Paula Goldman, MD

Hometown: Deerfield, IL

College/Medical School: University of Notre Dame/University of Michigan Medical School

Residency: University of Wisconsin – Family Medicine Residency

Career/Research Interests:

• Substance use
• Gender care
• Health equity
• Improving access to care

Hobbies and Interests: Hiking, camping, visiting National Parks, snowshoeing, skating, road trips, reading 

S.O./Married/Kids/Pets: Married to Kartik, my study buddy and best friend from medical school

Travel/Languages: I have been fortunate enough to live for a few months in Panama, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic./Spanish

Likes About UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh: I love UPMC Children's Hospital’s warm atmosphere, community engagement, and  advocacy for Pittsburgh youth.

I grew up in Deerfield, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, and pursued my education at a variety of sites across the Midwest. As an undergraduate, I studied Psychology and Poverty Studies at the University of Notre Dame. I then attended University of Michigan Medical School, where I had the opportunity to broaden my understanding of public health and health inequities via the Global Health and Disparities Path of Excellence and my role as a Health Equity Scholar.

I subsequently completed my Family Medicine Residency at the University of Wisconsin. During residency, my love of adolescent care grew as I had the opportunity to pursue my interests in substance use disorders, gender care, mental health, women’s health and family planning. Between residency and fellowship, I had the privilege of spending a year working for Indian Health Services at the Passamaquoddy Reservation in Maine and the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico.

I was drawn to the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP) for my Adolescent Medicine Fellowship because of the opportunity for excellent training in both clinical and research skills in addition to the institution-wide commitment to advocacy and community engagement. In the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at CHP, I have found incredible mentorship from faculty who are welcoming, accessible, and have a diverse array of interests and expertise. The department shows unique commitment to integrated mental health care and expanding access to substance use services for adolescent and young adult patients. Faculty are also engaged in the community in a variety of settings, from schools to the 412 Youth Zone to the Juvenile Detention Center and beyond. The department is also extremely supportive of continued learning, offering a Masters in either Clinical Research or Medical Education. I am honored to be part of such a strong and close-knit academic community, and I look forward to continuing to grow as a clinician, researcher, and advocate during my time at CHP.