The Pitt and Medical Portrayals in TV and Film, Standardizing the Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy – Episode 247

Dr. Owusu-Ansah is an associate professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She is a board-certified pediatrician with a specialization in pediatric emergency medicine and serves as an EMS physician. Currently, she holds the positions of EMS Medical Director and Associate Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. As a dedicated advocate, educator, and researcher, Dr. Owusu-Ansah actively promotes the principles of pediatric emergency medicine and emergency medical services within both academic settings and the wider community. Her significant contributions have earned her multiple awards and recognitions, and her work has been featured in esteemed media outlets, including The New York Times, Huffington Post, and US News and World Report. 

Throughout her career, Dr. Owusu-Ansah has trained over 2,000 individuals in CPR, including prominent figures such as Ed Gainey, Pittsburgh's first Black mayor, as well as members of the University of Pittsburgh's Division I athletic teams. Notably, she played a crucial role in an event where a soccer goalkeeper utilized CPR skills learned under her guidance to save her father's life, an effort documented in the New England Journal of Medicine. 

Additionally, Dr. Owusu-Ansah co-leads a program aimed at underserved middle school students, providing them with healthcare and lifesaving skills while mentoring medical students of color. As the CEO and co-founder of Akoma United, she is committed to empowering underserved communities with vital skills, including initiatives targeted at Ghana. Furthermore, she is in the process of developing a book and co-owns the short film "In Good Hands," which has progressed to the semi-finals at the 2025 New York Independent Film Festival. Dr. Owusu-Ansah also served as an advisor for the inaugural season of the medical drama series "The Pitt," available for streaming on MAX. 

Dr. Aravamuthan is an assistant professor of neurology and Director of the Cerebral Palsy and Mobility Center at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. As a systems neuroscientist and pediatric movement disorders specialist, she conducts translational research on dystonia pathophysiology in cerebral palsy.  Her research is funded through multiple sources including NINDS, CDC, and ABPN and her awards include the American Academy of Neurology Jon Stolk Award and Child Neurology Society Phillip R. Dodge Award. She is married to an adult epileptologist and a mom to 7-year-old twin boys and a 5-year-old girl.