GET TO KNOW YOUR LEADERSHIP
Q&A With Perry Tiberio, MD, PhD
LGBTQ+ at CHEST Interest Group Steering Committee
CHEST member since 2021
May 20, 2026
Where do you work, and what is your current position?
Allegheny Health Network (AHN), Pittsburgh, PA. Core faculty for the Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship and Assistant Professor of Medicine for Drexel University College of Medicine.
What are your clinical and/or research interests?
Medical education, delirium, postintensive care syndrome, sedation, health disparities, and mechanical ventilation.
What led you to join your Interest Group and become a Steering Committee member?
Joining the LGBTQ+ at CHEST Interest Group Steering Committee is deeply personal. As an out physician, I’ve navigated the complexities of identity in medicine, and I recognize that the hospital can be a challenging space for LGBTQ+ patients and providers to be truly vulnerable. I am eager to scale my commitment to ensuring patients and their “chosen families” feel seen and safe through the work of this committee.
How does this Interest Group enhance your experience as a CHEST member?
This Interest Group provides a professional home base where I can bridge my identity with my clinical career. As a core faculty member for the AHN Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship, the networking and resources in this Interest Group allow me to stay at the forefront of inclusive medicine. It ensures my CHEST membership is not just about clinical updates but about collaborating with peers to make our field more representative and empathetic for the next generation.
Who or what has inspired you in your journey in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine?
My journey is deeply shaped by the mentorship from Tim Girard, MD, (during my fellowship training) and his mentor Wes Ely, MD, MPH, FCCP. I am inspired by Tim’s rigorous work on the “Wake Up and Breathe” trial, which provided the evidence-based foundation for how we manage sedation and ventilator liberation.
Dr. Ely paved the way for how we think about and manage ICU delirium and postintensive care syndrome, beautifully captured in his book, Every Deep-Drawn Breath. Together, their influence drives my commitment to humanizing critical care and informs how I mentor my own fellows at AHN today.
What activities or hobbies do you enjoy that might surprise your colleagues?
I am a massive Stephen King fan and a dedicated gamer. Immersing myself in a novel or a complex role-playing game allows me to recharge and ready myself for another day of work.
What is something you cannot live without (after family and friends)?
My Carolina dogs, Mateo and Kira.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with your Interest Group peers?
I am a firm believer that none of us succeed in a vacuum. I am constantly learning how to better advocate for myself and others, and I deeply value the relationships, whether mentor, mentee, or colleague, that sustain us in this field. I look forward to building those support systems with all of you as we work to ensure every clinician and patient has the community they need to thrive.
MORE ABOUT LGBTQ+ AT CHEST INTEREST GROUP »