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University of Pittsburgh Department of Medicine

The University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Medicine is a formidable leader in cutting-edge research and clinical care.

The Department of Medicine is committed to providing state of the art health care that is of the highest possible quality, compassionate, comprehensive, and is both easily accessible to patients and responsive to referring physicians. We create a supportive environment where each member of the department has the tools to achieve maximal success, productivity, and efficiency. We develop and maintai

n innovative and integrated research programs that foster the process of making fundamental discoveries and bringing them into clinical practice. We educate and train thoughtful professionals who approach patient care and research in a critical and scholarly fashion. Our training prepares young professionals to deliver the highest quality care and serve as leaders in their chosen field.
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08/14/2026

What can population health management look like in practice?

At Pitt, Manisha Jhamb, Linda Marie Lavenburg, and Melanie Weltman are taking a proactive approach to chronic kidney disease—identifying high-risk patients earlier, supporting primary care clinicians, and connecting patients with evidence-based kidney care before advanced disease develops.

Their work is one example of how health systems can move beyond reactive care to deliver better care at scale. And as predictive analytics, artificial intelligence, and other technologies continue to evolve, the possibilities for population health are expanding.

These are the kinds of questions and opportunities that will take center stage at the 3rd Annual Population Health Management Seminar on September 22. Join Dr. Jhamb and other healthcare leaders for an evening focused on the future of value-based care, including a keynote from Tami E. Minnier, RN, MSN, FACHE, FAAN, Senior Vice President of Operations, Health Services Division, UPMC.

Minnier will discuss “Value-Based Care: Going Fast to Go Slow? Next Considerations,” alongside presentations and discussions on AI and clinical analytics, cardio-kidney-metabolic health, and patient-centered care.

📅 September 22, 2026
📍 The Oaklander
🎟️ Register: https://events.bizzabo.com/ivbm-upmc-pittsburgh-2026?utm_medium=email&utm_source=banner&utm_campaign=9.22_upmc_ivbm

And, to read more about CKD research in the Renal-Electrolyte Division: https://news.dom.pitt.edu/ckd/

08/12/2026

Congratulations to these outstanding Department of Medicine faculty on their recent grants.👏🎉

Yu-Chiao Chiu, PhD, who received an NLM R01, “Data-driven discovery of drug response mechanisms through biologically informed deep learning and large language models.”

Lan Coffman, MD, PhD, who received an NCI R01, “Defining the mechanism of stromal mediated iron dysregulation in ovarian clear cell cancer.”

Malamo Countouris, MD, MS, who received an NHLBI K23, “Reversing Later Life Left Ventricular Remodeling among Individuals with a History of Preeclampsia and Current Hypertension.”

Robyn Domsic, MD, MPH, who received an NIAID R43, “Transforming Autoimmune Diagnostic and Disease Monitoring with a Scalable IP-to-MS Platform for Autoantigen Profiling.”

Rimi Hazra, PhD, who received an NINDS R01, “Heme regulates neurocognition by modulating Tau pathology in sickle cell disease.”

Nadine Hempel, PhD, who received an NCI R01, “Non-canonical functions of the mitochondrial fission protein Drp1 in ovarian cancer.”

Manisha Jhamb, MD, MPH, who received an NIDDK R01, “Enhancing PCP-Nephrologist Co-Management for CKD: Leveraging Population Health Management and Learning Health System for Scalable Solutions.”

Yijia Li, MD, who received an NIAID K23, “Sex Differences in HIV-1 Reservoir- a Multi-omic Approach to Identify Mechanisms of Reservoir Decay.”

Jane Liebschutz, MD, MPH, and Erin Winstanley, PhD, whose NIDA K12 “University of Pittsburgh Collaboration in Addiction Training Scholars (PittCATS) Program” was competitively renewed.

Jared Magnani, MD, MSc, and Kaleab Abebe, PhD, who received an NHLBI R61, “The Hypertension Toolkit: an adaptive mobile health blood pressure intervention.”

Thomas Radomski, MD, MS, and Doris Rubio, PhD, who received an NCATS T32 “CTSA Predoctoral T32 at University of Pittsburgh.”

Thomas Radomski, MD, MS, and Doris Rubio, PhD, who received an NCATS T32 “CTSA Postdoctoral T32 at University of Pittsburgh.”

Babak Razani, MD, PhD, who received an NHLBI R35 “Leveraging the nutrient sensing and degradative capacity of lysosomes in macrophages as a novel therapeutic approach in cardiovascular disease.”

Charles Rinaldo, PhD, Beej Macatangay, MD, and Nic Sluis-Cremer, PhD, whose NHLBI U01 “University of Pittsburgh MWCCS Clinical Research Site” was competitively renewed.

Doris Rubio, PhD, who received an NCATS K12 “CTSA K12 Program at University of Pittsburgh.”

Shachi Tyagi, MD, MS, who received an NIA R21 “Addressing Nocturia in Older Women Utilizing Behavioral Sleep Intervention and Brief Mindfulness (ANOWSM Study).”

Flordeliza Villanueva, MD, whose NHLBI T32 “Training Program in Imaging Sciences in Translational Cardiovascular Research” was competitively renewed.

Melanie Weltman, PharmD, who received an NIDDK K23 “Development and Testing of a Pharmacist Led Population Health Management Program to Optimize Guideline Recommended Medication Therapy in Chronic Kidney Disease.”

08/06/2026

What if ultrasound could do more than diagnose disease? What if it could deliver life-saving treatments directly where they're needed?

Flordeliza Villanueva, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, is leading research that uses ultrasound and microbubbles to target therapies for conditions including heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. Learn how her work is bringing innovative science closer to clinical care while training the next generation of cardiovascular researchers in this recent "Meet the Researcher" highlight.

🔗Read the full story in UPMC Physician Resources: https://www.upmcphysicianresources.com/news/073026-meet-the-researcher-villanueva

08/05/2026

Please join us in congratulating Jaideep Behari, MD, PhD, on his appointment as Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition in the University of Pittsburgh Department of Medicine.

An internationally recognized transplant hepatologist and physician-scientist, Dr. Behari has made significant contributions to advancing research and care for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). He has also demonstrated a longstanding commitment to patient care, education, mentorship, and collaborative leadership.

We look forward to the continued growth and success of the Division under Dr. Behari's leadership. Please join us in congratulating him on this well-deserved appointment!

🔗Read more about Dr. Behari's appointment: https://dom.pitt.edu/jaideep-behari-md-phd-named-chief-of-the-division-of-gastroenterology-hepatology-and-nutrition/

08/04/2026

What inspires a leader in cancer care? 💭

For John Byrd, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, it began with a deeply personal experience that shaped his commitment to expanding access to exceptional care.

In a recent UPMC Health Discovery Report Leadership Spotlight, Dr. Byrd shares the experiences that guided his career, his vision for UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and how advancing research, clinical trials, and innovation will help transform cancer care for patients.

🔗Read the full story: https://www.upmcphysicianresources.com/news/073026-leadership-spotlight-byrd

07/30/2026

Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest challenges facing modern medicine, but researchers at University of Pittsburgh are helping shape the future of treatment.

Learn how a new National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)-funded center is advancing phage therapy, an innovative approach that uses viruses to target and destroy drug-resistant bacteria, bringing new hope to patients with infections that no longer respond to antibiotics.

07/27/2026

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2026 McKamish Family Foundation Cardiovascular Innovator Awards!

These six innovative projects represent promising advances in cardiovascular science, from coronary microvascular dysfunction and cardiac recovery after myocardial infarction to pulmonary arterial hypertension, cholesterol signaling, hypertension implementation science, and cardiometabolic health.

Thank you to the generosity and continued support of McKamish Inc., whose commitment to advancing cardiovascular research helps make these discoveries possible.

Congratulations to our 2026 awardees:
• Agnes Koczo, MD; Rebecca Thurston, PhD, FAMBR, FSBSM, FAHA; and Steven Reis, MD
• Anurag N. Paranjape, PhD, and Liza Villanueva, MD
• Henrietta Afari, MD, and Jared W. Magnani, MD, MSc
• Anum Saeed, MD, and Xiangyu Zhang, PhD
• Tatiana V. Kudryashova, PhD
• YU-SHENG YEH, PhD, and Hai Wei Liang, PhD

We look forward to seeing the impact of these exciting research projects!

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07/17/2026

🚨 Reminder for Pitt DOM faculty!

There's still time to apply for the ASPIRE (Advancing Scientific Programs of Independently-funded Researchers) program.

ASPIRE is designed to help early- to mid-career investigators expand the scope and impact of their research through:
🔹 A two-year mentoring program
🔹 Up to $75,000 in funding to support development of a new research direction and future R-level grant submission

The program is intended for investigators with one active R01 (or equivalent) who are ready to diversify their research portfolio and pursue their next major funding opportunity.

📅 Application deadline: July 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

🔗 For more info: https://dom.pitt.edu/aspire/

07/15/2026

✈️You've booked the flight, renewed your passport, and packed your bags.
But, have you prepared for your destination's health risks?

Whether you’re traveling for work or the vacation of a lifetime, healthy travel starts before takeoff. UPMC’s Travel Health Program helps travelers prepare for trips and provides expert care if illness follows them home.

🔗Read the full story here:https://news.dom.pitt.edu/travel-health/

07/13/2026

A milestone issue for fibrosis research!

The latest issue of JCI Insight marks the journal's first-ever thematic issue, bringing together leading perspectives and groundbreaking research focused on fibrosis across multiple organ systems.

Curated by Special Issue Editors Gavin Arteel, PhD, and Melanie Königshoff, MD, PhD, this landmark collection features reviews and original research exploring the mechanisms that drive fibrosis onset, progression, and resolution, while highlighting emerging therapeutic strategies with the potential to transform patient care with numerous contributions from University of Pittsburgh investigators, reflecting Pitt's leadership in advancing fibrosis research across disciplines.

Congratulations to Drs. Arteel and Königshoff on this outstanding achievement and to all of the authors whose work made this special issue possible!

📖 Read the special issue: https://insight.jci.org/11/13

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Pitt Research

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