Skip to main content

News

light switch

Nature’s Own “Off Switch” for Chronic Pain

“Some people have an injury or a surgery, and they go on to be pain free for the rest of their lives. Other people develop chronic pain. Why is that?” says Dr. Bradley Taylor of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Collage of group photos from the 2025 ASA Meeting. The top row shows attendees posing informally, including an outdoor night group shot and smaller groups smiling at the camera. The middle row features a conference setting with a speaker presenting to a seated audience and two men standing beside a scientific research poster. The bottom row includes a casual trio posing in front of decorative plates and a large, formally dressed group posing indoors, suggesting a celebratory or networking gather

Pitt Anesthesiology Highlights from 2025 ASA Annual Meeting

ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025, the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), provided a dynamic platform for showcasing our department’s leadership, research, and continued commitment to advancing the field of anesthesiology.
Logo of the International Society for Anaesthetic Pharmacology (ISAP) featuring a white triangle with "ISAP" inside, surrounded by a circular black border with the organization’s full name in white text. To the right of the logo is a stylized digital rendering of a DNA double helix glowing in blue and purple tones, set against a dark, abstract background with connected nodes and light flares.

Dr. Keith Vogt and Derrick Liu Win Top Abstract Awards at ISAP Annual Meeting

Dr. Vogt and Derrick received the first place and second place abstract awards, respectively, at the International Society for Anaesthetic Pharmacology (ISAP) 34th Annual Meeting on Friday, October 10, 2025, in San Antonio.
four items from the pitt anesthesia history collection

New Exhibit Brings the History of Anesthesia to Life

We are proud to unveil a new exhibit featuring a curated collection of historical anesthesia devices that illuminate the evolution of the specialty—from manually operated instruments to today’s high-precision, monitored systems.
Two men stand side by side smiling; both are dressed in business casual attire. Taylor Duffy is on the left, and on the right is Keith M. Vogt, MD, holding an award certificate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Dr. Keith Vogt Honored with Allen Humphrey Excellence in Medical Student Research Mentoring Award

Dr. Vogt was chosen for the award, which recognizes exemplary commitment to student research mentorship, from a pool of more than 100 faculty mentors who supported students through the Dean’s Summer Research Program.
Graphic for UPMC Pain Medicine Fellowship Match Results for 2026–2027. The UPMC logo with the tagline "Life Changing Medicine" appears in the upper right. "Pain Medicine Fellowship" is in lime green text on a purple background, and "Match Results" is in bold white text on a dark purple background. A white box with "2026–2027" in purple text is positioned to the right.

Pain Medicine Fellowship Match Results for 2026-2027

We are pleased to announce the match results for our Pain Medicine Fellowship Program for the 2026–2027 academic year.
A man and woman stand side by side smiling at an event. The man is holding an award certificate of from the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management (SABM), awarded to Jonathan Waters, MD. Both are dressed in business attire and wearing conference name badges. A black curtain serves as the background.

Dr. Jonathan Waters Honored with SABM President’s Award

Dr. Waters was selected for this honor from the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management (SABM) in recognition of his decades-long commitment to innovation and excellence in transfusion medicine and blood conservation.
books on a shelf

October 2025 Publications

Twenty-eight publications authored or co-authored by members of our team were published in October 2025.
A group of six people, including adults and children, pose together in a hospital hallway. They are all wearing navy blue or pink scrubs and blue surgical caps, suggesting a medical or healthcare setting. One woman holds a baby dressed in pink scrubs with a badge that reads "Future CRNA." Everyone is smiling, and the atmosphere is warm and cheerful. A large window on the right lets in natural light.

UPMC Passavant Anesthesiology Hosts Family Day Event

The event offered staff and their families a behind-the-scenes look at the operating room environment and featured four interactive stations designed to educate and engage attendees of all ages.
Logo of the Association of University Anesthesiologists (AUA), featuring a stylized open book with a laboratory flask inside on the left, and the acronym "AUA" in bold blue letters above the full name of the organization on the right.

Dr. Shawn Beaman Elected Active Member of the Association of University Anesthesiologists

Members are chosen through a competitive peer-nomination and review process, and Active Membership reflects the highest level of AUA recognition.
Benedict Alter, MD, PhD

Dr. Ben Alter Awarded $4.9M NIH R01 Grant to Investigate Whole-Person Mechanisms of Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

The interdisciplinary grant “Leveraging Inter-Individual Differences in Walking Pain and Impairment to Elucidate Whole-Person Mechanisms of Knee Osteoarthritis,” has received $4.9 million in total support and will run from September 19, 2025, through August 31, 2029.
Graphic for the UPMC Physician Excellence Awards. The background is deep purple with gold sparkles and dots. At the top, the UPMC logo appears with the tagline "Life Changing Medicine." Below, the text reads "Physician Excellence Awards," with "Awards" in elegant gold script. Four gold trophies are displayed—two large and two smaller ones—on either side of the text.

Drs. Isabella Angelelli and Danielle Zheng Honored with UPMC Physician Excellence Awards

They will be recognized for their outstanding clinical performance, leadership, and dedication to patient care at the Dr. Loren Roth Quality and Patient Safety Awards Celebration on October 13, 2025.
Banner for the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ “Anesthesiology 2025” annual meeting, taking place October 10–14 in San Antonio. The image features a colorful sunset over the San Diego skyline, with the ASA logo and name at the top.

Pitt/UPMC Anesthesiology to Showcase Academic Excellence and Global Impact at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025

Our department will be well-represented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ premier annual conference, taking place October 10–14 in San Antonio, Texas.
Alexander Estright and Derrick Liu

Meet Our 2025 FAER Medical Student Fellows Alexander Estright and Derrick Liu

Alex and Derrick, two exceptional second-year medical students, were selected to train in our department through the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship program.
Isabella (Cajiao) Angelelli, MD

Dr. Isabella Angelelli to be Honored at NERC 9th Annual Environmental Leadership Awards

Isabella Angelelli, MD, will receive the Outstanding Innovator Award from the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) on October 7, 2025, in Boston, MA.