Department of Medicine
Faculty Profiles by Division

Division of General Internal Medicine

Faculty Profiles
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photo Galen E. Switzer, PhD

Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry, and Clinical and Translational Science

Director, PhD Program in Clinical and Translational Science

Co-Director, VA Health Services Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

Email: gswitzer@pitt.edu

Phone: 412-692-4837
Contact
Office: 600 McKee Professional Building
230 McKee Place
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
 
Phone: 412-692-4837
Fax: 412-692-4838
E-mail: gswitzer@pitt.edu
Administrative Assistant:
Jessica Bruce
Address: 600 McKee Professional Building
230 McKee Place
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Phone: 412-246-6564
Fax: 412-586-9255
Administrative Assistant:
Vidya Kuniyil
Address: 600 McKee Professional Building
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Email: vik46@pitt.edu
Phone: 412-246-6564
Fax: 412-586-9255
Education and Training
Education
BA, Psychology, McPherson College, 1985
MA, Social Psychology, Arizona State University, 1989
PhD, Sociology, University of Colorado, Boulder, 1993
Training
Postdoctoral Studies in Medical Sociology, University of Pittsburgh, 1996
Research Interest
Dr. Switzer is a leading expert in the motives and experiences of individuals who join an adult stem cell donation registry and volunteer to donate to a stranger. In collaboration with the US-based National Marrow Donor Program, UK-based Anthony Nolan Registry, and German-based DKMS, his research group has become internationally known for producing key findings about the experiences of registry members at critical points leading to donation, including motivations for joining the registry and factors associated with opting-out of the registry after having preliminarily matched a patient in need of a transplant. Dr. Switzer has also investigated all facets of the donation experience from the donor perspective. His research group is the most prominent group currently investigating Health Related Quality of Life among HSC donors and has produced important findings about donor experiences.Finally, for more than 20 years Dr. Switzer has developed and evaluated clinical and psychosocial research measures and compiled validated measures for research projects across multiple contexts. As part of his completed and ongoing projects, his research group has collected and analyzed questionnaire and interview data from >10,000 participants.
Educational Interest
Dr. Switzer is the Director of the PhD Program in Clinical and Translational Science and teaches graduate students through the Institute for Clinical Research Education (ICRE). He has extensive training and experience in qualitative and quantitative measurement and the administration of survey-based investigations. Dr. Switzer has trained and mentored many junior investigators in quantitative and qualitative methods and instructs a core ICRE course focused on Measurement in Clinical Research for our Certificate, MS, and PhD programs in clinical and translational science.
Publications
For my complete bibliography, Click Here.
Selected Publications:
Pulsipher, M.A. et al, Switzer, G.E. Higher risks of toxicity and incomplete recovery in 13-17 year old females after marrow donation: RDSafe peds results. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 2019.
La Casta, A.H., Shaw, B.E., Anthias, C., Bruce, J.G., Pastorek, G., Billen, A., O’Leary, A., Switzer, G.E. Motives for joining an unrelated HSC donor registry: Description, categorization, and association with donor availability. Bone Marrow Transplantation. 2018; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-018-0278-2.
Switzer, G.E., Macis, M., Fabi, R., Abress, L., Confer, D., Bruce, J., Howe, K., Fowler, S., McNulty, M., Pastorek, G., Dew, M.A. Providing level-of-match information to perfectly matched unrelated donors: Evaluating acceptability and potential changes in donor availability. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 2018; 24(10): 2110-2118.
Dew, M.A., Switzer, G.E. Listening to living donors. Transplantation. 2018; 102(5): 718-719.
Switzer, G.E., Bruce, J., Pastorek, G., Kiefer, D.M., Koyusingye, H., Drexler, R., Besser, R., Confer, D.L., Horowitz, M.M., King, R., Shaw, B., van Walraven, S.M., Wiener, L., Packman, W., Varni, J., Pulsipher, M.A. Parent versus child donor perceptions of the bone marrow donation experience. Bone Marrow Transplantation. 2017; 52(9): 1338-1341.
Switzer, G.E., Bruce, J.G., Kiefer, D.M., Kobusingye, H., Drexler, R., Besser, R.M., Confer, D.L., Horowitz, M.M., King, R.J., Shaw, B.E., Riches, M., Hayes-Lattin, B., Linenberger, M., Bolwell, B., Rowley, S.D., Litzow, M.R., Pulsipher, M.A. Health-related quality of life among older related HSC donors (>60 Yrs.) is equivalent to that of younger related donors (18-60 Yrs.): An RDSafe study. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 2017; 23(1): 165-171.
Switzer, G.E., Bruce, J., Kiefer, D.M., Kobusingye, H., Drexler, R., Besser, R.M., Confer, D.L., Horowitz, M.M., King, R.J., Shaw, B.E., van Walraven, S.M., Wiener, L., Varni, J.W., Pulsipher, M.A. Health-related quality of life among pediatric hematopoietic stem cell donors. Journal of Pediatrics. 2016; 178: 178:164-170.e1.
Switzer, G.E., Bruce, J.G., Harrington, D., Haagenson, M., Drexler, R., Foley, A., Confer, D.L., Bishop, M., Anderlini, P., Rowley, S., Leitmen, S.F., Anasetti, C., Wingard, J.R. Health-related QoL of bone marrow versus PBSC donors: A Pre-specified subgroup analysis from a phase III RCT—BMTCTN protocol 0201. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 2014; 20(1): 118-127.
Switzer, G.E., Bruce, J.G., Myaskovsky, L., DiMartini, A., Shellmer, D., Confer, D.L., Abress, L.K., King, R.J., Harnaha, A.G., Ohngemach, S., Dew, M.A. Race and ethnicity in decisions about unrelated hematopoietic stem cell donation. Blood. 2013; 121(8): 1469-1476.
Switzer, G.E., Dew, M.A., Harrington, D.J., Crowley-Matoka, M., Myaskovsky, L., Abress, L.K., Confer, D.L. Ethnic differences in donation-related characteristics among potential hematopoietic stem cell donors. Transplantation. 2005; 80(7): 890-896.
Sponsored Research/Activities
Title: Improving the Availability of Younger Unrelated Hematopoietic Stem Cell Donors
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: R01 HL130388
Start Year: 2016
End Year: 2019
Title: Evaluation of a New High-Priority Donor Messaging
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Marrow Donor Program
Start Year: 2015
End Year: 2016
Title: Evaluation of a New High Priority Donor Messaging
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Marrow Donor Program
Grant Number: not available
Start Year: 2015
End Year: 2016
Title: The Role of Prospective Altruism in Stem Cell Donation
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Georgetown University
Start Year: 2015
End Year: 2016
Title: Understanding Millennial Volunteer Stem Cell Donors - A Qualitative Project
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Marrow Donor Program
Grant Number: XNV 72-196
Start Year: 2014
End Year: 2015
Title: The Role of Ethnicity in Unrelated Potential HSC Donor Decisions: An International Investigation of a Diverse Groupd of UK and US Potential Donors
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Anthony Nolan Trust
Start Year: 2013
End Year: 2016
Title: The Role of Ethnicity in Unrelated Potential HSC Donor Decisions: An International Investigation of a Diverse Group of UK and US Potential Donors
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Anthony Nolan Research Institute
Grant Number: XNV 72-176
Start Year: 2013
End Year: 2016
Title: International Comparisons of the Role of Race and Ethnicity in Hematopoietic Stem Cell donation Decisions
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Anthony Nolan Research Institute
Grant Number: XNV 72-180
Start Year: 2013
End Year: 2016
Title: University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute (Team Science)
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Grant Number: UL1 TR001857
Start Year: 2016
End Year: 2021
Title: Sponsored Health IT and Evidence-Based Prescribing Among Medical Residents
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Grant Number: R21 HS022927
Start Year: 2014
End Year: 2016
Title: Sponsored Health IT and Evidence-Based Prescribing Among Medical Residents
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Grant Number: R21 HS022927
Start Year: 2014
End Year: 2016
Title: The Role of Prospective Altruism in Stem Cell Donation
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: Templeton Foundation
Grant Number: XNV 72-229
Start Year: 2014
End Year: 2016
Title: Understanding Millennial Volunteer Stem Cell Donors - A Qualitative Project
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Marrow Donor Program
Start Year: 2014
End Year: 2015
Title: Examining Contraceptive Use and Unmet Need Among Women Veterans
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: VA HSR&D
Grant Number: I01 IIR 12-124
Start Year: 2013
End Year: 2016
Title: Understanding Women's Disparities in Satisfaction with VA Health Care (DISC Women)
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: VA HSR&D
Grant Number: SDR SDR 13-425
Start Year: 2013
End Year: 2016
Title: National Survey of Physician Perceptions of VA Prescribing Policies and Practices
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: Southern California Institute for Research
Grant Number: XNV 72-192
Start Year: 2013
End Year: 2015
Title: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Satisfaction with VA Care
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: VA HSR&D
Grant Number: I01 IIR 10-144
Start Year: 2011
End Year: 2015
Title: RDSafe: A Multi-Institutional Study of HSC Donor Safety and Quality of Life
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: University of Utah/National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: R01 HL085707
Start Year: 2008
End Year: 2015
Title: Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion
Role: Associate Director
Funding Agency: VA HSR&D
Grant Number: Center CIN 13-405
Start Year: 2013
End Year: 2018
Title: Transcription and Survey Services Needs Assessment and Pilot
Role: Co-Director
Funding Agency: VA HSR&D
Grant Number: Admin FOP 14-441
Start Year: 2014
End Year: 2015
Title: University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute - Research Education Core
Role: Director
Funding Agency: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Grant Number: UL1 TR000005
Start Year: 2011
End Year: 2016
Notable Achievements
Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Pittsburgh Institute for Clinical Research Education, 2018
Best Publication Award: Sociology of Mental Health Section, American Sociological Association. Handbook on the Sociology of Mental Health Aheshensel C.S. and J.C. Phelan (Eds.), (1999)., 2001
Dlin/Fischer Clinical Research Award for significant contributions to research, 1999
Associate: Center for Medical Ethics, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 1993-present
University Fellow, University of Colorado, 1989-1991
Regents’ Fellow, Arizona State University, 1987-1988
Magna Cum Laude, McPherson College, 1985
Outstanding Research Project, Regional Research Competition, 1985

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Geriatric Medicine
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Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

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