Pat has been an RN for 30 years. She has worked in various capacities as a critical care RN, staff development, and clinical nurse manager in the ICU setting. In 1996, she became the nurse manager for primary care offices for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). The responsibilities included clinical and financial day-to-day operations. In 2001, she joined the research team at UPMC and subsequently the Department of Neurosurgery conducting device research for Dr.William C. Welch. Additionally Pat was responsible for project management of all basic science conducted in the Welch Biomechanics Research Lab. Currently Pat functions as the Research Facilitator for the Clinical andTranslational Science Institute at the University og Pittsburgh.