Paria M. Wilson, MD, MEd

As an emergency care physician, I know bringing a child into the emergency department is one of the most stressful times in a parent’s life. They have to put their trust in a stranger, whether it is getting advice on managing an illness or watching care being delivered to their critically ill child. I hope to provide comfort to parents during these stressful times and want them to leave the emergency department understanding how they can manage their child's illness better.

I recognize the vulnerability of these situations in which we provide care to children and that I only see glimpses in people's lives. Therefore, my goal is to understand the whole picture of the child and family in front of me — their economic situation, home life and school environment.

I knew at the age of five I wanted to be a pediatrician. What I didn’t realize was how much I desired to be a jack-of-all-trades. First and foremost, I wanted to be a pediatrician able to care for lower acuity complaints, but I also wanted to develop the skillset of an emergency provider. I had witnessed the calm demeanor exhibited by emergency physicians in times of stress, and I wanted to learn how to emulate that.

During my time at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, I was awarded the Emergency Medicine Research Award and Preceptor of the Year Award. In addition, my research collaborators and I have been recognized by the Association of Pediatric Program Directors for multiple research awards. My fellow’s research project was awarded the Top Divisional Manuscript Honor in 2018. I’m also the Associate Fellowship Director for the Division of Emergency Medicine.

My research focuses on improving the well-being of trainee physicians so that they can provide better care to their patients. Large studies have shown the impact of physician burnout on patient outcomes. My goals are to understand the factors that impact our well-being and to focus on interventions to minimize these factors.

When I’m not working, my three little girls keep me very busy. We love being active, doing yoga, going on hikes and cooking. My favorite thing to do is to travel and discover new, amazing places in the world. San Sebastian and Cappadocia are amongst my favorites!

English is my second language. I also speak Farsi and Spanish fluently. I love connecting with families from other cultures and learning about their cultural practices.