News and Accolades
Department of Medicine Faculty Receive Four Clinical Transformation Program Grants
Beckwith Institute funding will support projects exploring new approaches to behavioral health, Sjögren’s disease, Fontan-associated exercise intolerance, and lung transplant rejection
Eric Dueweke, MD, MBA, Named Vice Chair for Clinical Operations
Dueweke brings extensive clinical and operational leadership experience to the Department of Medicine’s senior leadership team.
Deborah Akanya, MD, Recognized Among Pittsburgh’s 40 Under 40
The Division of Cardiology clinical assistant professor is one of 10 Pitt affiliates named to Pittsburgh Magazine’s 2026 list of emerging leaders.
Harnessing Ultrasound to Transform Patient Care
Flordeliza Villanueva, MD, discusses her pioneering work in ultrasound-guided therapeutics, her passion for translational cardiovascular research, and her commitment to training the next generation of physician-scientists.
DOM Faculty Lead First-Ever JCI Insight Thematic Issue on Fibrosis
Gavin Arteel, PhD, and Melanie Königshoff, MD, PhD, led JCI Insight‘s first-ever thematic issue, showcasing advances in fibrosis research from investigators around the world, including numerous contributions from the Department of Medicine.
Matthew Steinhauser, MD, Named New Deputy Editor for Circulation
Steinhauser will oversee Translational Science, Therapeutics and Physiology as part of the flagship cardiovascular journal’s new editorial leadership team.
New Study Maps Cellular Drivers of Fontan-Associated Liver Disease
Research led by Anita Saraf, MD, PhD, identified key cellular and molecular changes driving liver disease in patients with Fontan circulation, offering new insights into diagnosis, transplant timing, and potential future therapies.
Krithika Rao, PhD, among this year’s Nancy Tannery Grant awardees
Rao was recognized for developing an open-access guide to biomedical research designed to enhance student learning and improve accessibility to course materials.
Drs. Mehret Birru Talabi and Flordeliza Villanueva named 2026 Margaret Ragni Awardees
This annual award recognizes outstanding achievement, mentorship, and leadership in advancing women in medicine and science
Stephen Chan, MD, PhD, Named 2026 Harrington Scholar-Innovator
The VMI Director was recognized for his research focused on new therapeutic approaches for pulmonary hypertension
Samir Saba, MD, Discusses the Future of Cardiology Workforce Development
The Chief of the Division of Cardiology shares insights on restructuring cardiovascular care and addressing physician workforce shortages through training innovation.
Cardiology Division Leads Multidisciplinary Effort to Improve Cardiogenic Shock Outcomes
A team-based, education-centric program led by Dr. Gavin Hickey is reshaping recognition, response, and survival in this high-risk condition.
Cynthia St. Hilaire, PhD, to Lead $15M AHA Center Advancing Early Detection of Aortic Valve Disease
St. Hilaire will direct a multi-institutional research center at Pitt to uncover how lipoprotein(a), inflammation, and biomechanics drive aortic stenosis to develop predictive tools and therapies to shift care beyond late-stage surgery.
Pitt Researchers Highlight the Health Benefits of Rising Early
Neil Kelly, MD, PhD, helps lead research uncovering a simpler way to track circadian rhythm and its link to chronic disease.
Samir Saba, MD, named 2026 Peter J. Safar Pulse of Pittsburgh honoree
The award reflects Dr. Saba’s compassionate care and lasting impact on individuals throughout Western Pennsylvania and beyond.
Jason Becker, MD, and Wei Du, MD, PhD, Elected to American Society for Clinical Investigation
The Department of Medicine researchers join an elite honor society recognizing outstanding physician-scientist achievements, while colleagues across the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine also earn ASCI recognition.
SerpinB2 May Curb Insulin Resistance and Prevent Diabetes
Led by Dr. Partha Dutta in the VMI, the study reveals how boosting protective fat-resident immune cells may prevent and even reverse type 2 diabetes.
Turning Grief into Hope: Family Launches Fund for Pulmonary Hypertension Research
Dr. Stephen Chan’s care for one patient helped inspire a family-funded research effort to change the future of pulmonary hypertension.
Our Mouths Have a Lot to Say About Our Hearts
A series of research papers from a group of researchers at Pitt’s Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine are trying to understand what connects oral and heart health and—if identified—how to develop prevention and predictive strategies.
Iain Scott, PhD, named Associate Director of the Vascular Medicine Institute
In his new role, Dr. Scott will strengthen faculty mentorship, lead career development initiatives, and support strategic growth in research and recruitment.