Our Experts

It takes a team of medical professionals from a variety of specialties — medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and psychology — to develop individual pain treatment plans. UPMC Pain Medicine is staffed with experts in pain treatment and management who can help relieve your pain so you may get back to leading a full and active life.

Our Doctors

Ajay Wasan, MD, MA, MMSc
Vice Chair for Pain Medicine

Benedict Alter, MD, PhD

Cheryl Bernstein, MD

Scott Brancolini, MD, MPH, Associate Fellowship Director

Gaurav Chauhan, MD

ZongFu Chen, MD

Trent Emerick, MD, MBA , Director of Quality Improvement, Fellowship Director, Interim Medical Director

Edward K. Heres, MD, Associate Medical Director

Jiayun Lu, MD

Eric Magda, MD

Ahdy Nassif, MD, PhD

Danielle Zheng, MD, PhD

Advanced Practice Providers

Jessica Brown, CRNP

Eric Cheponis, PA-C

Amy Croushore, FNP

Erin Haberman, CRNP

Nicole Lukaszewicz, CRNP

Hoa Kevin Luong, PA-C

Kara Martin, CRNP

Kristin Koontz Pivovarnik, PA-C 

Dane Sink, PA-C

Behavioral Staff

Susan Jarquin, PhD
Pain Rehabilitation Coordinator

Jessica Kieta, PsyD

Daniel Paulus, PhD