Pitt Surgery

The official X page of the Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh

[Pitt Surgery @PittSurgery]

Innovation Begins with a Question. Impact Begins with the Courage to Find an Answer.

Congratulations to @macky_neal , on his inspiring reflection published in the American College of Surgeons Bulletin, “A Surgeon-Scientist Reflects on Nearly a Decade of Innovation.”

From pioneering research in platelet biology to advancing synthetic platelet technology that could transform emergency trauma care, Dr. Neal's journey is a powerful reminder that the most meaningful innovations begin with a commitment to solving real human challenges.

His work represents the extraordinary intersection of science, medicine, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and visionary leadership demonstrating how discoveries in the laboratory can move toward life-saving solutions for patients around the world.

What makes this journey especially inspiring is his belief that innovation is not simply about scientific breakthroughs, but about building the teams, institutions, and next generation of leaders who can carry those breakthroughs forward.

The future of healthcare will be shaped by leaders who dare to challenge what is possible and remain deeply committed to the people they serve.

Congratulations, Dr. Neal, on nearly a decade of remarkable progress and on the exciting possibilities ahead.

Read the full article: https://t.co/tRRfFop9xP

#PittSurgery #SurgeonScientist #TraumaSurgery #Mentorship #SurgicalInnovation #ACSJacobsonAward
@AmCollSurgeons @UPMC_SurgRes @UPMC

[Pitt Surgery @PittSurgery]

FROM SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY TO REAL-WORLD PATIENT IMPACT.

Innovation in healthcare is not measured by what we discover, but by what we successfully deliver to patients.

At the @UPMCEnterprises Top of Mind Summit 2026, two leaders from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Surgery and UPMC contributed important perspectives on accelerating the translation of scientific breakthroughs and emerging technologies into meaningful improvements in patient care.

@macky_neal , Interim Chair of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, highlighted a critical challenge in clinical innovation:

“There's a lot of science that stalls in that decision to launch.”

His perspective underscores the need to bridge scientific discovery, commercialization, and clinical implementation so promising innovations can reach the patients who need them.

@arwmd , MD, Senior Medical Advisor at UPMC Enterprises, contributed to conversations on the practical integration of artificial intelligence into healthcare, emphasizing opportunities to improve clinical workflows, reduce administrative burdens, and strengthen operational efficiency.

Together, their insights reinforce an essential priority: The future of healthcare depends not only on breakthrough discoveries, but on our ability to turn innovation into better care.

Read the full summit recap and discover four signals shaping the future of healthcare:

https://t.co/zJMWUy8RcE

#PittSurgery #UPMC #UniversityOfPittsburgh #UPMCEnterprises #HealthcareInnovation #ArtificialIntelligence #DigitalHealth #TopOfMind2026

[PITT CMMR @PittCMMR]

We were honored to participate in a panel discussion at the Safety Innovation Summit. Drs. Ronald Poropatich, Chandan K Sen, Michael Pinsky, Phil Spinella, Francis Guyette & Jean-Paul Chretien spoke of their research & how they are changing the field of wound & trauma care

[Pitt Surgery @PittSurgery]

How do you save more people from bleeding to death?

Bleeding is a leading cause of trauma death, but it’s preventable. Pitt Trauma and Transfusion Medicine Research Center is working to answer that question and working on developing “Better blood,” The center’s work spans:

● Prehospital plasma and whole blood trials, bringing blood to patients before they reach the hospital
● Pediatric whole blood research and the MATIC-2 trial
● Cold-stored platelets that could last up to 21 days
● Microfluidic “transfusion on a chip” models of bleeding
● Freeze-dried synthetic platelets, with first-in-human trials targeted for2027

Congratulations to @macky_neal , @PhilSpinellaMD @Jjasonsperrymd Frank Guyette, Christine Leeper, @SMSheaLab and the entire TTMRC team on work that is changing how we care for patients with traumatic injury. Read the full story: https://t.co/Bd48GrJ1l2

@PittMedicine #PittSurgery #TraumaSurgery #TransfusionMedicine #StopTheBleed #HemorrhageControl

[Pitt Surgery @PittSurgery]

Congrats to Dr. Samuel Licata on completing his 1,500th robotic-assisted surgery at UPMC Trinity! 🩺
This milestone underscores UPMC Trinity's commitment to bringing advanced, minimally invasive surgical innovation to the local community. Robotic systems offer enhanced precision, smaller incisions & faster recovery times for patients!
Read more about this milestone: https://t.co/x9EaW6ElTm
#MedTech #RoboticSurgery #UPMCTrinity
@UPMC

[LITES Network @LITESnetwork]

The LITES quarterly newsletter is out now! Check it out for updates on everything we've been working on, including all of our studies' progress:
https://t.co/Zm9POpSk1G

[The Nobel Prize @NobelPrize]

"I was not yet asleep being a night owl. And now I don't think I'll be able to sleep for quite a while!"

Today psychiatrist and scientist Karl Deisseroth learned he had been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. We found out his first reaction to the news.

[Pitt Neurosurgery @PittNeurosurg]

Our 2026-2027 residency interview days are Friday, Nov. 13, Friday, Dec. 11, and Friday, Jan. 8. Invited applicants, we look forward to meeting you.

Learn more at https://t.co/2SaXAlQEXa

[The Nobel Prize @NobelPrize]

BREAKING NEWS
The 2026 #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel “for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.”

[Pitt Surgery @PittSurgery]

A Historic Milestone for @PittSurgery and @UPMC

A major milestone for our team: Drs. Armando Ganoza and Amit Tevar performed the first robotic kidney transplant at UPMC!

This achievement reflects the Department of Surgery's continued commitment to surgical innovation and advancing care for our transplant patients.

Congratulations to the entire team!

We're proud to announce that Drs. Armando Ganoza and Amit Tevar performed the first robotic kidney transplant at UPMC, a landmark achievement for our transplant program and for the field of transplant surgery.Robotic-assisted transplantation represents a significant evolution in how complex transplant procedures can be performed. Compared to traditional open surgery, a robotic approach has the potential to offer patients smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, less postoperative pain, and faster recovery times all while maintaining the precision and safety that transplant surgery demands.

This achievement didn't happen in isolation. It reflects years of institutional investment in surgical innovation, a multidisciplinary team's dedication to advancing patient care, and a culture at UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh Department of Surgery that continually pushes the boundaries of what's possible in modern medicine.

Congratulations to Drs.Ganoza and Tevar and to the entire surgical, nursing, and transplant teams who made this moment possible. We look forward to what this milestone means for the future of transplant care both for our patients and for the field at large.

#PittSurgery #UPMC #TransplantSurgery #RoboticSurgery #KidneyTransplant #SurgicalInnovation #OrganTransplant #UniversityOfPittsburgh #PittMed #DepartmentOfSurgery

[Pitt Surgery @PittSurgery]

Register for a special one-day symposium on one of the fastest-evolving areas in medicine. Featuring Dr. Chandan K. Sen and other leading experts, the summit takes you in depth into:

🔹 Regenerative medicine
🔹 Gene therapy for regeneration
🔹 Exosomes
🔹 Targeted therapies for disorders of aging
🔹 Stem cell therapies for arthritis and fibrotic conditions
🔹 General principles of longevity
A world-class scientific faculty with unparalleled expertise will present these topics.
Who should attend: clinicians, scientists, medical students, graduate students in engineering and the health sciences, biotech entrepreneurs, allied health professionals, advanced practice providers, and anyone interested in this emerging field.
🔗 Register here: https://t.co/E6CAHRcpRV
#IFATS #RegenerativeMedicine #Longevity #StemCells #PittSurgery

[Brittany Fenner @FennerBrittany]

Some well-deserved appreciation for a phenomenal human and a giant in surgery, Dr. Billiar. #acscc2026

[Matthew D. Neal, MD @macky_neal]

One of the best parts of #ACSCC26 is reconnecting with friends and mentors! Once part of the @PittSurgery family, always part of the family! So grateful to @HenriFordMD for helping to launch my career and modeling extraordinary leadership @Edith_Tz

[Matthew D. Neal, MD @macky_neal]

Starting out #ACS2026 by helping to host Surgical Biology Club at one of my favorite places in the world @Georgetown A great morning of science ahead! @GUBiology @AmCollSurgeons @PittSurgery

[Erika Ong @ErikaOngMD]

Getting ready for tomorrow Sunday (9/27) 3PM! See you guys soon! :)

[Tom Varghese Jr. MD, MS, MBA, FACS, MAMSE 🇺🇸 @TomVargheseJr]

On the eve of @AmCollSurgeons Clinical Congress, attendees please take a moment to check out the abstracts of the Owen Wangensteen Scientific Forum.

Congrats to all those presenting, and the award winners!

This year’s session is dedicated to surgeon scientist extraordinaire Dr. Tim Billiar @PittSurgery

#ACSCC26 @acsJACS

[Pitt Surgery @PittSurgery]

🎉 We're heading to the ACS Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, D.C.!
Please join us in celebrating Timothy R. Billiar, MD, FACS, this year's Wangensteen Scientific Forum Award honoree, at his dedication ceremony on Monday, September 28 (8:00–9:30 AM ET, Room 207A).
We'd also like you to stop by our presentations and posters throughout the conference — come say hello and learn more about our research and training program!
#ACSClinicalCongress2026 #ACS2026 #PittSurgery #SurgicalResearch @UPMC_SurgRes @PittNeurology @UPMC_Vascular @AmCollSurgeons

[Pitt Surgery @PittSurgery]

World-class surgical training starts with leadership that bridges rigorous academics and clinical excellence.
In this spotlight, current General Surgery Resident Vrishketan Sethi, MD, shares what makes @PittSurgery a standout training environment: compassionate program leadership under Program Director Dr. Ken Lee, a tailored curriculum designed to support every trainee, and the vibrant life and landmarks of Pittsburgh from the Cathedral of Learning to Carnegie Mellon.

Watch Dr. Vrishketan Sethi discuss training, mentorship, and life in the Steel City:https://t.co/RxW911EqC1

#PittSurgery #ResidentSpotlight #VrishketanSethiMD #GeneralSurgery #SurgicalTraining #AcademicSurgery #MedEd #Pittsburgh

[Pitt Surgery @PittSurgery]

🎉 Heading to the @AmCollSurgeons Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, D.C.!

We're proud to share that Timothy R. Billiar, MD, FACS — George Vance Foster Professor and Chair of Surgery at @PittSurgery — is the 2026 honoree of the Wangensteen Scientific Forum Award, one of the most prestigious honors in surgical research, recognizing a surgeon's lifetime achievement in innovation and mentorship.

📅 Mon, Sept 28 | 8:00–9:30 AM ET | Room 207A
Join us in celebrating this well-deserved honor — congratulations, Dr. Billiar! 👏
🔗 https://t.co/l5xvuaLe3a
#ACSClinicalCongress2026 #ACS2026 #SurgicalResearch #PittSurgery
@UPMC_SurgRes @UPMC @HviUpmc @UPMC_Vascular @PittNeurosurg @InstituteStarzl @PittTweet

[Pitt Surgery @PittSurgery]

Pittsburgh is built for surgical training—offering an environment where academic ambition meets genuine community support.General Surgery Resident Danielle Gruen, MD, PhD, shares why Pittsburgh is an exceptional place to train: outstanding quality of life, a collegial culture, and wide-open pathways to pursue clinical and academic interests at the highest national level.Hear Dr. Danielle Gruen discuss what makes training at @PittSurgery unique: https://t.co/RxW911EYrz 

#PittSurgery #ResidentSpotlight #GeneralSurgery #SurgicalTraining #AcademicSurgery #Pittsburgh #MedEd @daniellegruen