Samar E. Atteih, MD

  • Fellow, PGY-5 and Postdoctoral Scholar

Samar Atteih is a PGY-5 pediatric pulmonology fellow at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. She earned her medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and subsequently completed pediatrics residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is particularly interested in the care of individuals with Cystic Fibrosis. She will be joining the Bomberger Lab in July 2021, with specific research focus on the adaptation and transmission of P. aeruginosa between the upper and lower respiratory tracts and impact on disease progression.

Fellow Biographical Details

Hometown

Diego Martin, Trinidad and Tobago

College or Medical School

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Residency

Johns Hopkins Harriet Lane Pediatrics Residency

Research Project

My main fellowship research project will involve exploring host factors involved in the the adaptation and transmission of P. aeruginosa between the upper and lower respiratory tracts of individuals with Cystic Fibrosis and impact on disease progression, with the Bomberger Lab.

Career and Research Interests

Likely to be an Academic Clinician, specifically focusing on the care of individuals with Cystic Fibrosis.

Research Project Mentor
Hobbies and Interests

Reading, sporadic baking binges, pre-pandemic traveling, exploring Pittsburgh cafes, being near the water.

Personal Biography

Living in Shadyside with my husband of almost one year, Jimmy, my favorite human and a med-peds physician currently working in Street Medicine. No pets- I have an irrational fear of dogs and Jimmy's allergic to cats. Maybe we'll get a fish one day.

Travel Interests and Languages

My favorite place to travel is Europe, which was way easier to do while I was in Ireland for medical school. But post COVID, I'm most excited to travel back home to Trinidad and Tobago to see my parents and siblings! I only speak English, but my family is originally from Syria, so I can understand some Arabic and am hoping to learn more!

"Likes" about UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

I love how welcoming everyone was to me, despite the pandemic making in person socializing difficult. I felt supported by my co-fellows, attendings and mentors. Specific shout out to our allergy co-fellows who shared our work space and made our time extra interesting! The faculty, fellows, residents and staff here at Children's Hospital are so dedicated and compassionate about caring for children and their families, and it has been so heartwarming and uplifting to be around.

Selected Publications

Atteih SE, Raraigh KS, Blackman SM, Cutting GR, Collaco JM. Predictive effects of low birth weight and small for gestational age status on respiratory and nutritional outcomes in cystic fibrosis. J Cyst Fibros. 2020 Nov;19(6):888-895. doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2020.02.003. Epub 2020 Feb 12. PMID: 32061517; PMCID: PMC7423594.

Atteih S & Ratner J. Endocrinology. In Kleinman, McDaniel & Molloy (Eds.), Harriett Lane Residency Handbook, 22ND Edition. Elsevier.

Atteih S. Targeting cystic fibrosis pathophysiology is changing the future for children worldwide. The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Student Medical Journal 2017;10(1) 99-104.

Atteih S. Continuous glucose monitoring: a sweet deal for pediatric type 1 diabetics. The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Student Medical Journal 2016; 9(1) 57-61.

Atteih S, Mellon M, Hickey A. Implications of stroke for caregiver outcomes: findings from the ASPIRE-S study. The International Journal of Stroke 2015; 10(6) 918-23.

Mellon L, McElvaney N, Cormican L, Atteih S et al. Determining rates of smoking cessation advice delivered during hospitalization and smoking cessation rates 3 months post discharge: a two hospital survey. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine 2016; 4(1) 124-137.