Department of Medicine
Faculty Profiles by Division

Division of Geriatric Medicine

Faculty Profiles
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photo Debra K. Weiner, MD

Geriatrics

Professor of Medicine

Associate Director, Geriatric Fellowship Program

Email: dweiner@pitt.edu

Phone: 412-692-2360
Contact
Office: 3471 Fifth Avenue
Kaufmann Building, Suite 500
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
 
Phone: 412-692-2360
Fax: 412-692-2370
E-mail: dweiner@pitt.edu
Administrative Assistant:
Linda Eazor
Address: 3471 Fifth Ave, Suite 500
Kaufmann Medical Building
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Email: lre9@pitt.edu
Phone: 412-802-8615
Fax: 412-692-2370
Education and Training
Education
BA, Washington University, 1978
MD, University of Missouri, 1983
Post-Sophomore Pathology Fellowship, University of Missouri, 1980
Training
Internal Medicine Residency, Jewish Hospital of St. Louis, 1983
Fellowship, Geriatrics, Jewish Hospital of St. Louis, 1986
Fellowship, Rheumatology, Duke University Medical Center, 1987
DANA fellowship; geriatric dysmobility, Duke University Medical Center, 1989
Research Interest
A Professor with dual training in geriatrics, rheumatology, and acupuncture, Dr Weiner’s research focuses on chronic pain. She is PI of two VA Merit Review studies: 1) a multisite pilot study designed to improve management of chronic low back pain (CLBP) in older adults; and a 2) multisite prospective cohort study to ascertain predictors of outcome in veterans undergoing decompressive laminectomy for lumbar spinal stenosis. She is also PI of a GRECC pilot study to develop an electronic patient screening and educational tool for older adults with CLBP. She also collaborates on NIH-funded studies that evaluate the contribution of hip osteoarthritis to pain and function in older adults with CLBP and that develop pain education for pre-professional students. Finally, she is co-Director of the University of Pittsburgh’s NIDA-funded Center of Excellence in Pain Education.
Clinical Interest
Dr. Weiner sees patients for pain related issues at the Benedum Geriatric Clinic located in Montefiore Hospital.
Publications
For my complete bibliography, Click Here.
Selected Publications:
Weiner, D.K., Rudy, T.E., Glick, R.M., Boston, J.R., Lieber, S.J., Morrow, L., Taylor, S. Efficacy of percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) for the treatment of chronic low back pain in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2003; 51: 599-608.
Morone, N.E., Greco, C.M., Weiner, D.K. Mindfulness meditation for the treatment of chronic low back pain in older adults: A randomized controlled pilot study. Pain. 2008; 134 (3): 310-19.
Weiner, D.K., Perera, S., Rudy, T.E., Glick, R.M., Shenoy, S., Delitto, A. Efficacy of percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and therapeutic exercise for older adults with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Pain. 2008; 140: 344-357.
Weiner, D.K., Moore, C.G., Morone, N.E., Lee, E.S., Kwoh, C.K. Efficacy of periosteal stimulation for chronic pain associated with advanced knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Clinical Therapeutics. 2013; 35 (11): 1703-20.
Deyo, R.A., Dworkin, S.F., Amtmann, D., Andersson, G., Borenstein, D., Carragee, E., Carrino, J., Chou, R., Cook, K., DeLitto, A., Goertz, C., Khalsa, P., Loeser, J., Mackey, S., Panagis, J., Rainville, J., Tosteson, T., Turk, D., Von Korff, M., Weiner, D.K. Report of the NIH task force on research standards for chronic low back pain. Journal of Pain. 2014; 15 (5): 569-585.
Duncan, P.W., Weiner, D.K., Chandler, J., Studenski, S. Functional reach: a new clinical measure of balance. Journal of Gerontology. 1990; 45 (6): M192-197.
Weiner, D.K., Duncan, P.W., Chandler, J., Studenski, S.A. Functional reach: a marker of physical frailty. Journal of the American Geriatric Society. 1992; 40: 203-7.
Weiner, D.K., Bongiorni, D.R., Studenski, S.A., Duncan, P.W., Kochersberger, G.G. Does functional reach improve with rehabilitation?. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 1993; 74: 796-800.
Weiner, D., Peterson, B., Keefe, F. Evaluating persistent pain in long term care residents: What role for pain maps?. Pain. 1998; 76: 249-57.
Weiner, D.K., Peterson, B.L., Logue, P., Keefe, F.J. Predictors of pain self-report in nursing home residents. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research. 1998; 10: 411-20.
Sponsored Research/Activities
Title: Patient-Centered versus Imaging-Directed Care for Older Veterans with Chronic LBP
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: US Department of Veterans Affairs
Grant Number: RES
Start Year: 2018
End Year: 2019
Title: HEALing LB3P: Profiling Biomechanical, Biological and Behavioral phenotypes
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Health
Grant Number: U19 AR076725
Start Year: 2019
End Year: 2024
Title: Chronic Back Pain in Older Adults: The Role of Co-Existing Hip Impairments
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: University of Delaware/ National Institute of Aging
Grant Number: R01
Start Year: 2018
End Year: 2019
Title: Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults: The Role of Co-Existing Hip Impairments
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: University of Delaware/National Institute of Aging
Grant Number: R01 AG041202
Start Year: 2012
End Year: 2017
Notable Achievements
Editorial Board, Pain Medicine, 2000-present
Senior Editor, Pain Medicine, 2011-present
NIH Pain Consortium Task Force on Research Standards for Chronic Low Back Pain, 2013-14
Professional Advisory Board, American Chronic Pain Association, 2011-present
Excellence in Research Award, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, 2014
Ad Hoc reviewer of NIH grant applications, 2013-present
Pittsburgh Magazine, “Best Doctors”, 2015

Division Websites

Cardiology

Endocrinology and Metabolism

Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

General Internal Medicine

Geriatric Medicine
Hematology/Oncology

Infectious Diseases

Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Renal-Electrolyte

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Contact

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Phone:  412-648-9636
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