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A professional portrait of Dr. Ajay Wasan is shown against a blue and purple gradient background. To the right are the logos for UPMC Enterprises, Redesign Health, and Glimmer Health. The Glimmer Health logo features a star-like sparkle icon before the word “glimmer.”

Department Partners with Glimmer Health and UPMC Enterprises on Innovative Digital Health Tool

Dr. Ajay Wasan leads innovative, multimodal treatments for chronic pain. Now, through Glimmer Health, a new company launched from UPMC Enterprises and Redesign Health, he’s helping scale this proven model using a digital-first approach.
A woman stands smiling in front of a large MD Anderson Cancer Center sign with the word "Cancer" boldly crossed out in red. The lower portion of the image features a banner for the “Advancements in Translational Science for Pain Management in Cancer Care Symposium,” hosted by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Research Team Wins 1st Place Poster Award at MD Anderson Pain Management in Cancer Care Symposium

The poster “Patient-Driven Opioid-Free Approach to Cancer Surgery,” presented by Heather Margonari, DNP, FNP-BC, won first place in the poster competition at the Advancements in Translational Science for Pain Management in Cancer Care Symposium, held at MD Anderson Cancer Center on May 9, 2025.
Cara Fleischman receiving her award on the left; Hannah Roach receiving her award on the right

UPMC Mercy Honors Advanced Practice Providers During Nurses Week Celebration

In celebration of National Nurses Week, UPMC Mercy proudly honored Cara Fleischman and Hannah Roach with the 2025 Advanced Practice Provider Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to patient care.
Tomas Drabek, MD, PhD, FASA

Dr. Drabek Calls for Action on Trauma Anesthesia Research

"We choose to foster trauma anesthesia research in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard. Let’s start with small steps, striving for the giant leap for mankind at the end," writes Dr. Drabek. "Our injured patients deserve it."
Promotional graphic for the American Heart Association Heart Hall of Fame Award. The image features the American Heart Association logo on the left and the “Go Red for Women” campaign logo on the right. A series of red and pink stars with heart designs stretch across the middle of the image. At the bottom, bold white text reads: “American Heart Association Heart Hall of Fame Award” against a red gradient background.

Dr. Quratulain Samoon Honored with American Heart Association Heart Hall of Fame Award

The award is reserved for individuals deeply committed to improving the health and lives of community members — particularly in Blair County — through active involvement in cardiovascular care, implementation of innovative practices, and dedication to personalized patient care.
Grace Lim president elect SOAP

Dr. Grace Lim Chosen President-Elect of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology

Grace Lim, MD, MSc, a nationally recognized physician-scientist and Chief of the Division of Obstetric and Women's Anesthesiology at UPMC, has been chosen President-Elect of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology.
books on a shelf

May 2025 Publications

Twenty-Two publications authored or co-authored by members of our team were published in May 2025.
Composite image representing chronic pain. On the left, a person in a gray hoodie stands outdoors with both hands on their lower back, which is highlighted in red to indicate pain. On the right, a digital rendering of a human head and upper spine shows the brain lit up with glowing points, symbolizing psychology.

Chronic Pain Could be Eased by Learning to Regulate Negative Emotions

Dr. Ben Alter discusses a new type of cognitive behavioral pain therapy that incorporates distress tolerance in a recent article in New Scientist.
Promotional graphic encouraging voting on Doximity for UPMC Medical Education. The word “VOTE” is highlighted in a white box with a checkmark integrated into the "V," followed by the Doximity logo. The background is a gradient of dark to light purple.

Vote for our Residency Program on Doximity by June 2, 2025

We are calling on all alumni and current department physician faculty to nominate our UPMC Anesthesiology Residency Program (listed as "UPMC Medical Education") on Doximity’s annual Nomination Survey, a platform partnered with US News and World Report.
Promotional graphic announcing research funding. On the left is a headshot of a man wearing glasses and a suit. On the right are logos for the University of Pittsburgh Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and the NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). The top of the image includes the text “Research Funding” in bold white letters on a blue background.

Department Secures NCCIH Grant to Advance Auriculotherapy Research

The project, led by principal investigator Keith M. Vogt, MD, PhD, FASA, aims to uncover the brain mechanisms underlying auriculotherapy’s effects on chronic low back pain.
Promotional graphic for a keynote lecture by David Julius, PhD, featuring his photo on the left. The design includes blue and gold checkerboard accents and text reading: "Keynote Lecture – David Julius, PhD" and "2021 Winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine." Photo credit: BBVA Foundation.

Nobel Laureate David Julius to Present Keynote Lecture at Pain Day 2025

David Julius, PhD, 2021 Winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, will give the Keynote Presentation “Gut Feelings: Probing Mechanisms of Visceral Pain” at the first Pain Day on May 7, 2025, an event co-organized by department investigators.
Promotional graphic for the 2025 ASRA Annual Meeting, taking place May 1–3, 2025, in Orlando, Florida. The background features a scenic view of the Orlando skyline with reflections in the lake and water fountains in the foreground. Logos for the University of Pittsburgh Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and ASRA Pain Medicine appear at the top.

Department Participation at 2025 ASRA Meeting

Our faculty and trainees will participate in various activities at the 2025 meeting of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) to be held Thursday, May 1 – Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.
Promotional graphic for the 2025 SOAP Meeting, taking place April 30 – May 4, 2025, in Portland, Oregon. The background features a vibrant view of the Portland skyline at sunset with the river and bridge in the foreground. Logos for the University of Pittsburgh Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) appear at the top.

Department Participation at 2025 SOAP Meeting

Our faculty and trainees will participate in several activities at the 2025 meeting of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP), taking place Wednesday, April 30 – Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Portland, Oregon.
UPMC Altoona hospital signage

Drs. Thomas Pham and Quratulain Samoon Appointed to UPMC Altoona Leadership Roles

Thomas Pham, MD, was appointed Clinical Director, Operating Room, and Quratulain Samoon, MD, was appointed Director of Cardiovascular Anesthesiology.
Promotional graphic for the 2025 Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Meetings, scheduled for April 25–29, 2025, in Montreal, Canada. The background features a scenic view of Montreal’s skyline with colorful spring foliage in the foreground. Logos for the University of Pittsburgh Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists appear at the top.

Department Work at 2025 Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Meetings

We will present and moderate several posters, lectures, and workshops at the 2025 Thoracic Anesthesia Symposium and Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Meeting and Workshops in Montreal, Canada.