Spotlight Award from the Community Liver Alliance.

Stephanie Maximous, MD, MS, received a 2026 Pitt Sustainability Faculty Award in recognition of advancing climate health education and sustainable health care practices. >> Read more

Kaitlyn McSurdy, MD, and Georgia Vasilakis, MD, received the Audience Choice Award at GME Connect.

Sarah Merriam, MD, MS, is the recipient of the National Award for Scholarship in Medical Education.

Jetina Okereke, MD, received the Robert M. Rogers Award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievement from the Division of PACCSM.

Anna Phillips, MD, MS, was selected to participate in American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy LEAD 2026 class.

Stefan Preisendörfer, MD, and Sandeep Jain, MD, received the HRS Health Equity Abstract Award.

Thomas R. Radomski, MD, MS, is the recipient of the ACLGIM Leadership Award.

Sinthana Ramsey, DO, MS, is the winner of the 2026 Tara E. Cook Memorial Teaching Award in recognition of her commitment to medical education within Hospice & Palliative Medicine.

Samender Randhawa, MD, was appointed the Associate Director of the Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program.

Krithika Rao, PhD, was among this year’s Nancy Tannery Grant awardees, recognized for developing an open-access guide to biomedical research designed to enhance student learning and improve accessibility to course materials. >> Read more

Santiago Rivero (Gomez lab) was one of 12 winners at the University of Pittsburgh of the National Science Foundation 2026 Graduate Research Fellowship Program. >> Read more

Alicia Rizzo, MD, PhD, received the Assembly on Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology Recognition of Early Academic Achievement Award (REAAch) at the American Thoracic Society Conference. >> Read more

Samir Saba, MD, was named the 2026 Peter J. Safar Pulse of Pittsburgh honoree by the American Heart Association in honor of his commitment to advancing cardiovascular health – from pioneering research and patient-centered care to mentoring the next generation of physicians, with his impact felt across Western Pennsylvania and beyond. >> Read more

Anum Saeed, MD, was recognized by ACC/AHA for her role in writing the Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome Guideline.

Jami Salomon, PhD, has been named to the editorial board of Cancer Neuroscience, a new journal exploring how neural systems and cancer interact.

Khvaramze Shaverdasvilli, MD, PhD, was named the 2026 ASCO Young Investigator award.

Sylk Sotto, EdD, MBS, MPS, is a 2026–27 ELAM Fellow. >> Read more

Blair Stone, MD, was named the Outstanding Sleep Medicine Educator Award at this year’s PACCSM Rogers Day.

Catalin Toma, MD, received the Most Impactful Paper, 2023-2024, award at EuroIntervention for his paper “Acute outcomes for the full US cohort of the FLASH mechanical thrombectomy registry in pulmonary embolism.”

Eloho Ufomata, MD, MS, is the 2026 recipient of the Donald S. Fraley Award for Medical Student Mentoring from the Pitt School of Medicine Curriculum Colloquium.

Ravy Vajravelu, MD, MSCE, has been appointed the new Director of the GI Fellowship Program.

Jacqueline Ziegman, MD, received a poster award for Resident/Fellow Research at the American College of Physicians Internal Medicine 2026 annual meeting.

Shana Zucker, MD, MPH, MS, received the Society of General Internal Medicine Lawrence S. Linn Needs-Based Travel Grant.

Pitt Med Professionalism Accolades

Residents

Geoffrey Bostany, MD // PGY2 Resident
Haley Cirka, MD // PGY1 Resident
Thomas Gonzales, MD // PGY2 Resident
Swetha Jasti, MD // PGY1 Resident
Reema Patel, MD // PGY1 Resident
Pooja Puttigampala, MD // PGY1 Resident (with Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation)
Madeline Sharp, MD // PGY3 Resident
Daniel Soto, MD // PGY1 Resident
Allyson Timm, MD // PGY2 Resident
Maria Isabel Trejo-Zambrano, MD // PGY3 Resident
Jacqueline Ziegman, MD // PGY3 Resident

Fellows

Shafik Mutaawe, MD // Clinical Fellow // Cardiology

Faculty

Cary Boyd-Shiwarski, MD, PhD // Renal-Electrolyte
Roderick Tan, MD, PhD // Renal-Electrolyte

Staff

Anagha Bandaru // Lead Laboratory Technician – Subramanya Lab // Renal-Electrolyte

Promotions and Tenure

K B — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 05:09:39 +0000

Faculty Promotions, Appointments, and Tenure

March 2026* – June 2026

Promotion to Associate Professor of Medicine

Mohammad Al-bataineh, DVM, PhD // Renal-Electrolyte
Effective April 1, 2026

Juliane Beier, PhD // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Effective March 1, 2026

Ranil DeSilva, MD // Renal-Electrolyte
Effective March 1, 2026

Kristen Ann Ehrenberger, MD, PhD // General Internal Medicine
Effective June 1, 2026

Youko Ikeda, PhD // Renal-Electrolyte
Effective April 1, 2026

Andrew Klein, MD, MS // General Internal Medicine
Effective May 1, 2026

Amar Kohli, MD, MS // General Internal Medicine
Effective May 1, 2026

Anna Phillips, MD, MS // Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Effective May 1, 2026

Evan Ray, MD, PhD // Renal-Electrolyte
Effective May 1, 2026

Craig Seaman, MD, MS // Classical Hematology
Effective April 1, 2026

Ethan Silverman, MD, MS // General Internal Medicine
Effective June 1, 2026

Gretchen White, PhD // General Internal Medicine
Effective May 1, 2026

Anna Zemke, MD, PhD // Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
Effective March 1, 2026

Promotion to Research Assistant Professor of Medicine

Huda Atiya, PhD // Malignant Hematology and Medical Oncology
Effective April 1, 2026

*Other March promotions were included in the spring 2026 issue.

A More Transparent Promotion Process

Learn about recent improvements to the faculty promotion and tenure process, including pathway-specific guidance, streamlined review procedures, and new resources designed to help faculty navigate promotion more efficiently.
read more

Clinical Fellowship Graduates, 2026

K B — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 05:08:43 +0000

After years of mastering the art of medicine (and the science of functioning on minimal sleep), our clinical fellows are embarking on the next chapter of their careers, bringing their compassion, expertise, and dedication to patients near and far.

Academic Clinician-Educator Scholars (ACES) Fellowship

Anna Maria Coronata, MD, MS
Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
Residency: Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Residency at UPMC
Future Plans: Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Valerie Gobao, MD, MS
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Residency: UPMC Internal Medicine, Global Health & Underserved Populations Track
Future Plans: Boston Medical Center

Caroline Olt, MD, MS
Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
Residency: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Future Plans: Academic Hospitalist, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle WA

Shana Zucker MD, MPH, MS, MSEd
Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
Residency: University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Urban Health Track and Medical Educator Pathway
Future Plans: IM Residency Faculty, SOM Clinical Skills Preceptor, UPMC

ACES Fellowship Graduates

Addiction Medicine Fellowship

Reed Nerness, MD
Medical School: Loma Linda School of Medicine
Residency: Oregon Health & Science University
Future Plans: Faculty, Palliative Medicine and Addiction Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University

Mark Bucsek, MD, PhD
Medical School: Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo
Residencies: SUNY Upstate Medical University and Mercy Health – St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital
Future Plans: Physician, Inpatient and outpatient addiction medicine, UPMC

Jonathan Weinhold, MD
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Residency: UPMC McKeesport
Future Plans: Medical Director, PA Treatment and Healing (PATH)

Addiction Medicine Fellowship Graduates

Cardiovascular Fellowships

Scott Baumgartner, MD
Medical School: George Washington University School of Medicine and Health
Residency: UPMC
Future Plans: Critical Care Fellowship, Stanford University

Medha Biswas, MD
Medical School: New York Medical College
Residency: Ohio State Wexner Medical Center
Future Plans: Interventional Cardiology Fellowship, Duke University

Arinze Bosah, MD
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Residency: Allegheny Health Network
Future Plans: Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania

Ato Howard, MD
Medical School: University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine
Residency: UPMC
Future Plans: Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Ashish Patel, MD
Medical School: Northwestern University
Residency: UPMC
Future Plans: Electrophysiology Fellowship, UPMC

Carlos Romero, MD
Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Residency: Temple University
Future Plans: Non-Invasive Cardiology, New York University

Erin Schikowski, MD
Medical School: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Residency: UPMC
Future Plans: Faculty, University of Pittsburgh

Bradley Very, MD
Medical School: Geisinger Commonwealth
Residency: UPMC
Future Plans: Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship, UPMC

Electrophysiology Fellowship

Tanmay Gokhale, MD, PhD
Medical School: Duke University
Residency: Duke University
Future Plans: Faculty, Division of Cardiology (Electrophysiology), University of Pittsburgh

Paul Lee, MD
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University
Residency: University of Colorado
Future Plans: Faculty, Division of Cardiology (Electrophysiology), University of Pittsburgh

Interventional Cardiology Fellowship

Franceska Castro, MD
Medical School: Ross University
Residency: University of Central Florida
Future Plans: Advanced Interventional Fellowship, UPMC

Sebastian Estrada, MD
Medical School: University of Virginia
Residency: Duke University
Future Plans: St. Clair Hospital

Advanced Interventional Cardiology Fellowship

Kathryn Harris, MD
Medical School: Meharry Medical College
Residency: University of Maryland
Future Plans: HCA Capital, Tallahassee, FL

Brent Medoff, MD
Medical School: Geisinger Commonwealth
Residency: UPMC
Future Plans: University of Minnesota

Heart Failure Fellow

Tracy-Ann Poyser, MD
Medical School: Windsor University
Residency: Unity Health White County Medical Center
Future Plans: Cardiovascular Fellowship, UPMC

Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship

Sharanya Mohanty, MD
Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Residency: Tufts Medical Center

Cardiac Amyloidosis Fellowship

Timothy Kim, MD
Medical School: Weill Cornell Medicine
Residency: UPMC
Future Plans: Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Cardiovascular Fellowship Graduates

Clinician-Researcher Fellowship

Nicole Luche, MD, MS
Medical School: Weill Cornell Medicine
Residency: UPMC
Future Plans: Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Clinician-Researcher Fellowship Graduate

Endocrinology Fellowship

Nikola Gligorijevic, MD Chief Fellow
Medical School: University of Belgrade School of Medicine
Residency: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai/James J Peters VA Medical Center

Katherina Mastandrea, DO
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Allegheny Health Network

Zin Thawdar Oo, MD
Medical School: University of Medicine 1, Yangon, Myanmar
Residency: Jacobi Medical Center/North Central Bronx Hospital

Bhanvi Ramchandani, MD
Medical School: Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
Residency: UConn Health

Mary Rossillo, MD, PhD
Medical School: New York University School of Medicine
Residency: UPMC

Obesity Medicine Fellow

Thiago Bosco Mendes, MD
Medical School: Santa Casa de Sao Paulo Medical School
Residency: University of Sao Paulo and UPMC

Endocrinology Fellowship Graduates

Gastroenterology Fellowship

Andrew Groff, MD
Medical School: Penn State University
Residency: UPMC
Future Plans: Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, UPMC

Muhammad Haseeb, MD
Medical School: Nishtar Medical University
Residency: Montefiore Medical Center
Future Plans: Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, UPMC

Kyle Hoffman, MD
Medical School: University of Cincinnati
Residency: Case Western/University Hospitals
Future Plans: University Hospitals

Guylda Johnson, MD
Medical School: University of Rochester
Residency: University of Rochester
Future Plans: Geisinger Health

Cierra Smith, DO
Medical School: Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic
Residency: OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital
Future Plans: Providence Medical

Andy Wu, MD
Medical School: Northwestern University
Residency: UPMC
Future Plans: Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, UPMC

Gastroenterology Fellowship Graduates

Geriatric Medicine Fellowship

Kelley Bellia, DO
Medical School: VA – Liberty Univ. College of Osteopathic Med.
Residency: Baptist Memorial Hospital North Mississippi
Future Plans: Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Celestine Christensen, MD
Medical School: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine
Residency: UPMC Internal Medicine
Future Plans: Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Mary Connolly, MD
Medical School: Penn State College of Medicine
Residency: UPMC Internal Medicine
Future Plans: Community Hospital in New Orleans

Minjie Guo (Jessica), MD
Medical School: He Bei Medical University and Internal medicine in Peking University Health Science Center
Residency: United Family Healthcare, Peking University Health Science Center
Future Plans: Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Angela Heysel, MD
Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
Residency: Mountain Area Health Education Center Internal Medicine
Future Plans: Mountain Area Health Education Center

Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Graduates

Hematology/Oncology Fellowship

Dominika Dulak, MD
Medical School: Medical University of Gdansk, Poland
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Future Plans: Physician, Malignant Hematology, Allina Health, Abott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN

Hannah Maynard, MD
Medical School: Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons
Residency: NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Future Plans: Physician, Breast Cancer, Nuvance (now Northwell) Health, Poughkeepsie, NY

Sarbajeet Nagdas, MD, PhD Co-Chief Fellow
Medical School: University of Virginia
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Future Plans: T32 Postdoctoral Fellow and Clinical Instructor, University of Pittsburgh

Matt Nguyen, MD
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Future Plans: Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Oncology (Thoracic Oncology), Cedars Sinai

Ben Schluger, MD Co–Chief Fellow
Medical School: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Residency: New York Presbyterian Hospital
Future Plans: Physician, Thoracic Oncology, Nuvance Health Praxair Cancer Center, Danbury, CT

Sam Sestito, MD
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Future Plans: Physician, UPMC Passavant

Barbara Westerberg Leukemia Fellow

Shraboni Dey, MD
Medical School: Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College, Bangladesh
Residency: Hackensack University Medical Program
Future Plans: Hospitalist

Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Graduates

Infectious Diseases Fellowship

Jack Leech, MD
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Residency: UPMC
Future Plans: Critical Care Medicine Fellowship, UPMC

Junaid Anwar, MD
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine Residency: Mount Sinai-Elmhurst Hospital
Future Plans: Critical Care Fellowship, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Jake Smith, MD
Medical School: Texas Tech University
Residency: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Future Plans: Critical Care Medicine Fellowship, UPMC

Alice Chen, MD
Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Residency: Summa Health-Northeast Ohio Medical University
Future Plans: Physician, Infectious Diseases, Summa Health

Infectious Diseases Fellowship Graduates

Nephrology Fellowship

Caoimhe Dowling, MD Co-Chief Fellow
Medical School: University College SOM, Dublin, Ireland
Residency: Rochester General Hospital, NY
Future Plans: Transplant Nephrology Fellowship, UPMC

Deeptanshu Jain, MD
Medical School: Kasturba Medical College, SOM, Manipal, India
Residency: Rochester General Hospital, NY
Future Plans: Transplant Nephrology Fellowship, Emory University

Michelle Keyser, MD
Medical School: University of California, San Diego
Residency: UC San Diego Health System
Future Plans: Med-Peds Nephrology Fellowship, UPMC

Ambika Ramesh, DO
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: West Virginia Medical University
Future Plans: Faculty, Renal-Electrolyte Division, University of Pittsburgh

Hussein Tahanulqiwa, MD Co-Chief Fellow
Medical School: Oman Medical College
Residency: Ascension Providence, Rochester, NY
Future Plans: Faculty, Division of Nephrology, University of Michigan

George Viriya, MD
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Residency: SUNY Downstate
Future Plans: Critical Care Fellowship, UPMC

Nephrology Transplant

Vamsee Chirumamilla, MD
Medical School: Alluri Sitaramaraju Academy of Medical Sciences, India
Residency: The Wright Center for GME, Scranton, PA
Future Plans: Transplant Nephrologist (Private Practice), Philadelphia, PA

Nephrology Fellowship Graduates

Palliative Medicine Fellowship

Molly Mack, MD
Medical School: University of Texas School at Houston
Residency: UPMC
Future Plans: Faculty, Medical Oncology/Palliative Care, University of Pittsburgh

Hayley Malkin, MD
Medical School: UNC- University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Residency: University of Maryland, Internal Medicine/ Pediatrics
Future Plans: Faculty, Emory University

Christopher Marino, MD
Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine
Residency: UPMC General Internal Medicine
Future Plans: Fellow, Hematology/Oncology, UPMC

Ashley McLenithan, DO
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Albany Medical Center, Emergency Medicine
Future Plans: Faculty, Emergency Medicine/Palliative Care, University of Pittsburgh

Jordana Yahr, DO
Medical School: Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: UPMC
Future Plans: Faculty, Renal/Palliative Care, University of Pittsburgh

Combined Palliative Care / Hematology-Oncology Fellow

Vasilii Bushunow, MD
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Future Plans: Physician, Malignant Hematology and Palliative Care, Allegheny Health Network

Palliative Medicine Fellowship Graduates

Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship

Jacob DeBerry, MD
Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine
Residency: UPMC
Future Plans: Clinician, Independence Health

Mehul Gilani, MD
Medical School: Chicago Medical School
Residency: University of Illinois – Chicago
Future Plans: VP of Pulmonary Medicine at 4D Medical; Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh

Pranav Jain, MD
Medical School: West Virginia University School of Medicine
Residency: UPMC
Future Plans: Clinician Educator, UPMC

Allyson Lieberman, MD, PhD
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania
Residency: University of Pennsylvania
Future Plans: T32 Postdoctoral Scholar and Clinical Instructor, University of Pittsburgh

Grace Lisius, MD
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Residency: UPMC
Future Plans: T32 Postdoctoral Scholar and Clinical Instructor, University of Pittsburgh

Michael Lu, MD
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Residency: UPMC
Future Plans: Assistant Professor, University of Maryland

Ian Simpson-Shelton, MD, MAS
Medical School: University of California, San Diego
Residency: University of California, San Diego
Future Plans: Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh

Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Graduates

Rheumatology Fellowship

Kelsey Lemmen, MD
Medical School: University of Michigan Medical School
Residency: University of Michigan
Future Plans: Henry Ford, Community (Academic)

Garima Singh, MD
Medical School: Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, India
Residency: St. Vincent Hospital

UPMC Inflammatory Muscle Disease Fellowship

Alsayed Osman, MD
Medical School: University of Gezira, Faculty of Medicine, Sudan
Residency: AdventHealth Orlando
Future Plans: UPMC Rheumatology (Academic)

UPMC Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Fellowship

Mehmet Hocaoglu, MD
Medical School: Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine
Residency: University of Maryland Medical Center-Midtown Campus
Future Plans: UMass Memorial Medical Center (Academic)

Rheumatology Fellowship Graduates

Sleep Medicine Fellowship

Shruthi Kumar, MD
Medical School: Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute
Residency: East Carolina University
Future Plans: Physician, Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Bristol Health, Connecticut

Catherine Tarantine, MD, MSc
Medical School: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Residency: University of Michigan
Future Plans: Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Allegheny Health Network

Sleep Medicine Fellowship Graduates