News

Dr. Ben Alter Awarded UPMC CMRF Grant
Benedict Alter, MD, PhD, who has been awarded a UPMC Competitive Medical Research Fund grant for his project “Integrating Brain and Behavioral Measures of Endogenous Analgesia to Personalize Treatment in Chronic Pain Management” to start on July 1, 2021.
Drs. Kim Howard-Quijano and Kathirvel Subramaniam Participate in ASE 2021 Scientific Sessions
Dr. Howard-Quijano served on the Scientific Sessions Program Committee and as an abstract grader. She also presented the lecture “Right Ventricular Strain.” Dr. Subramaniam presented the lecture “Imaging in Lung Transplantation.”
OB Anesthesiology Fellowship Match Results for 2022-2023
We are proud to announce the results of the 2021 San Francisco Match for our Obstetric Anesthesiology Fellowship program! Congratulations to our incoming fellow, Dr. Catherine Bergeron, and thank you to all those who participated in the interview process.

Dr. D. Ryan Cook
Dr. Cook was an accomplished pediatric anesthesiologist who served in numerous key roles throughout the history of our department.
Dr. Ryan Ball Appointed Chief Anesthesiologist at UPMC Passavant
Dr. Ball will provide site level leadership and management consistent with the overall mission of the department and coordinate the delivery of perioperative care in compliance with standards and regulations set forth by UPMC, the department, the Joint Commission, and other regulatory agencies.
Pitt Cardiac Anesthesiology and Surgery “Race to No Place” to Raise Funds for AHA
The event was a two-hour relay on Cybex Upright Stationary Bikes at UPMC Presbyterian, Shadyside, Passavant, Williamsport, and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. The Pitt Cardiac Team came in 3rd place at the event.
ACTA Fellowship 2022 Match Results
We are pleased to announce the results of the match for our Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship program!

Stanley Dale MacMurdo, MD
He began his career with our department in 1981 initially as a faculty member and staff anesthesiologist at UPMC Eye and Ear Hospital.
CRNAs Amanda Beckstead and Bill Pileggi Present in RHCE Virtual CME Conference
Their Zoom presentation “Emergence Delirium: Maintaining Veteran and Employee Safety” is part of the conference’s Anesthesia Track taking place June 28-29 from Landstuhl Army Medical Center, Germany.
Vanish Project Wins $35K in LifeX Accelerator Program
The Vanish Biodegradable Stimulator team led by Trent D. Emerick, MD, MBA, finished in second place and won $35,000 in services in the LifeX Labs/Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse-sponsored Life Sciences Accelerator business pitch competition.
Dr. Sarah Kroh Awarded UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Research Funding
Her research will improve patient support after traumatic birth.
Dr. Ray Planinsic Invited to Join International Liver Transplant Expert Working Group
Over 500 participants from around the world are expected to participate, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, intensivists, hepatologists, representatives of patient associations, statisticians, and ethicists.
Residents Earn Five Awards at PARRC 2021
Congratulations to our residents who won awards at the 15th Annual Pennsylvania Anesthesiology Resident Research Conference (PARRC) on Saturday, May 22, 2021, which took place virtually and was hosted by the University of Pennsylvania Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care.
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