Geriatric Medicine

Nivedita Gunturi, MD

Education:
BA English, Tufts University, Boston, MA
MBBS, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India

Training:
Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

A native of Dallas, Texas, Nivedita came to Pittsburgh for the first time when she began her residency in internal medicine. During that time, she developed a deep interest in the care of older adults as well as end-of-life care. In particular, she is interested in the continuum of patient-centered care through patients’ final years, in both primary care and long-term care settings. After working for a year as a UPMC hospitalist, she decided to remain for a two-year Geriatrics-Palliative Care Fellowship. Nivedita hopes to continue her research on goal-setting and communication among patients, providers, and families.

During her free time, Nivedita enjoys spending time outdoors, either gardening or hiking with her husband and her dog, Angel.

Alison O’Donnell, DO, MPH

Education:
BA Public Health and Social Wellness, Haverford College, Philadelphia, PA
MPH, Jefferson College of Population Health, Philadelphia, PA
DO, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

Training:
Internal Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA
Alison grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh and traveled to Philadelphia for college and medical school. She has an interest in geriatrics and population health, which prompted her to major in public health in college and subsequently attend medical school and pursue a Master in Public Health degree. She was excited to have the opportunity to return to Pittsburgh for her internal medicine residency and remain for a geriatrics fellowship.

During her training, Alison found that older adults, who often have multiple comorbidities as well as psychological and social issues, were some of the most interesting and challenging patients for whom she had the privilege of caring. She realized that as the population ages, the healthcare system will face growing demands, and there will be an even greater need for training in geriatrics. She hopes to be a geriatrician who can make an impact at both the individual and population level as the healthcare system continues to evolve.

Alison enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and traveling, and she has recently taken up gardening.

Deirdre O’Neill Valais, MD, FRCPC, ABIM

Education:
BS St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia
MD University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Training:
MS Translational Medicine and Internal Medicine, Cardiology Fellowship, University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Deirdre was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada. She completed her Bachelor of Science at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia and subsequently completed her medical training at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Deirdre stayed in Edmonton to complete her internal medicine training, her Masters in Translational Medicine and her cardiology fellowship. While in her cardiology training, she began to appreciate the nuance required to treat the older adults in my practice. It was at this time that Deirdre decided to pursue additional training in geriatrics at UPMC. She hopes to practice cardiology with an expertise in the older patient, in the newly appreciated and established field of geriatric cardiology.

Pratik Pandit, MD

Education:
BS Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
MD, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL

Training:
Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University

Born and raised in north Florida, Pratik was witness to the need for geriatric care early in his medical training. He recognized the growing need and value of medical care of an aging population. Recognizing the increasing size of this vulnerable group of patients, Pratik sought to improve his clinical skills to better provide compassionate and evidence-based care for this demographic. UPMC’s strong geriatrics departments with its dedication to rigorous clinical and academic training are what drew Pratik to its fellowship program. It is with this experience that Pratik hopes to carry forward as a clinician dedicated to delivering excellent care to his patients.

Outside of the medical setting, Pratik enjoys watching movies, playing board games with friends, and jogging.