Dr. Erin Sullivan is a Professor of Anesthesiology within the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.  In addition to her professorship, Dr. Sullivan is the Chief of the Division of Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology for the University of Pittsburgh Physicians (UPP) Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Director of Cardiac Anesthesiology for the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, Associate Chief Anesthesiologist for the UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside Presbyterian Campus and the Associate Program Director of the Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship.  She holds a BS in Biochemistry from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and received her MD from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine New Orleans in 1986.

Dr. Sullivan’s postgraduate studies included appointments at several institutions throughout the country. Following a 1-year internship within the Department of Internal Medicine, Dr. Sullivan served as a resident within the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Texas, from 1987-1990. During that time, in 1990, she was appointed the Chief Resident of the Department of Anesthesiology. In 1990, Dr. Sullivan also completed two 1-year fellowships: one in Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine within the Department of Anesthesiology, and a research fellowship within the Department of Pharmacology, both at the University of Texas Health Science Center.

Today, Dr. Sullivan’s research interests include 1.) regional anesthesia and pain management in patients for cardiothoracic surgery; 2.) management and treatment of cardiac failure; 3.) inhalation therapy for treatment of pulmonary hypertension; 4.) antifibrinolytic therapy for the reduction of transfusion and perioperative bleeding in patients scheduled for cardiothoracic surgery; and 5.) utilization of thromboelastography and platelet function studies in parallel to guide transfusion therapy in patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery.

Dr. Sullivan has been a primary investigator for several industry-sponsored clinical trials and she served as a member of the University of Pittsburgh Institutional Review Board for 9 years.  She is the author of several book chapters for major textbooks of cardiothoracic anesthesiology, peer-reviewed journal articles, and numerous abstracts.

Dr. Sullivan is an active participant in the education of medical students, anesthesiology residents, fellows, and faculty. She served as the Chair of the Anesthesiology Residency Program Curriculum Committee and as Director of the Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship Program. Dr. Sullivan has achieved national recognition within her specialty through her appointment to several committees of professional societies, most notably the Education Committee of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, the Committee for Scientific and Educational Exhibits, Committee on Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on Surgical Anesthesia for the American Society of Anesthesiologists. She is a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. Dr. Sullivan has served as a question writer for the American Society of Anesthesiologists Self-Education and Evaluation Program and the American Board of Anesthesiology-American Society of Anesthesiologists Joint Council on In-Training Examinations. She serves as a Full Examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology Applied Examination and she is a Senior Editor for the American Board of Anesthesiology Structured Oral Exam Question Writing Committee. Additionally, she is a faculty advisor and mentor for residents, fellows and faculty in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine.

Dr. Sullivan serves her specialty at the local, state, and national level. She is a Past President and a member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Society of Anesthesiologists. She serves as a Delegate from Pennsylvania to the American Society of Anesthesiologists House of Delegates and is the Director from Pennsylvania to the Board of Directors of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Dr. Sullivan is the American Society of Anesthesiologists Section Chair for Subspecialties for the Division of Scientific Affairs, and Chair of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Committee on Governance Effectiveness and Efficiency.  From 2012-2020, Dr. Sullivan was named a “Best Doctor in Pittsburgh” and from 2010-2020, she was named a “Best Doctor in America.”  In 2015 Dr. Sullivan was elected to membership in the Association of University Anesthesiologists and she was recognized as one of the Top 20 Anesthesiology Professors by Medical Technology Schools.com.

View a list of Dr. Sullivan’s publications here.