Congratulations to Drs. Trent Emerick and Stephen McHugh, who recently attained faculty rank promotions. These physicians have been proving themselves as strong academic leaders and are playing important roles in advancing our academic excellence.
Trent D. Emerick, MD, MBA, FASA, has been promoted to Associate Professor. Dr. Emerick is a chronic pain physician at UPMC Montefiore/Presbyterian/Falk Building and Director of our Pain Medicine Fellowship Program, as well as Director of Quality Improvement and Innovation and Interim Medical Director in our Chronic Pain Division. He is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt through the American Society for Quality and very active in education as a mentor to residents, fellows, international students, physician assistants, and faculty. Dr. Emerick is the Designated Pain Specialist physician for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. His research focuses on clinical efficiency analyses, development of new pain protocols, neuromodulation, addiction medicine, and medical device innovation. He is the co-founder, CEO, and President of Vanish Therapeutics, Inc., and co-inventor of the Vanish Biodegradable Stimulator, as well as other technologies and intellectual property. Dr. Emerick has served on various national committees with ASRA, ASA, and AAPM. His many publications include three textbook chapters and multiple original research manuscripts published in the leading anesthesiology and pain journals, and he has provided grand rounds on Lean Six Sigma at institutions such as Yale, Temple, and Ohio State.
Stephen M. McHugh, MD, FASA, has been promoted to Associate Professor. Dr. McHugh is an attending physician at UPMC Shadyside. As a strong teacher and mentor of medical students, residents, and fellows, he has established a reputation for himself as a leader in education both within and beyond the University. He is Director of our residency’s Clinical Base Year, Journal Club program, and Neuroanesthesiology Rotation at Shadyside. Dr. McHugh’s research focuses on cardiothoracic anesthesiology, the use of emerging technologies like virtual reality in medical education, and the use of social media resources by medical trainees. His many authored and coauthored publications include three medical textbook chapters and 18 first or senior authored works published in leading anesthesiology journals and the high-impact journals JAMA and Lancet. Dr. McHugh serves on national committees including the American Board of Anesthesiology’s MOCA Minute CME Program Editorial Committee and the Society for Education in Anesthesia Technology in Education Subcommittee.