Since starting in the Artificial Heart Program at the UPMC Health System in 1992, Mr. Severyn participated in the first patient transport performed by UPMC’s MCS transport team as well as over 150 missions since. Mr. Severyn has directed several LMR site studies for newly emerging IABP technologies and has performed validation studies for MCS vendors. Don has helped establish the use of the CardiacAssist Tandemheart PVAD at UPMC supporting over 20 patients to date. He maintains an active role in the Bioengineering Ventricular Function Research Team assisting in identifying ventricular recovery in patients on VAD support leading to successful VAD removal in over 18 patients. He participates in training sessions, staff competency programs and device implants at UPMC as well as other health centers. Don maintains a laboratory presence developing and maintaining the clinical and experimental monitoring and data acquisition systems for the Critical Care Medicine Cardiopulmonary Research Lab. Mr. Severyn earned his BS degree in Biomedical Engineering from Wright State University an MS degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and has worked toward a PhD in Bioengineering, also at the University of Pittsburgh.