The University of Pittsburgh Department of Medicine has launched Enhanced Mentoring for Building AdministRative Careers (EMBARC), a new year-long leadership development program designed to prepare physicians for future leadership roles within programs, initiatives and divisions across a complex academic medical center and integrated delivery and finance system.
The inaugural EMBARC cohort brings together 23 physicians from across the Department of Medicine’s divisions, creating an interdisciplinary group of emerging leaders who will develop the skills and perspectives needed to navigate the operational, strategic and organizational challenges of academic medicine.
Led by Ian Barbash, MD, MS; Megan Fitzpatrick, MD; and Wendy Romeo, MS, EMBARC combines interactive learning, executive shadowing, case-based exercises and structured self-reflection. Participants will meet in person monthly at the U.S. Steel Tower in Pittsburgh from January through December 2027, with a summer break.
The curriculum is designed to build skills in areas essential to effective clinical leadership, including:
- Systems thinking in the academic medical center and integrated delivery environment
- Health care economics and finance
- Strategic planning and health care operations
- Data analytics and informatics
- Communication strategies for leaders
- Collaboration and conflict management
- Change leadership and implementation
- Performance and talent development
Each session combines preparatory work with interactive discussions, small-group activities and real-world scenarios grounded in challenges facing academic medical centers. Participants will also have opportunities to observe and learn alongside senior institutional leaders through executive shadowing experiences.
The program also emphasizes self-awareness and reflection, recognizing that effective leadership requires more than operational expertise. Through the year-long cohort experience, participants will develop a deeper understanding of their own leadership approaches while learning from colleagues across the Department of Medicine.
The inaugural cohort will begin with a full-day foundational session on January 8, 2027, followed by monthly half-day sessions through November and a concluding full-day session on December 10. CME credit will be provided for each class day.
EMBARC is intended to complement existing physician leadership development opportunities and create a foundation for physicians who may take on increasingly complex leadership responsibilities within the Department of Medicine and the broader health system.
Matthew Culyba, MD, PhD, Infectious Diseases
Allison DeKosky, MD, General Internal Medicine
Jeffrey Dueker, MD, MPH, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Alison Faust, MD, MHS, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Katrina Han, MD, Endocrinology and Metabolism
Manisha Jhamb, MD, MPH, Renal-Electrolyte
Corrine Kliment, MD, PhD, Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Nicoletta Machin, DO, MS, Classical Hematology
Jared Magnani, MD, MSc, Cardiology
Stephanie Maximous, MD, MS, Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Neelesh Nadkarni, MD, PhD, Geriatric Medicine
Yana Najjar, MD, Malignant Hematology and Medical Oncology
Varidhi Nauriyal, MD, Infectious Diseases
Simi Padival, MD, Infectious Diseases
Anna Phillips, MD, MS, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Diana Pinkhasova, MD, Endocrinology and Metabolism
Thomas Radomski, MD, MS, General Internal Medicine
Samender Randhawa, MD, Geriatric Medicine
Zachary Rhinehart, MD, Cardiology
Anwaar Saeed, MD, Malignant Hematology and Medical Oncology
Faraaz Shah, MD, MPH, Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Benjamin Sprague, MD, MS, General Internal Medicine
Jyotsana Thakkar, MD, Renal-Electrolyte
Congratulations to all who were selected!