Daryl Pinion Fields II, MD, PhD, joined the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery in July of 2018. He completed his undergraduate degree at Saint John’s University (Collegeville, Minn.), and his medical degree, as well as research doctorate, at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Prior to medical school Dr. Fields spent four years serving as a firefighter and medic. He accredits this experience for inspiring his passion for patient centered care in addition to his desire of advancing the field of neurosurgery through treatment innovation. To this note, his previous research experiences are two fold: 1) development of novel disease models to better understand deficits in movement control and 2) development of pharmacological agents for improved motor rehabilitation following traumatic, degenerative and inflammatory neural conditions. His research has lead to the publication of more than a dozen basic science manuscripts, several national research awards, and a patent for a drug to treat breathing disorders such as obstructive/central sleep apnea. He plans to continue these research pursuits with hopes of improving treatment options for his patients and others.
In his free time Dr. Fields enjoys working out, cooking, and catching up with friends.
Specialized Areas of Interest
Professional Organization Membership
Education & Training
- BA, Biochemistry, Saint John's University (Collegeville, Minn.), 2010
- MD, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2017
- PhD, Molecular Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2018
Honors & Awards
- Runnerup Presentation Award, Stuart Rowe Society Lectureship Day, 2018
- NIH MD/PhD F30 Fellowship, 2015-18
- Top Ambulatory Medicine Project, University of Wisconsin, 2017
- UNCF/Merck Graduate Fellowship, 2015-17
- Bennett Hiner Top Neuroscience Medical Student Award, 2016
- Top Neuroscience Presentation Award, University of Wisconsin, 2016
- Top Biomedical Science Presentation Award, University of Wisconsin, 2016
- Caroline Tum Suden Abstract Award, 2016
- Society for Neuroscience Abstract Award, 2015
- Daryl and Sharon Buss Abstract Award, University of Wisconsin, 2015
- Neuromuscular Graduate Fellowship, University of Florida, 2015
- Science/Medicine Graduate Fellowshi, University of Wisconsin, 2014
Selected Publications
Fields DP, Mitchell GS. Divergent cAMP signaling differentially regulates serotonin-induced spinal motor plasticity. J Neuropharm 113(Pt A):82-88, 2017.
Fields DP, Springborn SR, Mitchell GS. 5HT7 receptor induced phrenic motor facilitation requires EPAC and mTORC1, but not PKA activity. J Neurophys 114(3):2015-22, 2015.
Fields DP, Mitchell GS. Spinal metaplasticity in respiratory motor control. Front Neural Circuits 11;9:2, 2015.
Fields DP, Miranpuri S, Miranpuri G, Resnick D. The multifunctional and multi-system influence of ghrelin in the treatment of diabetic and spinal cord injury induced neuropathy. Ann Neurosci 18(3):118-22, 2011.