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Alan Finkelstein, MD

  • Director, Family Health Center Laboratory

Dr. Finkelstein loves the diversity of family medicine and the opportunity to connect with patients through every phase of their lives. During his training, he spent time on Native American reservations in the Southwest, and in Ecuador and India.  After residency, he spent four years serving a native Eskimo community in rural Alaska, where his practice included inpatient and outpatient care with emergency room work and lots of obstetrics. Dr. Finkelstein expanded his interest in medical procedures and developed interests in practice management and office orthopedics.

He joined the UPMC Shadyside Family Medicine Residency Program in 2001. At Shadyside, he supervises the Surgical, Emergency, and Procedural aspects of the curriculum; is a provider of Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid and Alcohol Use Disorders; leads the Point-of-Care Ultrasound team; and is the Laboratory Director.  He is developing skills in medical and surgical abortion and is currently working on a Master of Public Health degree. 

Dr. Finkelstein has served on several nonprofit Boards of Directors and is currently on the Jewish Healthcare Foundation’s Health Careers Futures board locally. When he’s not working, Dr. Finkelstein enjoys sailing, practicing piano, and fixing up old houses.

Teaching

  • MAT Faculty Development Conference
  • MAT Presentation – 2019 UPMC Family Medicine Refresher Course
  • Nexplanon Trainer
Representative Publications

2018 - 2019

  • Poster: Improved Control of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Primary Care Population Using Point-of-Care HbA1C Testing.  Ahuja Rahul, Finkelstein Alan
  • Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Annual Conference, Toronto, ON
  • UPMC Regional Research Family Medicine Conference, Altoona, PA
  • Shadyside Research Day

2017 - 2018

  • University of Pittsburgh OSCE:  November 22, 2017, December 21, 2017
  • Care of the Patient with A Disability.  Western PA Regional Title X Conference, November 1, 2017

2015 - 2016

  • Meeting Resident Scholarly Activity Requirements Through a Longitudinal Quality Improvement Curriculum, Journal of Graduate Medical Education MS. No. JGME-D-14-00360R1; Simasek M, Ballard S, Phelps P, Pingul-Ravano R, Kolb R, Finkelstein A, Weaver-Agostoni J, Takedai T Pub Med # 26217429
Presentations

2015 - 2016

  • Oversaw Catie Tarantine’s poster submission to the UPMC Quality Fair on Using an AmeriCorps member to address gaps in service delivery.  Poster Presented at UPMC Quality Fair, 9/2015
Grants

2020 - 2022

  • Point of Care Ultrasound in Primary Care Grant, Thomas M. Nimick Competitive Research Fund
  • Diabetes QI Assistant, Shadyside Hospital Foundation

2018 - 2019

  • Point of Care HbA1C Grant, Thomas M. Nimick Competitive Research Fund
  • Diabetes QI Assistant, Shadyside Hospital Foundation
  • Dually funded by Staunton Farms Foundation and Shadyside Hospital Foundation for MAT Coordinator Grant

2017 - 2018

  • Improved Control of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Primary Care Population Using Point-of-Care HbA1C Testing, Thomas M. Nimick Competitive Research Fund, 2017-2018. 
  • Diabetes Quality Improvement Assistant, Shadyside Hospital Foundation, 2012-2018.
  • Improving Diabetic Retinal Screening through Retinal Photography, Shadyside Hospital Foundation, 2016-2017.
  • Improving Glycemic Control Using Point-of-Care HbA1C Testing, Thomas M. Nimick Competitive Research Fund, 2017-2018.
Workshops

2015 - 2016

  • Co-Chair of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation’s campaign to Improve Utilization of the HPV Vaccine in Allegheny County, August 19, 2015