Dr. Peitzman is the Mark M. Ravitch Professor of Surgery and Vice Chairman at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He also serves as Chief of the Division of General Surgery. Dr. Peitzman attended medical school at the University of Pittsburgh and completed his residency there. During that time, he spent two years in basic science research at New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center.

Dr. Peitzman is Past President of the Panamerican Trauma Society. He is also Past President of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. Dr. Peitzman has 159 peer-reviewed publications, and 80 book chapters. He has written nine books, including "The Trauma Manual," now in its third edition.