Message from the Chair

Terence S. Dermody, MD in bench laboratory space

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Comprised of 20 divisions, two centers, and four specialty institutes, we are a close-knit group of dedicated faculty, fellows, residents, students, and professional staff committed to one goal: discovering and delivering the best care for all kids.

Located in one of America’s most livable cities, Pitt Pediatrics is housed within the 317-bed UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, ranked in 2023 by U.S. News and World Report as the eighth best pediatric hospital in the United States. Our clinicians serve children across western and central Pennsylvania, western Maryland, eastern Ohio, and northern West Virginia. With over 14,200 inpatient stays, 1.7 million outpatient visits, and 22,000 surgical procedures performed in 2022, many parents turn to Pitt Pediatrics and UPMC Children’s Hospital because of our internationally recognized patient-centered care. 

Home to one of the most innovative pediatric research programs in the country, Pitt Pediatrics receives over $37 million in annual support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The 300,000 square foot John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center houses our state-of-the-art basic and translational research laboratories. We frequently form multidisciplinary teams extending throughout the University of Pittsburgh’s vast research enterprise, our neighboring institutions, and local start-up companies. In 2022, our investigators published over 600 peer-reviewed papers on scientific discoveries and new treatments.

In addition to providing world-class care at UPMC Children’s Hospital, Pitt Pediatrics maintains the finest medical training and educational programs. Multiple residency and fellowship opportunities extend across many divisions, allowing us to place education at the intersection of teamwork, community engagement, and personal development. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are highly valued and actively promoted in all our programs, including in the recruitment of underrepresented minorities and women to our residency program, fellowships, and faculty. 

Since its initial establishment as the Western Pennsylvania Medical College in 1886, physicians at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have consistently delivered breakthroughs in pediatric medicine, translational research, and basic science. From routine procedures to innovative treatments for severely ill children, we continue to push boundaries to achieve the impossible.

Despite the challenges and uncertainties of today’s world, Pitt Pediatrics remains a worldwide leader in pediatric healthcare, education, and discovery. The children who depend on our care every day deserve no less.

 

Terence S. Dermody, MD

Vira I. Heinz Distinguished Professor and Chair of Pediatrics
Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Physician-in-Chief and Scientific Director
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh