Mission

Mission

The Department of Emergency Medicine is dedicated to improving outcomes of acutely ill and injured patients through high quality, cost efficient care, education, and research.

Our Commitment

Emergency Medicine has a unique position in a healthcare system because of its involvement in pre-hospital programs for transport of patient to and between hospitals. Emergency Medicine serves as a gateway to the health care system. Forty percent of all admissions to UPMC receive their first care in the Emergency Department.

Synergistic efforts between the Department of Emergency Medicine faculty, local EMS systems, the Center for Emergency Medicine, and local institutions have made the academic programs of the Department one of the top in the nation.

As a specialty, Emergency Medicine continues its maturation process. Over the past decade, the department has increased its extramural funding. The department is committed to conducting quality translational and clinical research and providing the necessary infrastructure for academic development. 

The Department of Emergency Medicine maintains a long-term commitment to actively promote relationships between UPMC and community hospitals. In addition to the core academic campuses at UPMC-Presbyterian, UPMC-Mercy and UPMC-Shadyside hospitals, UPMC provides professional staffing and management of Emergency Departments at multiple other affiliated hospitals.

History

Academic Emergency Medicine began at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 1978 when Ronald D. Stewart, M.D. was recruited to the University. Dr. Stewart became Medical Director of the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety Bureau of EMS and established, with the support of the University, the Center for Emergency Medicine. The University of Pittsburgh Affiliated Residency in Emergency Medicine was established in 1981 as a conjoint with Mercy Hospital, West Penn Hospital, and Presbyterian University Hospital. Dr. Paul Paris was recruited to be Director of the Affiliated Residency Program and Associate Medical Director of the City of Pittsburgh EMS.

Over the next 15 years, the Emergency Medicine programs at the University of Pittsburgh and the Center for Emergency Medicine gained national prominence by becoming the most prolific program in the nation. The maturation of the division earned the privilege of full departmental status in July 1995. After an exhaustive national search, Paul M. Paris, M.D. was appointed Chairman of the Department. Donald M. Yealy, M.D., who is a product of the Affiliated Residency Program of the University of Pittsburgh, was appointed Vice Chairman in 1994.