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Eds & Meds
Powerhouses

Pittsburgh at Night
learning lessons from pittsburgh's eds and meds powerhouses

Carnegie Mellon, Pitt, and UPMC Leaders Discuss Role of 'Eds and Meds' in Transforming Pittsburgh's Economy

The success of the Pittsburgh region’s economy, even in the face of the worldwide downturn, has largely and correctly been attributed to the strength of Pittsburgh’s powerful education and medical sector.

The “eds and meds” factor accounts for more than $11 billion in local salaries—22 percent of the total salaries in the region.

Most powerful of the eds and meds are Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC.) The combination of two of the nation’s important research universities and one of its largest and most respected medical complexes forms a dynamic economic engine that has driven the economy to new heights, pumping many billions of dollars into the regional economy each year, including the employment of nearly 80,000.

A discussion of how eds and meds are helping to transform Pittsburgh's economy was held Sept. 21 by Carnegie Mellon President Jared L. Cohon, Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg, and UPMC President and CEO Jeffrey A. Romoff. Newsweek Senior Editor Howard Fineman moderated the discussion, which was held in Pittsburgh's Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and attended by media representatives and members of the G-20 summit delegations. View a video of the discussion.

By the Numbers

Carnegie Mellon Pitt UPMC
  • More than $300 million in sponsored research revenue.
  • 16 Nobel Prize winners, 96 Emmy Award winners, 20 Tony Award winners, six Academy Award winners.
  • An internationally recognized university, Carnegie Mellon is ranked 21st in the world by the London Times Higher Education Supplement and 21st in U.S. News & World Report's World's Best Colleges: Top 400 international listing.
  • $1.74 billion in local spending, including $1.1 billion directly on goods and services.
  • $642 million in sponsored research supports more than 23,000 jobs
  • A world-renowned university, Pitt is ranked 13th among U.S. public universities and 35th among all U.S. universities both by the London Times Higher Education Supplement and in U.S. News & World Report's first World's Best Colleges and Universities rankings, which also lists Pitt among the top 100 universities worldwide.
  • $16 billion economic impact on the region.
  • More than $1 billion invested in information technology over the last five years to improve quality, safety, and efficiency of patient care.
  • One of only 21 hospitals on the U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll last year.

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Start-up Companies

Center for Energy

Carnegie Mellon, Pitt, and UPMC have spun off hundreds of companies in the past 15 years, helping the regional economy and improving the region's quality of life.

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