Benedict (Ben) Alter, MD, PhD Image I am a physician-scientist studying the mechanisms and clinical impact of pain modulation with the goal of improving pain management. Currently, I am an Assistant Professor and Director of Translational Pain Research in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. My research group focuses on the role of endogenous pain modulation in chronic pain and identifying ways to leverage pain dampening systems for novel pain therapies and biomarkers. My research-track residency in the Department of Anesthesia at UCSF was an incredible time of opportunity and change. Coming into residency, I was already committed to a research career. However, up until then, I studied animal models of pain. During my clinical training, it became clear to me that rigorous human research, both preclinical and clinical, was required to tackle the big questions in the pain field that I wanted to devote my scientific life to answer. I was incredibly lucky to come to this realization at UCSF. During the research-track residency, the Anesthesia department supported me in post-doctoral work with Dr. Howard Fields (Neurology), examining pain perception in healthy volunteers. I also trained in clinical research. Both efforts directly led to my current research program, supported by career development awards from anesthesia foundations and the NIH. In a collaborative spirit impressed upon me during my time at UCSF, I continue to work with amazing investigators at UCSF across multiple departments, including the Anesthesia department. Training at UCSF Anesthesia was an honor and a privilege which has helped me in my career as a physician-scientist. Benedict (Ben) Alter, MD, PhDClass of 2016 Submit your story here. Included in this issue:Chair's LetterClinical HighlightsEducation HighlightsResearch HighlightsStaff HighlightsOur PeopleCulture and Belonging and Global Health EquityOur SitesDevelopment
