Dr. Maria Simbra
Since she joined KDKA-TV, Dr. Maria has reported on a variety of timely health care topics – from new medical technology, to trends in health care, to diseases that touch our community — with both insight and empathy. KDKA viewers have come to view her as a trusted member of their hometown news team.
As a physician with the added credential of an advanced journalism degree, she has been recognized for her work with the Award of Excellence from the National Association of Medical Communicators in 2006, two nominations for a Mid-Atlantic National Association of Television Arts and Sciences Emmy Award in 2006 and 2007, and an Emmy award in 2008. She was named on Pittsburgh Magazine’s “40 under 40″ list, honoring the area’s influential young people.
A leader in medical journalism — she served on the Association of Health Care Journalists Board of Directors from 2005 to 2007. She was elected to the National Association of Medical Communicators Board of Directors in 2007.
In addition to reporting for KDKA, she has been a clinical assistant professor of neurology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and was in private practice neurology in Beaver County prior to that. Transitioning into a new specialty, she is pursuing a masters degree in public health, focusing on how the mass media affect public health.
In 2001, she decided to explore her long-standing interest in mass media, and entered the journalism and mass communications masters program at Point Park University. By 2003, she had completed her M.A. in journalism and mass communications. She now teaches medical journalism to both journalism students and medical students at Pittsburgh area universities.
Her other teaching activities include serving as faculty on the NIH’s “Medicine and the Media Symposium” in July 2004, as a Hearst Visiting Professional at Arizona State University in September 2005, and as a conference panelist for the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality in July 2006. She has written for PLoS (Public Library of Science) Medicine, Neurology Reviews, and the Pittsburgh Business Times. Her book review of the Health Writer’s Handbook appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association. She’s been featured in USA Today and Television Week.
Dr. Maria is active in a wide range of professional organizations and also finds time for volunteer work. With local charities, she serves as the Mistress of Ceremonies for the Alzheimer Association’s Annual Educational Program, she ran the Phoenix half-marathon for the American Stroke Association’s “Train to End Stroke,” she has been a panelist for the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” event, she has been a guest speaker at the American Cancer Society’s fashion show luncheon, and she has opened the play “Tuesdays with Morrie” for the ALS Association, and chairs its annual “Walk to d’Feet ALS.”
Prior to embarking on her dual career as a physician and medical correspondent, she undertook studies at West Virginia University, where she graduated summa cum laude with degrees in both biology and chemistry in 1989. In 1993, she earned her M.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Maria grew up in Morgantown, W.Va. She and her husband, Jeffrey Burket, an infectious disease physician, reside in the western suburbs of Pittsburgh. They welcomed their beautiful daughter into the world in January 2009.
Lyme Disease Cases Increase Locally
A map from a study in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and hygiene shows we’re in the green, meaning “low risk.” But what have doctors actually been seeing?
2012/02/07
Susan G. Komen Group Withdraws Planned Parenthood Funding
The breast cancer advocacy group Susan G. Komen for the Cure has withdrawn funding to Planned Parenthood – money that had been used for breast exams and mammograms.
2012/02/02
Pfizer Issues Recall For Birth Control Pills
If you take Lo?Ovral-28 for birth control – check your pills. Because of a packaging error, you may have received too many active pills…or too many inactive pills. Drug maker Pfizer is recalling these, and the generic equivalent. The worry — the pills won’t work.
2012/02/01
Study Finds Women Benefit From Statins
Who benefits more from cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins – men or women? Turns out, they both benefit.
2012/01/31
Genetic Tests On Lung Cancer May Someday Guide Treatment
Lung cancers are not all the same. Part of the difference is in the cancer’s genetics.
2012/01/27
Parents Urged To Help Crackdown On Childhood Obesity
There has been a huge push to crackdown on the childhood obesity epidemic in this country. However, doctors now say it’s not just up to the kids.
2012/01/24
New Study Reveals Sun’s Potential Harmful Effects On Kids
A new study shows many children and adolescents are not protecting themselves from the sun’s harmful rays and they could pay the price later in life.
2012/01/23
Where Is The Flu? Slow Start This Season
Although we are in the midst of flu season, the flu has been off to a slow start this year.
2012/01/19
Sleep Could Be Key To Weight Loss
So, you’ve made your New Year’s resolutions and you’ve been sticking to it: eating right, exercising regularly. But your weight hasn’t budged. What gives? Well, maybe it’s your sleep.
2012/01/18
Should Children With ADHD Get EKGs Before Starting Medication?
Should children get a heart screening before starting stimulant drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? One in four pediatricians thinks so in the first study asking doctors specifically about this topic.
2012/01/17
Researchers Study Kids’ Sleeping Habits
How your child sleeps as a baby may predict how he sleeps later in life.
2012/01/13
Fungicide Found In Orange Juice
Imports of orange juice have been stopped, as the FDA tests for an anti-fungal agent. Higher than acceptable levels of this agent have been found in orange juice from Brazil.
2012/01/12
Study: Risk Of Heart Attack Increases For Grieving Family Members
A study in the journal Circulation shows the risk of heart attack increases in the days and weeks after the death of a close loved one – especially for people who have had a heart attack before.
2012/01/10
Popular Over-The-Counter Drugs Under Voluntary Recall
A voluntary recall of some popular over-the-counter medications: Bufferin, Excedrin, Gas-X and No Doz. An internal review uncovered broken pills, chipped pills and the wrong pills in some bottles.
2012/01/09
Study: Driving With Cold Like Driving Drunk
A study conducted by a British insurance company says driving with a bad cold is like driving drunk. Motor safety experts found the driving skills of people who were sick dropped by 50 percent compared to those who are healthy.
2012/01/06
TV Schedule
| Full Program Grid | |
|---|---|
| 7:00 PM | CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley |
| 7:30 PM | The Insider |
| 8:00 PM | The Big Bang Theory |
| 8:31 PM | Rob |
| 9:00 PM | Person of Interest |
| 10:00 PM | The Mentalist |
| 11:00 PM | KDKA-TV News at 11 |
| 11:35 PM | Late Show with David Letterman |















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