Department of Medicine
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Faculty Profiles
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photo Ryan K. Shields, PharmD, MS

Infectious Diseases

Associate Professor of Medicine

Co-Director, Antibiotic Management Program

Email: shieldsrk@upmc.edu

Phone: 412-864-3745
Contact
Office: BST E1055
200 Lothrop Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
 
Phone: 412-864-3745
Fax: 412-648-6399
E-mail: shieldsrk@upmc.edu
Administrative Assistant:
Megan Moore
Email: MFM62@pitt.edu
Phone: 412-624-9583
Education and Training
Education
PharmD, Ferris State University, 2007
MS, Clinical Research, University of Pittsburgh, 2013
Training
Pharmacy Practice Residency (PGY1), Saint Louis University Hospital, 2008
Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency (PGY2), University of Pittsburgh, 2009
Research Interest
Dr. Shields is a translational researcher who is interested in antimicrobial drug resistance in gram-negative bacteria and yeast. His research focuses on the use of molecular markers of resistance to predict patient responses to treatment; the use of pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic models to suppress and overcome antimicrobial resistance; antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods; and the clinical impact of infections due to extensively-drug resistant pathogens. Using these approaches, Dr. Shields has developed treatment paradigms for difficult-to-treat pathogens, including Candida glabrata, Acinetobacter baumannii, and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, leading to improved patient outcomes. Dr. Shields's laboratory is also interested in elucidating new mechanisms of antimicrobial drug resistance against recently FDA-approved antimicrobial agents.
Clinical Interest
Dr. Shields is a pharmacist and contributor to the Antimicrobial Management Program and Transplant Infectious Diseases services. His clinical responsibilities include the management of patients infected by drug-resistant pathogens.
Educational Interest
Dr. Shields lectures in the School of Medicine, providing educaton on antimicrobial agents, mechanisms of drug resistance, and the rationale use of antibiotics. He also provides mentorship for medical and pharmacy trainees pursing clinical and translational research.
Publications
For my complete bibliography, Click Here.
Selected Publications:
Qureshi ZA, Syed A, Clarke LG, Doi Y, Shields RK. Epidemiology and clinical outcomes of patients with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteriuria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2014; Epub ahead of print.
Oleksuik LM, Nguyen MH, Press EG, Updike CL, Clancy CJ, Shields RK. In vitro responses of Acinetobacter baumannii to two- and three-drug combinations following exposure to colistin and doripenem. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2014; 58: 1195.
Eschenauer GA, Nguyen MH, Shoham S, Vazquez JA, Morris AJ, Pasculle WA, Kubin CJ, Shields RK, Clancy CJ. Real-world experience with echinocandin MICs against Candida species: A multi-center study of hospitals that routinely perform susceptibility testing of bloodstream isolates. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2014; Epub ahead of print.
Clancy CJ, Hao B, Shields RK, Chen L, Perlin DS, Kreiswirth BN, Nguyen MH. Doripenem, colistin, and gentamicin alone and in combinations against gentamicin-susceptible, KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains with various ompK36 genotypes. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2014; Epub ahead of print.
Minces LR, Nguyen MH, Mitsani DM, Shields RK, Kwak EJ, Silveira FP, Pilewski JM, Bhama JK, Clancy CJ. Ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections among lung transplant recipients are associated with poor outcomes despite treatment with foscarnet-containing regimens. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2014; 58: 128.
Johnson L, Shields RK, Clancy CJ. Scedosporium colonization and scedosporiosis in solid organ transplant recipients. Transplant Infect Dis. 2014; Epub ahead of print.
Clancy CJ, Bartsch SM, Nguyen MH, Stuckey DR, Shields RK, Lee BY. A computer simulation model of cost-effectiveness of routine Staphylococcus aureus screening and decolonization among lung and heart-lung transplant recipients. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2014; Epub ahead of print.
Shields RK, Clancy CJ, Minces LR, Shigemura N, Kwak EJ, Silveira FP, Abdel Massih RC, Bermudez CA, Nguyen MH. Epidemiology and outcomes of deep surgical site infections following lung transplantation. American Journal of Transplantation. 2013; [Epub ahead of print].
Shields RK, Nguyen MH, Press EG, Updike CL, Clancy CJ. Caspofungin MICs correlate with treatment outcomes among patients with Candida glabrata invasive candidiasis and prior echinocandin exposure. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 2013; [Epub ahead of print].
Clancy CJ, Chen L, Shields RK, Zhao Y, Cheng S, Humar A, Perlin DS, Kreiswirth BN, Nguyen MH. Epidemiology and molecular characterization of bacteremia due to carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in transplant recipients. American Journal of Transplantation. 2013; [Epub ahead of print].
Sponsored Research/Activities
Title: Use of site-specific pharmacokinetics to optimize antibiotic combinations and prevent the emergence of resistance
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Health
Grant Number: R21 AI151363
Start Year: 2020
End Year: 2022
Title: Clinical manifestations, healthcare utilization, and financial burden of CRE infections
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Merck
Start Year: 2019
End Year: 2021
Title: Characterization and suppression of resistance to new CRE agents
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases
Grant Number: R03 AI144636
Start Year: 2019
End Year: 2021
Title: Caspofungin Pharmacokinetics-Pharmacodynamics During Intra-Abdominal Candidiasis
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases
Grant Number: K08 AI114883
Start Year: 2015
End Year: 2020
Notable Achievements
Outstanding Thesis in Clinical Research Award, University of Pittsburgh, 2014
Adviser, Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute - Antifungal Susceptibility Testing Subcommittee, 2016

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

Department of Medicine
1218 Scaife Hall
3550 Terrace Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Email:  chairoff@pitt.edu
Phone:  412-648-9636
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