Emily Beers, M.D., recently began seeing patients in the UPMC Wound Healing Center at UPMC McKeesport. She specializes in breast reduction, the removal of excess skin/fat from the abdomen post-weight loss, skin cancer and wound care.
Dr. Beers obtained her medical degrees from Ohio State University College of Medicine and completed her residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She also completed a palliative care fellowship at Northwestern Medicine, and is board certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
The Traverse City, Michigan, native recently sat down with a representative from UPMC to discuss what brought her to the Pittsburgh area, as well as what her patients can expect.
What made you want to go into plastic and reconstructive surgery, as well as palliative care?
A: I have always been a hands on person and very much enjoyed my surgical experiences. I chose plastic surgery specifically because of its diversity and mission – plastics touches every age and demographic, and the focus is on restoring wholeness and normalcy to people affected by disease. I did quite a bit of breast cancer reconstruction in my first years in practice, and through those patients I realized that there was a deeper, non-surgical aspect to patient care that I wanted to explore. I wanted to know how to better take care of patients for whom surgery is no longer a treatment option.
What made you want to join the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at UPMC?
A: UPMC has been very gracious to let me practice both of my specialties, and this is an amazing institution that embraces unusual cross-disciplinary people such as myself.
Why did you choose to practice at UPMC McKeesport?
A: My former plastic surgery practice was at a community hospital, and I very much enjoy the experience of caring for a local group of patients.
What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
A: In surgery, it’s restoring wholeness and pre-illness sense of self. In palliative care, it’s helping patients navigate some of the most difficult decisions in their lives.
What can patients expect from you?
A: Patients can expect that I will do everything possible to match their goals with my treatment plan. I understand that each person has a unique set of needs in their health care, and I will do my absolute best to make sure I take care of the individual rather than the problem.
