News

Department Members Serve on Guatemala Mission Trip
Nicole Verdecchia, MD; David G. Metro, MD; and Sara Straesser, MD are currently serving on a Surgicorps international survival mission trip in Guatemala. They will care for about 100 patients for surgeries for conditions including cleft lips and palates and burn…

Inaugural Educational Seed Grants Awarded
Two curriculum development grant applications were accepted for funding for our inaugural UPMC Anesthesiology Educational Grant July 2017 funding cycle. The total funding amount is $8,000 USD per project.
“Evaluation of Anesthesiology Resident Competence and Clinical Impact of a…
Dr. Ajay Wasan Spotlighted in Article on Safe Opioid Prescribing Practice
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article “Boston-…

Department Celebrates the Careers of Retiring Faculty and CRNAs
Congratulations and thank you to Amy Berresford, CRNA; Jewel Desisto, CRNA; Alice Dozzi, CRNA; Christine Edelmann, MD; Karen Imhoff, CRNA; Catherine Land, CRNA; Joan Mitchell, CRNA; Edward Teeple, MD; Wendy Veith, CRNA; Elliott Weinstock, MD, and Susan Woelfel, MD; who are all…

Chad Artman Wins Platinum Star Award
Congratulations to Chad Artman, a CRNA at UPMC Presbyterian, who was chosen as a winner of the UPMC Physician Services Platinum (Robert J. Mientus) Star Award. The award recognizes staff members who consistently contribute to the success of their practice/department and work well…

Richard Henker to Receive Cameos of Caring Award
Congratulations to Richard A. Henker, PhD, RN, CRNA, FAAN, a CRNA at UPMC Presbyterian and Professor of Nurse Anesthesia in the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, who was selected as a Cameos of Caring (Advanced Practice) award winner. Cameos of Caring award recipients…

Work Coauthored by Dr. Michael Mangione Recognized as Highly Cited Paper
Congratulations to Michael P. Mangione, MD, who coauthored a paper recently recognized as one of the top-20 cited papers published in the journal Anesthesiology in 2016.
Monk TG, Bronsert MR, Henderson WG, Mangione MP, Sum-Ping ST, Bentt DR, Nguyen…
Dr. Tetsuro Sakai Invited to Serve as International Speaker and Visiting Faculty Member in November
Congratulations to Tetsuro Sakai, MD, PhD, who was invited to serve as an international speaker at the 94th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Korean Society of Anesthesiologists, November 2-4, 2017 in Seoul. He…

Dr. Brian Blasiole Recognized for Teaching Excellence
Congratulations to Brian Blasiole, MD, PhD, who was identified as a “top performer” ranking in the top 10 faculty members for teaching excellence in the Pediatric Residency Program’s annual evaluation. Pediatric Residency Program co-director Andrew J. Nowalk, MD, PhD noted…

Dr. Jacques Chelly Invited to Serve on 71st SIAARTI Congress
Congratulations to Jacques E. Chelly, MD, PhD, MBA, who was invited to participate as a faculty member at the Italian Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care 71st National Congress 2017 (SIAARTI 2017), which will be held October 18-21, 2017 in…

Congratulations to the Residency and Fellowship Graduating Classes of 2017!
Congratulations to the Anesthesiology Residency and Fellowship graduating classes of 2017, who were celebrated at our graduation ceremony on June 9, 2017. More photos from our graduation ceremony can be viewed …

Story on Time Website Cites Homanics Lab Research
The article “5 Ways Men Shape Their Children’s Health” on Time.com cited published work on alcohol effects from the lab of Gregg E. Homanics, PhD.
Yvonne Brewster in SAC Newsletter
Our Research Administration and Finance manager Yvonne Brewster, who chairs the Staff Professional Development Award Review Committee and serves as an SAC member, was featured in several photos in the article.
Trainees Win Awards at Multi-Departmental Research Day
2017 department winners, L to R: Marsha Ritter Jones, MD, PhD; Marta Wells, BS; Phillip Adams, DOThe 15th annual Safar Symposium and fifth annual Multi-Departmental Trainees’ Research Day was held on May 22-23, 2017. This yearly event honors the late Dr. Peter Safar and his wife…

Jennifer Letzelter Earns Pain Certification
Congratulations to Jennifer Letzelter, CRNP who recently completed her American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) pain management nursing certification.