2008 Visiting Physicians
Colombian OB/GYN/CCM Physician Returning to UPMC as an Observer
 As an OB/GYN resident, Dr. Maria Escobar visited our CCM department in 2003/04. After completing her residency in 2004 at the University of Valle de Lily in Calle, Colombia, she then completed a year of CCM fellowship. She is employed at Fundacion Valle de Lily and has received a six-month sabbatical leave with salary to further her experiences in OB/GYN/CCM. On June 16, 2008, she will begin her observership at MWH/UPMC that will include both clinical and research. She is here on a J1 Visa and shares an apartment in Shadyside.
Indian Physician Visiting During June 2008
 Dr. Jiyasa Tewari is an Indian physician who graduated in 2007 from Dayanand Medical College in Ludhiana, Province of Punjab in Northern India. She has taken USMLE Steps 1 and 2 with high scores of 92 and 87, respectively. Dr. Tewari is here on a B1/B2 Visa. She will apply for J1 and seek medical residency here in Pennsylvania. Upon completion of training she would like to return to India. During the month of June she will be an observer in our ICUs of the Department of CCM.
Peruvian CCM Physician Visiting Pitt CCM
 Dr. Carlos Salas is a 1995 graduate of National University of San Agustin School of Medicine in Arequippa, Peru. After Internal Medicine training, he obtained a fellowship in CCM at the University of Cayetano. Currently, he holds a position in CCM at the 600-bed Neoplastic Institute and Anglo-American Clinic in Lima, Peru. However, Dr. Salas is planning to move to the US for further training. He is married and has a one year old son. Dr. Salas speaks a hesitant but fully understandable English. He will be here for the month of June 2008, rotating as an observer through VA, CTICU and Units 6F and 4F.
Italian Anesthesiologist Visiting the CCM Department
 Dr. Alessandra Rizzuto completed her residency in Anaethesiology and Critical Care at the University of Torino in Italy last December 2007 and is a certified specialist in Italy by examination. Her fiancé, Dr. Stefano Salizzoni, is a cardiac surgical resident in Torino but is presently on a 2-year research assignment at UPMC. The two will remain in Pittsburgh through 2009. Dr. Rizzuto is studying for her USMLE exams and will start with Step 1 before July 31, 2008. She will be an observer in our ICUs with special interest in general CCM, Liver Transplant and CTICU. She has also expressed her interest in cardiopulmonary pathophysiology, sepsis and shock, and has approached Dr. Pinsky for potential involvement in his research lab.
Indian Physician Visiting Observer in CCM Research
 Dr. Magesh Sathaiah is a 2005 graduate of Visvanatham Government Medical College in Trichy, Tamilnadu in Southern India. He emigrated to the US in 2007 and currently lives with his wife at his uncle's home in Monroeville. Dr. Sathaiah has taken USMLE Steps 1 and 2, scoring 88 and 75, respectively. He hopes to gain acceptance into a US medical residency by July 2009. In the meantime, Dr. Sathaiah will be observing Dr. Kai Singbartl's work on his research projects "The reason for increased bleeding time in duffy antigen knocked out mice" and "The role of uremic neutrophils in acute renal failure with bacterial pneumonia."
Spanish ICM Resident Visiting for Three Months
 Dr. Jose Trenado is a 2002 physician graduate of the University of Barcelona. He is currently a fourth year resident in ICM which is a primary specialty in Spain with specialty recognition obtained after five years of training. In one of the senior years, residents may go abroad for additional experience. Dr. Trenado is particularly interested in trauma and stroke. He also has a significant interest in organ donation. He plans to attend a symposium on organ donation in Lisbon during May 5 - 9. Otherwise, he will be observing in our CCM Department during April 14 - June 30. He will visit the Trauma ICU and Neurovascular ICU; and he has also expressed an interest to observe in the Abdominal Transplant ICU and the CTICU. Following his observership, he plans to return to Barcelona for his final ICM residency year.
Dr. Namas - Visiting Researcher and Observer
 Dr. Rajaie Namas is a 2003 graduate from the Al-Fateh Univaersity School of Medicine in Tripoli, Libya. He attended high school in England and thus speaks English well. He has taken and passed USMLE Steps 1 and 2 and is scheduled to take Step 3 this Spring. Dr. Namas has been a visiting physician researcher in Dr. Juan Puyana's laboratory since August 2007. He received some preliminary research experience in Libya and is currently studying sepsis and trauma problems. He is here on an H-1 Visa and will apply for a surgical residency in the US. He has requested to be an observer in our ICUs, particularly the adult trauma and transplantation ICUs. If possible, Dr. Namas would also like to observe in the pediatric ICU at CHP. He hopes to remain involved in the research laboratory for the foreseeable future.
Dutch Medical Student Visiting Our CCM Department
 Ms. Linda Hermus is a senior medical student at the University of Groningen School of Medicine in the Netherlands. A requirement for graduation is to spend the last half year in research and she chose to do so at the University of Pittsburgh. Since January 2008 she has been working on a shock model in pigs in Dr. Juan Puyana's laboratory. She would also like to observe in our ICUs, particularly in the trauma unit. She will return to Holland where she plans to graduate on June 30 and then work in the university surgical department while applying for a potential surgical residency.
Dr. Dang - Observer in Our CCM Department
 Dr. Navneet Singh Dang graduated in 2000 from the Government Medical College in Amritsan, North of New Delhi, India. He completed a 3-year surgical residency at the Medical College of Orissa in southern India. He then served as an attending surgeon in Amritsar during 2005 - 2007. He emigrated first to Canada in 2007 and holds permanent residency in that country. He then left Canada in early 2008 to come to the US. Dr. Dang is preparing for a US IM residency. He has been an observer in GI for two months at UPMC Mercy Hospital, worked on an Alzheimer research project in Pitt's Department of Genetics, and now would like to be a visiting observer in a surgical ICU of our CCM Department.
Indian Physician Visiting Pitt CCM
 Dr. Gaurav Bajaj was born in India but attended medical school at Windsor University in St. Kitts of the West Indies where he graduated in 2007. He is seeking surgical training in the US and has been an observer in surgery in Miami, where he will return on April 20. In the meantime, he will be an observer in the ICUs through our Department of Critical Care Medicine. He is will take his USMLE exams, Step 1 in May and Step 2 in July.
Chinese Internist Researcher to Observe in CCM
 Dr. Youzhong Yuan is a Chinese physician who obtained his MD in Shanghai (1984) and a PhD in molecular genetics also in Shanghai (1997). He trained in internal medicine (1984-87) and hematology (1987-90), then served as an attending in inernal medicine until 1999 when he moved to the US. He has published some 25 scientific papers in China and a few in the US. He is currently an assistant research professor in the Department of Surgery and working in Dr. Tim Billiar's laboratory. He wants to obtain internal medicine training in the US and, therefore, would like to observe in our ICUs for three months beginning March 17, 2008. He is married and has a daughter of 16 attending the Mt Lebanon High School.
Dr. Ramachandran Observing in CHP ICU
 Dr Simi Ramachandran was born in NYC by Indian parents who still live there. But at age 19 after graduating from high school in NYC, Dr Ramachandran went to southern India to attend Kasturba Medical College from where she graduated in 2005. After a year of mandatory internship in India, she returned to the US. Obviously, she is a US citizen. She has taken USMLE steps 1 and 2 and was recently accepted as a pediatric resident at NY Methodist Hospital. With an interest in CCM she has applied for an observership in Ped. CCM at UPMC CHP and started this on Feb. 4 with the intention to remain here through April.
Belgian Cardiologist Visiting UPMC for Two Weeks
 Dr. Sofie Gevaert is a 1994 graduate of Gent University in Belgium. After six years of training in internal medicine and cardiology, she obtained Belgian certification in cardiology and ICM. She is currently the Director of the CCU at Gent University Hospital. Her husband Dr. Eric Hoste was a visiting researcher in our CCM Department four years ago and recommended her to visit our department. She will observe one week each in the UPMC CTICU and Cardiac ICU.
Colombian Visitor Invited By Dr. Juan Carlos Puyana
 Dr. Jose Luis Castillo is a 1998 graduate of University of Valle in Cali, Colombia. Currently, he is an Emergency Medicine Senior Resident of Fundacion Valle del Lili Clinic and University CES in the same city. He plans to complete his training in June 2008. His interests are in Trauma and Critical Care.
Dr. Castillo is an applicant for the Trauma & Injury Excellence in Education on Research (TRAINEER) grant which is a five-year initiative that will immerse young Colombia doctors in the American system of research, particularly clinical research. This grant funded by the Fogarty International Center at NIH was initiated by principal investigator, Dr. Timothy Billiar, Professor and Chair of Pitt's Surgical Department with Dr. Andrew Peitzman, Professor and Director of Trauma at Pitt, and Dr. Juan Puyana. In 2006, $150,000 per annum was awarded for five years to establish a partnership between Colombia and UPMC. Beginning in 2007, visiting Colombian surgical trainees will be able to pursue certificates or even Master's Degrees in clinical research at Pitt through the Clinical Research Training Program (CRTP). Independent of winning the Fogarty TRAINEER award, the Fundacion Valle del Lili Clinic has provided him with a stipend to visit the University of Pitt for one year.
Dr. Castillo hopes that he can use the knowledge he acquires during his visit to aid in the development of emergency medicine specialty in Colombia.
Colombian Trauma Surgeon Invited To Visit CCM
 Dr. Fabian E. Puentes M. is a general and trauma surgeon in San Felix Hospital, located in La Dorada, Caldas, approximately 130 Kms NW from Bogota, and an attending in UCI Honda (ICU near La Dorada). He is also a surgery assistant instructor at the Universidad de Manizales and coordinates the surgical interns in San Felix Hospital. He received his MD degree from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in 1996 and completed surgical residency in 2002.
Drs. Puentes and Juan Carlos Puyana met at the 2007 XX Pan-American Trauma Congress at Puebla Mexico. Dr. Puyana was impressed with his lecture on "Landmines Trauma in a Regional Hospital" and invited him to the visit the CCM Department as an observer.
Fabian is excited about his opportunity to observe our Trauma Service and Surgical ICUs.
Visiting ICM Physicians from Spain
 Drs. Roberto Jimenez(top photo) and Alejandro Freire are 2002 graduates of the University of Murcia in Spain. They are currently senior residents in Intensive Care Medicine at the same university. ICM is a primary specialty in Spain with a five year residency. They will graduate in June 2008 and then become specialists of ICM without any additional exam.
 In their senior year they usually go abroad for a couple of months to broaden their experiences and both have chosen this experience at Pitt. With their main interest in Trauma, Neuro and Cardiothoracic CCM they will concentrate their observership in those UPMC ICUs.
2007 Visiting Physicians
Chinese Oncology Surgeon Visiting CCM for Half a Year
 Dr. Hong-Zhi Wang is a 1985 graduate of Hernan Medical University in China. After surgical residency at The Third Hospital of Zhengzhou in Henan, Dr. Wang attended Peking University School of Oncology where he obtained a higher medical degree in 1990. He served at this institution first as an attending surgeon and in 1997 was appointed associate professor of intensive care at Peking University. Dr. Wang also serves as ICU Director at Beijing Cancer Hospital. He has published several papers on critical care medicine and oncology related problems in prominent Chinese journals. After recent acquaintance with Dr. Grenvik during his visit to China last Spring, Dr. Wang decided to visit our CCM Department to gain insight in US intensive care and training of critical care medicine physicians. Dr. Wang will use the opportunity to participate in the 2008 SCCM Congress. Starting on November 26, he will remain in Pittsburgh throughout this academic year.
Surgical Resident from Turkey Visiting CCM
 Dr. Tolga Ozmen graduated from Istanbul University in Turkey this year and is currently in his surgical residency at Marmara University in Istanbul. It is Dr. Ozmen's intention to seek surgical training in the USA. In the meantime, he will continue with his five-year surgical training program in Turkey and with completing his USMLE exams. Dr. Ozmen has a friend on our surgical faculty, Dr. Attila Soran, who has arranged his visiting observership in the Departments of Surgery and Critical Care Medicine. This is a 5-week visit to UPMC, beginning with experiences in the SICU.
Visiting Researcher from The Czech Republic
 Dr. Jakub Zavada is a 1998 graduate of the reputable Charles University in Prague of the Czech Republic. He is a board certified specialist of internal medicine and nephrology. He is currently a clinical instructor in the Department of Nephrology and Medical ICU of Charles University Hospital. Dr. Zavada has several publications in the field of internal medicine and nephrology. After a prior meeting with Dr. Kellum at a European convention, he was invited to spend time observing the CCM Department’s clinical and research operations. Dr. Zavada is also working on a project started by Dr. Erik Hoste of Belgium as a 2003 visiting researcher in Dr. Kellum's laboratory. This project will continue after he returns to Prague and involves estimating the baseline serum creatinine for ICU patients when it is unknown. Studies reveal that about half of the ICU patients who develop acute kidney injury in intensive care do not have a baseline creatinine. Dr. Zavada will remain in Pittsburgh from Oct. 12 until Dec. 20, 2007 and hopes to finalize this study with a pulication on the results if this important investigation. He would also wish to visit some of our ICUs such as the CTICU and Liver transplant.
Thai Physician Visiting Department of CCM
 Dr. Warit Jithpratuck graduated in 2003 from Chiang Mai University, North of Bangkok in Thailand. He served as an intern for one year and then in Emergency Medicine at different hospitals before moving to the US. In 2006 he passed USMLE Steps I, II and III with high scores. Dr. Jithpratuck has applied to several Internal Medicine Residency Programs and is awaiting calls for scheduling interviews that begin this December. In the meantime, he is a visitor in our Department of CCM and is scheduled for observations in our Trauma, Transplantation and Surgical ICUs at PUH and VAMC. He is also interested in Geriatric ICU problems and will contact Dr. Chelluri for this purpose. Dr. Jithpratuck is currently staying with a friend who lives within walking distance of UPMC.
Surgeon from Nigeria Visiting CCM Department
 Dr. John Ashindoitiang is a 1990 graduate of the University of Calabar in Nigeria. After he completed surgical residency at the University Hospital in Lagos, he worked as a general surgeon at Motayo Hospital. He passed USMLE Steps I and II and plans to take the CS Exam in May next year. He has come to the US to further his training in Surgery but will also consider Family Practice if he is unable to obtain a position in a surgical program. Because of his interest in critical care, especially trauma, Dr. Ashindoitiang is visiting our department for the next five weeks and will observe in our trauma ICU, Abdominal Transplant ICU, and the SICU at VAMC. He will return to Nigeria following this visit. He is married with two children and is a soft spoken gentleman with excellent communication skills in English.
Graduate of Kurnool Medical College Visits CCM Department
 Dr. Sree Latha Krishna graduated from Kurnool Medical College of Southern India in 2004 and moved to the US in Spring 2005. She has taken USMLE Steps 1 and 2, including the clinical skills component. Dr. Krishna wants to obtain a residency in Internal Medicine, Family Practice, or Pediatrics. She has applied for all three because of the strong competition for foreigners. While she waits to learn if she is accepted to a residency program, she will be an observer in our CCM Department with rotations in the CT and Transplant ICUs plus CHP Cardiology/CCM. Dr. Krishna is married to a computer engineer employed at Nixlink System in NJ. She has rented an apartment in Oakland within walking distance of UPMC.
Physician From India Visiting CCM
 Dr. Anupama Lochab graduated in 2004 from the Manipal College of Medical Sciences at the Kathmandu University in Nepal. She moved to the US after two years of service in India. Dr. Lochab is currently a student at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and expects to graduate with an MPH in December 2007. She is in the process of taking her USMLE exams with plans to apply for a medical residency in the US starting in 2008 or 2009. Her interest in medicine is with infectious diseases, renal failure, and critical care medicine. Dr. Lochab would like to be an observer in CCM, specifically CT ICU and Liver Transplant ICU. She would also like to shadow an ID specialist on consultations in the ICUs. She is available for Sep. - Dec. 2007 for these rotations.
Indian Visitor From Trinidad
 Dr. Srikanth Givvimani graduated in 2001 from Sri Venkateswara Medical College in Tirupathi, India. Since 2004, he has worked as a house officer in Trinidad, WI. He is preparing for an IM Residency in the US and has passed his USMLE Steps 1 and 2 plus the Clinical Skills Exam. If not accepted in the matching program, he will apply for any vacancy with hopes to start his medical residency in July 2008. Because he wants to do a CCM Fellowship after his residency, he is presently an observer in our CCM Department with scheduled rotations in TICU. CTICU, VASICU, NICU, 4G and the Pediatric ICU. He plans to return to Trinidad in November. Dr. Giwimani will apply for research work if he is unable to begin his residence in July next year.
Internist From India Visiting Pitt CCM
 Dr. Kinjal Shah graduated in 2002 from the University of Baroda Medical College in India Following training, she obtained her specialty certification in Internal Medicine and is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the Medical College and Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad Hospital in Baroda. Dr. Shah is particularly interested in critical care medicine and renal replacement therapy and will be a visiting observing physician in our CCM Department during August 7th through mid-September 2007. She has chosen to observe in our CT ICU and the VA SICU. Dr. Shah is staying with her sister in Shadyside who is an engineer at Brady Communications in Pittsburgh.
Senior Medical Student Visiting From London, UK
 Danny Wong is a Singapore born Malaysian attending King's College London School of Medicine. He will graduate in 2008 and has chosen to spend his 2-month clinical elective rotation in Pitt's CCM Department. Danny Wong has a special interest in critical care medicine and has selected his July 21 - September 29 rotation at UPMC to be in our Liver Transplant ICU, CTICU and MICU. Dr. Ali Al-Khafaji is his host.
Medical Resident Visiting from United Arab Emirates
 Dr. Mohamed Younes graduated in 2001 from Omdurman I. University in Kartoum, Sudan. After completing a mandatory internship, he moved to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and started his 4-year medical residency in March of 2005. Currently, Dr. Younes is at Rashid Hospital, affiliated with Harvard Medical School in UAE. Having met Dr. Marie Baldisseri during her recent lectures in Dubai, he requested a visiting observership in our CCM Department as he is most interested in Critical Care Medicine. He will spend 3 weeks during this month at UPMC with one week each at the VASICU, CTICU at PUH and OB/GYN ICU at MWH. He will also use the opportunity to visit WISER as there is no simulation center in the UAE.
Pediatric and Medical ICU Observer from China Here for May and June
 Dr. Chang Xia is a 1999 graduate of the China Medical University in Shenyang, North China. She had two years of pediatric training before moving to the US. She has been working on research in tumor antigenesis in Morgantown, WVA, where she obtained her PhD in microbiology last year. Dr. Xia has 12 publications in this field. She scored 93 on the USMLE Step I last year and is waiting to learn the results of USMLE Step II. She has passed the clinical exam. Dr. Xia plans to apply for a residency in pediatrics or internal medicine that begins in 2008. She has requested an opportunity to be an observer in our pediatric and medical ICUs during May and June.
Spanish Anesthesia Resident Here for 2 months on ICU Observership
 Dr. Merce Prieto Butille graduated in 2000 from Universidad Autonoma in Barcelona and is in the final months of her second AR year at Hospital General Granollers in Barcelona. Currently, she is on her ICU block and is permitted two months observation abroad which she chose to do at Pitt. She is interested in a 2-week observation each in the VASICU, MICU, CTICU and OBICU at MWH. She would also like to visit WISER. Dr. Butille will start her third year of AR when she returns to Barcelona at the end of June and plans to graduate in June 2009.
Married Spanish Physicians Visiting CCM and EM at UPMC for Two Months
 Drs. Carlos Ibero and Eva Regido are residents at Hospital Doce, a university hospital in Madrid. Together, they will be observers in CCM's ICUs, EM and at WISER.
Dr. Carlos Ibero graduated in 2001 from the University of Navarra. He is currently an internal medicine resident in his fifth year and will complete his training in June 2007. His interest is in IM, EM and CCM. He has some research experience with 7 Spanish publications.
 Dr. Eva Regidor graduated in 2003 from Universidad Complatense in Madrid. She is a third year resident in CCM which is a five year primary specialty program. Her interests are in CCM, EM and Trauma.
Pediatric Resident from Chile Visiting CCM for Two Months
 Dr. Franco Diaz graduated from the University of Chile in 2003. He is currently a third-year resident in pediatrics at Universidad del Desarrollo in Chile and plans to graduate in May this year. Interested in CCM, Dr. Diaz is visiting our Pediatric CCM Division as an observer and will participate in rounds, lectures and other educational activities during January and February. He has expressed an interest in seeing WISER and SCRR during his visit. Dr. Diaz has rented a room in Oakland within walking distance of CHP.
Previous Vistors (2006)(2005-2004)(2003-2002) |
