Beth Marie Piraino MD

Beth Piraino graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in biology. She attended one year of graduate school in biology, also at the Universify of Pittsburgh, before entering medical school in Philadelphia (Medical College of Pennsylvania, now Drexel Medical School). After graduating magna cum laude from medical school, she received her training in internal medicine and nephrology at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center following which she joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor of Medicine in 1982.

She has held numerous positions at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine including Interim Chief of the Renal Electrolye Division, Director of the Nephrology Training Program, Vice Chair in Internal Medicine, and Clinical Director of the Renal Electrolye Division. She is currently a tenured Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at UPSOM.

She was the Director of the Peritoneal Dialysis Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center dialysis program for many years. For a period of time she was also the Medical Director of DCI of Oakland/Pittsburgh, one of the outpatient dialysis programs of the non profit dialysis chain Dialysis Clinic Incorporated.

Her clinical research has long been in the arena of peritoneal dialysis, with particular focus on prevention of peritoneal dialysis related infections and improving outcomes of patients on home dialysis. She was the senior author of the International Society of Peritoneal DIalysis (ISPD) 2005 update on Peritonal Dialysis-Related Infectious Recommendations, and a contributor to the 2010 update. She was a member of the board, followed by position as Secretary of the ISPD for five years. She is a long term member of the ISPD and a strong supporter. She is on the editorial board of Peritoneal Dialysis International, the journal of the ISPD.