Lisa Borghesi, PhD

Dr. Borghesi is a Professor of Immunology and the Assistant Dean of Foundations with primary responsibilities in the pre-clerkships (MS1-2) curriculum.

She is deeply committed to medical education in a thriving academic environment. Dr. Borghesi’s pedagogical leadership and innovations are recognized with the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award (2021) and membership in the Academy of Distinguished Medical Educators (2022). Her accomplishments in education have been recognized through invited lectures that profiled her curricular materials.

Dr. Borghesi joined the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2004, leading an NIH funded research program in B lymphocyte development and function, and serving as Director of the Unified Flow Cytometry Core. She has secured >$7M in NIH direct funds to advance her immunology research and procure new instrumentation technologies that elevate the impact of biomedical research across the university.

Nationally, Dr. Borghesi served as Section Editor for the Journal of Immunology, was a standing member or co-chair of NIH study sections and was appointed to the Faculty of 1000 (F1000). In her six years as a member of the Public Affairs Committee of the American Association of Immunologists, she advocated for immunologists’ interests to Congress and met with elected officials on Capitol Hill. Locally, Dr. Borghesi collaborated with the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, spearheading an IRB-approved study to identify programs that best assist women. She is active in voting rights and election awareness.