Executive Directors
Dr. Corina Bondi
Dr. Corina Bondi received her B.S. Magna Cum Laude from Muskingum University and Ph.D. in Pharmacology with an emphasis in Neuroscience from the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX. She then came to Pittsburgh for post-doctoral training in the Department of Neuroscience under Dr. Bita Moghaddam, followed by a second post-doc in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) under Dr. Anthony Kline. Rising up the ranks Dr. Bondi is currently tenured Associate Professor in the Department of PM&R and one of three inaugural Executive Directors for the Safar Center for Resuscitation Research. Dr. Bondi is an expert in neuropharmacology and executive function in experimental models of traumatic brain injury (TBI). She has published over 70 peer-reviewed research articles and has received multiple R-awards as Principal Investigator from the NIH. Dr. Bondi is President-Elect of the National Neurotrauma Society (2026) and has received numerous awards, including the prestigious NINDS/NIH Landis Award for Outstanding Mentorship in 2024.
Dr. Shaun Carlson
Dr. Shaun Carlson received his B.S. from the University of Kansas and Ph.D. in Physiology from the University of Kentucky. He then came to Pittsburgh for post-doctoral training in the Department of Neurological Surgery under Dr. Ed Dixon, where he was supported by the NIH T32 grant, Pediatric Neurointensive Care and Resuscitation Research. Dr. Carlson is currently Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery and one of three inaugural Executive Directors for the Safar Center for Resuscitation Research. Dr. Carlson is an expert in synaptic vesicle trafficking in experimental models of TBI. He has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles and has received multiple R-awards as Principal Investigator from the NIH as well as independent funding from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command. Dr. Carlson is a Regular Member of the NIH’s Brain Injury and Neurovascular Pathologies study section and an impressive track record as a mentor.
Dr. Dennis Simon
Dr. Dennis Simon received his B.S. from Duke University and M.D. from Stony Brook University. He completed a pediatric residency and pediatric chief residency at Boston Children’s Hospital. He then came to Pittsburgh for fellowship training in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, where he also completed a Research Fellowship on the NIH T32 grant, Pediatric Neurointensive Care and Resuscitation Research. Dr. Simon is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Critical Care Medicine and one of three inaugural Executive Directors for the Safar Center for Resuscitation Research. Dr. Simon is an expert in brain-gut interactions and the role of brain-gut metabolites in both experimental TBI and in humans. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and has received multiple R-awards as Principal Investigator from the NIH. He is a go-to clinician and is Director of Pediatric Neurocritical Care at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. He has an impressive track record as a mentor for both laboratory and clinical studies involving brain injury and directs the Pediatric Neurocritical Care Fellowship at Children’s.