Contact Information

Biography

Kristin D’Acunto is an Assistant Professor and Department Chair of the Physician Assistant Studies. She has been involved in PA education for 20 years, and first joined the Department at Â鶹ֱ²¥ as an adjunct instructor in 2003. She transitioned into a full-time position in 2011 as Clinical Coordinator. As she desired to have a primary role in teaching, she transitioned into a full-time instructor role, and later was promoted to Assistant Professor in 2017. In 2019, she was appointed Assistant Chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies, and then Department Chair and Program Director in February 2021.

Kristin began her career as a PA in infectious diseases inpatient medicine with a private practice in Pittsburgh. In 2002, she began working at the University of Pittsburgh as a PA in clinical HIV research in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) for over 20 years. During her time at the University of Pittsburgh, she was co-investigator of several studies within the MACS and co-authored articles in top tier journals such as the Journal of Infectious Diseases, AIDS, and American Journal of Gastroenterology. Dr. D’Acunto serves as a site visitor for the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) where she conducts site visits to PA programs throughout the country to ensure compliance with the Standards. She also serves as an abstract reviewer for the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants (PSPA) and the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA). Dr. D’Acunto earned an Ed.D. in Educational Technology from Â鶹ֱ²¥ in May 2023. She completed a Capstone project titled A Quantitative Analysis of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Anatomy Instruction in Physician Assistant Education.

Education

  • Ed.D. Educational Technology, Â鶹ֱ²¥, 2023

  • MPA, Â鶹ֱ²¥, 1997

  • BSHS, Â鶹ֱ²¥, 1996

Research Interests or Expertise

  • Infectious Diseases

  • Hepatitis

  • Educational Technology

  • AI in Education

School

Â鶹ֱ²¥

  • GLBH 200, HLTS 200 Disparities in Healthcare
  • PHYA 425, GLBH 425 Health Policy, Ethics, and Law
  • PHYA 540 Master’s Independent Research / Study
  • PHYA 405 Clinical Encounters
  • Calhoun, B., Lee, J, D’Acunto, K. Diminish the Risk of On-the-Job-Exposure. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. June 2023; 21(6):34-36, 39.
  • Calhoun, B., Lee, J, D’Acunto, K. Mitigate the Risk of On-the-Job Exposure. Decisions in Dentistry. June 2023;9(6):32-35.
  • Mattila, A., Astle, J., Calhoun, B., LaCroix, R., Santacecilia, G., D’Acunto, K., Cavanaugh, J., Morgan, A., Lassila, H., A Student Centered Interprofessional Awareness Program to Increase Knowledge and Attitudes Â鶹ֱ²¥ Substance Use Disorder; J Interprof. Educ. Pract. 2022 Sep 1;(28): 100530
  • McKillop, L. and D’Acunto, K.Medical and surgical management of aldosteronism. Clinical Advisor. April 16, 2021.
  • Sismour, B. and DʼAcunto, K. Down syndrome, severe psoriasis, and increased risk for cardiovascular events. 2019;32(12):31-33. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/01.jaa.0000604860.71819.c1
  • Wallace, S., Donoso Brown, E., Simpson, R., D’Acunto, K., Kranjec, A., Rodgers, M. and Agostino, C., 2019. A Comparison of Electronic and Paper Versions of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord, 33(3), pp.272-278.
  • D’Acunto K, Biearman B. Obtaining a sexual history in MSM.  Clinical Advisor. September 2015.
  • Price, J., Seaberg, E., Mehta, A., Badri, S., Witt, M., D'Acunto, K., & Thio, C. Non-invasive liver fibrosis markers are associated with liver-related death in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. Am J Gastrenterol. October 2013, 108: 153-153.
  • Price J, Seaberg E, Badri S, Witt M, D’Acunto K, Thio C. HIV monoinfection is associated with increased aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index, a surrogate marker for hepatic fibrosis.  J Infect Dis. (2012) 205 (6): 1005-1013 doi:10.1093/infdis/jir885.
  • Price J., Seaberg E., Badri S., Witt M., D'Acunto K., Thio C. et al. Abstract, HIV-Viral hepatitis co-infections associated with risk for increasing APRI despite mitigating effect of HAART. Gastroenterology, 10(5):  Supplement 1, 890-891, May 2011.
  • Hoffman C., Seaberg E., Young S., Witt M., D'Acunto K., Phair J., Thio C. Hepatitis B and long-term HIV outcomes in co-infected HAART recipients. AIDS,  Sept 2009, 23(14):1881-1889.
  • Holloway M, D'Acunto K. An update on the ABC's of viral hepatitis. Clinical Advisor, June 2006.
  • Lee J, Calhoun B, and D’Acunto K. Occupational Exposures Among Dental Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study, Undergraduate Student Research Symposium, Â鶹ֱ²¥, April 2021.
  • Calhoun B, D’Acunto K, Students Question the Validity of Negative Results of Implicit Attitude Testing, Physician Assistant Education Association Education Forum, Washington, D.C. October 2019
  • Schaus E, D’Acunto K. JAAPA:  December 2015 - Volume 28 - Issue 12 - p 1. doi: 10.1097/01.JAA.0000473192.64897.06.  2015 AAPA Poster Session Abstracts
  • Rebillot E, D’Acunto K. December 2015 - Volume 28 - Issue 12 - p 1. doi: 10.1097/01.JAA.0000473190.19156.fa.  2015 AAPA Poster Session Abstracts
  • Calhoun B, D'Acunto K. Updating Program Policies for Modern Times. Physician Assistant Education Association Annual Forum. Philadelphia, PA. October 2014
  • Calhoun B, Holloway M., D'Acunto K, New Legislation for Reporting HIV Infection in Pennsylvania. 27th Annual Medical Education Conference of the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants.  September 2002.

American Academy of Physician Assistants

Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants