Pitt Pediatrics is proud and honored to announce Erika Friehling, MD, MS has been elected to the position of Chair-Elect of the Fellowship of Directors’ Section Executive Committee of the Association of Pediatric Program Directors (APPD). Friehling is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics in our Division of Hematology-Oncology, as well as the Director of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program and the Senior Associate Vice Chair for Faculty Development of the Department of Pediatrics. 
The APPD, in noting Friehling, described her as a “A leader in medical education, mentoring, and career development, Dr. Friehling has led significant programmatic and curricular initiatives. She directs the Pitt Pediatrics faculty mentoring program, including mentoring committees for junior faculty and a faculty mentoring curriculum. As Fellowship Program Director, she implemented key program enhancements, including restructuring didactics, introducing innovative educational content, and developing new evaluation methods. She is also co-director of two graduate-level courses in the Master of Science in Medical Education program: Making the Most of Mentoring and Professional Development.
Dr. Friehling is a clinician-educator who joined the faculty at UPSOM in 2013. As a leader in the areas of medical education, mentoring, and career advancement, she has made significant contributions through programmatic and curricular development. In 2016, Dr. Friehling was selected as the Associate Vice-Chair for Faculty Development in the Department of Pediatrics and charged with leading the development of a faculty mentoring program. At the national level, she is the Chair of the Faculty and Professional Development Learning Community of the Association of Pediatric Program Directors and Vice-Chair of the Education Committee of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. She has facilitated multiple workshops in the department, throughout UPSOM, and at national meetings on a wide range of professional development topics.
Dr. Friehling has specific clinical interest and expertise in pediatric leukemia/lymphoma. Dr. Friehling founded and continues to direct the Leukemia/Lymphoma Working Group at UPMC Children’s Hospital, leading initiatives to increase consistency in care and promote evidence-based treatment of patients. Dr. Friehling is active in collaborative oncology research and is currently the institutional Primary Investigator for six national leukemia/lymphoma clinical trials through Children’s Oncology Group."
Join us in celebrating this wonderful accomplishment Dr. Friehling! And follow Pitt Pediatrics on Bluesky for future updates on faculty recognition and awards.