Division of Infectious Diseases

Antibiotic Awareness Week: Why Diagnostic Stewardship Matters

Antibiotics are life-saving when used appropriately, but they do not treat viral infections like colds, influenza, or COVID-19. Despite this, inappropriate prescribing remains common in outpatient settings. Studies show that nearly 30% of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary (CDC). Every unnecessary prescription increases the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), adverse drug reactions, and Clostridioides difficile infections. Diagnostic stewardship, using evidence-based tools and tests to guide prescribing, is essential for clinicians to ensure antibiotics are reserved for bacterial infections.

Why Rapid Diagnostics Are Critical

Rapid diagnostics are a cornerstone of antimicrobial stewardship because they:

Reduce unnecessary antibiotic use: Quickly confirm viral vs bacterial infections, preventing “just in case” prescribing (Infection Control Today). [infectionc…ltoday.com]
Optimize therapy early: Traditional cultures take 24–72 hours; rapid tests allow targeted therapy sooner and support de-escalation (Clinical Infectious Diseases). [academic.oup.com]
Improve patient outcomes: Accurate, timely results mean appropriate treatment without delay and fewer adverse effects (American Pharmaceutical Review). [americanph…review.com]
Support stewardship programs: Provide actionable data for antibiotic time-outs and audit-feedback initiatives (CDC Diagnostic Stewardship Toolkit). [reach.cdc.gov]

Examples of Rapid Diagnostics:

PCR panels for respiratory pathogens, blood cultures, meningitis panel
Rapid strep tests
Point-of-care influenza, COVID-19, and RSV assays

Learn More:

Check out some of our UNMC ID Faculty members scholarly work on diagnostic stewardship:

Principles of diagnostic stewardship: A practical guide from the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America Diagnostic Stewardship Task Force | Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology | Cambridge Core (Trevor Van Schooneveld, MD)
Stewardship of Metagenomic Seq… ‑ The SHEA Podcast ‑ Apple Podcasts (Trevor Van Schooneveld, MD)
The Next Frontier: Rapid AST to Optimize Care of Patients With Bloodstream Infections | CCO (Jasmine Marcelin, MD)
Every Crisis Is an Opportunity: Advancing Blood Culture Stewardship During a Blood Culture Bottle Shortage | Open Forum Infectious Diseases | Oxford Academic (Jonathan Ryder, MD, Trevor Van Schooneveld, MD)

Antibiotic Awareness Week: A Call to Action for Us All

Antibiotic Awareness Week November 18-24: Why We Must Lead the Fight Against AMR

Every November, healthcare professionals worldwide observe Antibiotic Awareness Week, a campaign dedicated to promoting responsible antibiotic use and combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This year’s theme, “Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance Takes All of Us”, underscores the critical role clinicians play in preserving the effectiveness of these life-saving drugs.

The Scope of the Problem

AMR is often called the “silent pandemic.” In the United States alone, more than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur annually, resulting in over 35,000 deaths (CDC). Globally, projections estimate 10 million deaths per year by 2050 (WHO).

These infections lead to:

Longer hospital stays and higher costs
Increased morbidity and mortality
Limited treatment options as new antibiotics remain scarce

Why We Are Central to Antimicrobial Stewardship

Every antibiotic prescription is an opportunity to protect—or compromise—the future of these drugs. Clinicians influence stewardship through:

Diagnostic accuracy: Avoid unnecessary antibiotics for viral infections.
Therapeutic optimization: Choose the right drug, dose, and duration.
Patient education: Explain why antibiotics may not be appropriate.

Practical Tips for Clinicians

Review CDC Core Elements
- CDC Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship provide a framework for action.
Use clear communication with patients about when antibiotics are needed
- “Your symptoms are caused by a virus, so antibiotics won’t help. Taking antibiotics when they’re not needed can make future infections harder to treat.”
- Provide written instructions for symptom management and when to return for care.

Key Takeaways

AMR is a global health crisis with local impact.
Clinicians are the gatekeepers of antibiotic use.
Stewardship interventions—time-outs, audit-feedback, patient education—are proven strategies.

Call to Action:
Join the movement during U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week. Share your commitment using #USAAW25 and #AntibioticsAware, and explore resources at CDC Antibiotic Awareness and WHO AMR.

UNMC Infectious Diseases Shines at IDWeek 2025

Atlanta, GA | October 19–22, 2025
The infectious diseases community is gathering once again for IDWeek 2025, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) Division of Infectious Diseases is proud to be well represented at this premier international conference. With a strong lineup of presentations, posters, and panels, UNMC ID faculty, fellows, and collaborators are showcasing their impactful work across clinical care, research, education, and public health.

Highlights from UNMC ID Presenters

This year’s IDWeek features a diverse array of contributions from UNMC ID members, with 44 presentations by 30 members of our division including several premedical student, medical student, pharmacy student, resident, and fellow, presenters! Click the arrows below to see where to find us in different session types at IDWeek:

Session Speakers and Moderators:

Presenter	Title	Date	Time	Session Type
Angela Hewlett, MD	RESPTC Support and Response	10/20/2025	10:30 AM – 11:45 AM	Symposium
Nicolas Cortes-Penfield, MD	The Role of Rifampin in Hardware Infections	10/22/2025	3:15 PM – 3:40 PM	Symposium
Mark Rupp, MD	Prevention of Blood Culture Contamination: Technique or Technology?	10/20/2025	3:40 PM – 4:05 PM	Symposium
Sara H Bares, MD	Implementing Long-Acting ART	10/20/2025	10:55 AM – 11:20 AM	Symposium
Sara H Bares, MD	Voices in Infectious Diseases	10/21/2025	10:30 AM – 10:55 AM	Narrative Session
Jennifer M. Davis, MD	Challenging HIV Clinical Cases	10/22/2025	1:45 PM – 3:00 PM	Interactive Session [Moderator]
Josh Havens, PharmD	Updates on Implementation Strategies for HIV Prevention	10/21/2025	10:55am-11:20am	State-of the ART
Josh Havens, PharmD	Proven LAI Implementation Strategies in HIV Prevention and Treatment	10/20/2025	7:00pm-9:00pm	Affiliated Event
Trevor Van Schooneveld, MD	Careers in Antimicrobial Stewardship	10/19/2025	9:50am-11:15am	Fellows Workshop
Trevor Van Schooneveld, MD	Pneumonia PCR Panels Lead to a De-Escalation of Antibiotic Use-Con	10/21/2025	2:15pm-3:30pm	Pro-Con Debate
Jasmine R. Marcelin, MD	Prioritizing Equity in Antimicrobial Stewardship Efforts (EASE): A Framework for Clinicians	10/22/2025	10:50am-11:10am	Symposium
Jonathan Ryder, MD	Why You Need Diagnostic Stewardship	10/22/2025	9:30am-9:55am	BugHub World Stage
Jasmine R. Marcelin, MD	The Next Frontier: Rapid AST to Optimize Care of Patients with Bloodstream Infections	10/19/2025	10:00am-11:00am	Affiliated Event
Jasmine R. Marcelin, MD	Antimicrobial Prescribing Disparities and the Pursuit of Pharmacoequity	10/18/2025	8:10 AM – 9:00 AM	Preconference Workshop
Andrea Zimmer, MD	Vincent T. Andriole ID Board Review Course	10/18/2025	7:00am-4:30pm	Workshop [Course Director]
Andrea Zimmer, MD	IDBugCrawl – 31 Flavors of ID	10/20/2025	1:00pm-2:00pm
Andrea Zimmer, MD	Bridging the Gap Between General and Transplant Infectious Disease Practice	10/20/2025	8:00 AM – 8:25 AM	BugHub [Moderator]
Andrea Zimmer, MD	Immunocompromised Host Community of Practice	10/21/2025	5:00pm	Reception and Poster Walk
Angela Hewlett, MD	Lessons Learned in Biopreparedness and Biocontainment: Lassa Fever in the Midwest	10/20/2025	10:30-11:45	Symposium [Moderator]

Oral Abstract Presenters

Presenters	Title	Date	Time	UNMC ID Coauthors
Mackenzie R. Keintz, MD	Unlocking Knowledge: Designing an Infectious Diseases-themed Escape Room for Medical Student and Resident Education	10/21/2025	3:15-4:30 (speaking slot 4:03-4:15)	Catherine Cichon, MD, Evangeline Green, DO, MPH, Jasmine R. Marcelin, MD, Benjamin K. Arbeiter, MD
Calvin Albrecht, MD [Fellow]	Case Presentation #3 – Fever and Constitutional Symptoms in a Young Returning Traveler	10/20/2025	10:30 AM – 11:45 AM
Jennifer M. Davis, MD	Insurance Changes are Common and Associated with Delayed Cabotegravir Plus Rilpivirine Injections	10/22/2025	10:30am – 11:45am	O’Neill J, Lyden E, Bares SH
Emily Dyer, MD [Fellow]	Who’s Being Missed? Baseline Evaluation of Colorectal Cancer Screening in a Ryan White Population	10/20/2025	2:30-2:45pm	Regan N, Bares SH, Lyden E, Davis JM
Josh Havens, PharmD	Real-World Insights of the Financial Metrics of a Long-Acting CAB-RPV Program	10/21/2025	2:45 – 2:57pm	O’Neill J, Kubat M, Davis JM, Fadul N, Lechner J, Bares SH, Sunagawa S
Nicole Kusnik, MD [Fellow]	Intended and Unintended Conswquences of a Blood Culture Bottle Shortage: Changes in Antibiotic Prescribing, Contamination Rates, and Sepsis Measures at a Large Academic Institution	10/21/2025	3:15-4:30	Dr. Teran, Dr. VanSchooneveld, and Dr. Ryder
Albert Wu, MD [Fellow]	Blastomycosis in Vermont and New Hampshire	10/21/2025	1:45 – 3:00pm

Poster Presenters

Presenter	Title	Poster number	Date	Time	UNMC ID Coauthors
Evangeline Green, DO, MPH [Resident]	Oral Antibiotic Stepdown Therapy for Uncomplicated Enterococcus Blood Stream Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Study	P-882	10/21/2025	12:15-1:30	Cristina Torres, MD, Elizabeth Lyden, MS, Jasmine R Marcelin, MD, Mackenzie R Keintz, MD
Scott J. Bergman, Pharm D	Evaluation of oral antibiotic prescribing for uncomplicated Gram-Negative bloodstream infections following implementation of institutional guidance at an academic medical center	P-28	10/20/2025	12:15-1:30	Joshua Lechner, PharmD, Mackenzie R. Keintz, MD, Jasmine R. Marcelin, MD, Molly M. Miller, PharmD, Elizabeth Lyden, MS, Jihyun Ma, MS, Trevor C. Van Schooneveld, MD,
Calvin Albrecht, MD [Fellow]	Is Respiratory Gram Stain Useful in the Era of Rapid, Highly Sensitive Molecular Pneumonia Panels?	P-612	10/20/2025	12:15 PM – 1:30 PM	Matthew Anderson, Elizabeth Lyden, Jonathan Ryder, and Trevor Van Schooneveld
Angela Hewlett, MD	Biopreparedness and Biocontainment Education in U.S. ID Fellowships		10/22/2025	12:15 PM – 1:30 PM	Cristina Torres, David Brett-Major, James Lawler, Dan Cybulski, Gavin Harris, Elizabeth Schnaubelt
Anna Kilzer [Student]	Biopreparedness Education in US Medical Schools		10/22/2025	12:15 PM – 1:30 PM	James Lawler, Angela Hewlett
Jillian Mack, PharmD [ID Pharmacy Resident]	A Stewardship Focused Evaluation of Patients Treated with Ceftriaxone for Infections due to Penicillin Susceptible Streptococcus spp. in Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy		10/22/2025	12:15 PM – 1:30 PM	Nicolás Cortés-Penfield, Richard Hankins, Molly Miller, Elizabeth Lyden, Melissa LeMaster, Sara Azimi, Scott Bergman, Trevor C. Van Schooneveld, Mark E. Rupp, Bryan Alexander
Shawnalyn Sunagawa, PharmD	Clinically Significant Adverse Event Rates for Daptomycin Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy		10/22/2025	12:15 PM – 1:30 PM	Richard Hankins, Nicolas Cortes-Penfield, Bryan Alexander, Melissa LeMaster, Molly Miller
Nicolas Cortes-Penfield, MD	Complete device extraction optimizes cure in deep brain stimulator & responsive neurostimulator device infections	P-126	10/20/2025	12:15-1:30pm
Josh Havens, PharmD	Scalability Metrics and Effort Requirements for a Long-Acting CAB/RPV Program	1871	10/22/2025	12:15-1:30pm	Kubat M, Davis JM, Fadul N, Havens J, Bares SH, Sunagawa S, Havens JP
Duncan Works [Student]	Outcomes of a Learning Needs Assessment Survey in the Development of the Extension for Community Health Outcomes Model for HIV Training in Midwestern Non-Metropolitan Areas	1891	10/22/2025	12:15-1:30pm	Cramer D, Essam Nkodo EN, Lyden E, Zhan Y, Furl R, Fadul N, Davis JM
Vanessa Lo [Student]	Assessing Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (doxy PEP) Engagement in Care at a Midwestern HIV/PrEP Clinic	333	10/20/2025	12:15-1:30pm	Havens JP, Bares SH, Davis JM, Scarsi KK, Sunagawa S
Jessica Witt, PharmD [MATEC Clinical Scholar]	Assessing HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Coverage at a Midwest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)	743	10/20/2025	12:15-1:30pm	Havens JP, Bares SH, Downes JM, Davis JM, Dworak A, Carter M, Sunagawa SW
Nicole Kusnik, MD [Fellow]	A young man with advanced HIV who presented with shortness of breath and splenomegaly	2214	10/22/2025	12:15-1:30pm	Sturd NA, Roma K, Hewlett A, Bares SH, Davis JM
Emmanuel Nazaire Essam Nkodo, MD, MPH	Beyond Distance: Social Barriers Influence Long-acting Antiretrovirals Location Preference Among People with HIV in Rural Areas	P-2061	10/22/2025	12:15 PM – 1:30 PM	Renae Furl, Elizabeth Lyden, Daniel Cramer, Jennifer O’Neill, Maureen Kubat, Heather Saarela, Titilola Labisi, Nada Fadul.
Priscila Rodrigues Armijo, MD	Outcomes of a Statewide Educational Intervention Focused on Reducing COVID-19 Health Disparities Through a Quality Improvement Approach.				Salman Ashraf, Adati Tarfa, Elizabeth R. Lyden, Jasmine Marcelin, Jonathan H. Ryder, Jeff Wetherhold, Mahelet Kebede, Subhadra Mandadi, Precious S. Davis, Shirley Delair, Kelly Cawcutt, Andrea D. Jones, Mahliqha Qasimyar, Gail M. Etherton, Erica Stohs, Nada Fadul
Trevor Van Schooneveld, MD	Effect of Clinical Guideline Implementation on Use of Plasma Microbial Cell-free DNA Sequencing Testing at an Academic Medical Center	P-837	10/21/2025	11:15am-12:30pm	Tess Karre, Jonathan Ryder
Mackenzie Starlin [Student]	Measuring the Clinical Impact of a Novel Infectious Disease Step-Down Service	P-1874			Makenzie Starlin, Rick Starlin, Bryan Alexander, Molly Miller, Kaeli Samson, Trevor C. Van Schooneveld
Samantha Moreno [Student]	Early Exposure to Infectious Diseases Specialty Among Undergraduate Students with Interests in Healthcare Careers		10/22/2025	12:15pm-1:30pm	Jasmine R Marcelin
Juan Teran, MD	Understanding Infection Control Needs in Nebraska Schools: Insights from School Health Staff	P-1888	10/22/2025	12:15 – 1:30 PM	Chris Cashatt, Mounica Soma, Salman Ashraf, Kate Tyner, Andrea Riley, Alice Sato, Robin Williams
Juan Teran, MD	Patterns and Prevalence of Carbapenemase-Producing Organisms Identified in Nebraska Healthcare Facilities Following Whole Genome Sequencing (2019-2024)	P-1069	10/21/2025	12:15 – 1:30 PM	Kathryn Burbach, Ishrat Kamal-Ahmed, Salman Ashraf, Amy Roden, Peter Iwen, Michael Wiley
David Warren, MD	Impact of Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) Bathing on Bloodstream Infection Rates in Hematology-Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HO/HSCT) Units		10/21/2025

Award Winners

We are also thrilled to announce that all three of our senior fellows and two of our ID pharmacists are recipients of IDWeek Abstract Awards! Congratulations on your hard work!

woman with long brown hair wearing glasses, smiling, wearing a white coat — Emily Dyer, MD.

woman with long blonde hair wearing glasses, smiling, wearing a white coat — Emily Dyer, MD.

IDWeek is more than a conference—it’s a convergence of minds dedicated to advancing infectious diseases research, education, and patient care. UNMC’s strong presence reflects our division’s commitment to leadership in the field and its ongoing efforts to address the most pressing challenges in ID.

Whether you’re attending in person in Atlanta or joining virtually, be sure to support our UNMC ID colleagues and celebrate their contributions to the field. See you there!

🧬 Science, Safari, and Synergy: Highlights from the 2025 NIDS Annual Meeting

The Nebraska Infectious Diseases Society (NIDS) hosted its annual meeting on Friday, August 15th, at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, bringing together infectious diseases professionals from across the state for a day of learning, collaboration, and community.

This year’s theme, One Health, emphasized the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. The program featured a compelling keynote by IDSA Board Member Dr. Trini Mathew, who spoke on the evolving role of ID physicians in advancing One Health initiatives, and Zoo Science and Animal Health VP Dr. Taylor Yaw, who took us on a journey of One Health through the animals’ and zoo personnel’s eyes.

*View of D*r. Trini Matthew’s presentation through the aquarium with fishes listening to the meeting

Attendees explored a wide range of topics, including:

Zoonotic infections and tick-borne disease genomics
Antibiotic resistance in agriculture
The oral microbiome’s impact on systemic health
A US and Nebraska measles update and Medicaid antimicrobial stewardship review

The meeting also showcased outstanding research during the trainee poster session. Dr. Nicholas Mielke and Dr. Natalie Sturd presented top abstracts as oral podium presentations. The poster session was very competitive, and all of the students did well! The winners of the best posters are as follows:

	Research Category Winners	Case Vignette Category Winners
Top Oral	Nicholas Mielke: Differential Uptake of Zoster and COVID-19 Vaccines in a System without Financial Barriers: A Multivariable Analysis of Race, Demographics, and Provider Factors	Natalie Sturd: A Case of KS-IRIS in Advanced HIV: Challenges in Managing Visceral Kaposi Sarcoma and Pericardial Effusion
1st Place Poster	Sarah Chandler: Genomic epidemiology informs transmission dynamics of West Nile Virus outbreaks in Nebraska	Charlie Speelmon: Persistent Diarrhea of Unknown Etiology: Unravelling a Diagnosis Clinicians Should Not Miss
2nd Place Poster	Duncan Works: Analysis of a Learning Needs Assessment Survey Outcomes to Inform Development of the Extension for Community Health Outcomes Model for HIV Training in Midwestern Non-Metropolitan Areas	Calvin Albrecht: Smear Tactics – Unusual Presentation of Fever in a Returning Traveler
3rd Place Poster	Nicole Kusnik: Intended and Unintended Consequences of a Blood Culture Bottle Shortage: Changes in Antibiotic Prescribing, Contamination Rates, and Sepsis Measures at a Large Academic Institution	Scott Stevenson: Sticky Situations – Identification and Management of Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in Nebraska

Set against the vibrant backdrop of the zoo, the event was a perfect blend of science, networking, and synergy—truly embodying the spirit of collaboration that defines the Nebraska ID community.

Photo gallery showing learners presenting their abstracts as posters or oral presentations.

Congratulations to all of the trainee presenters and winners, thank you to the judges, and thank you to all of the speakers and the NIDS team members who helped to make this year’s annual meeting a huge success! Stay tuned for next year’s 5-year anniversary meeting!

The NICN and APIC NE Symposium: 45 Years of Progress: Advancing Infection Prevention and Control Together

The Nebraska Infection Control Network (NICN and) the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), in partnership with the Nebraska Methodist College Professional Development, are hosting the 45^th Anniversary Infection Prevention Symposium on Friday August 29, 2025. Join NICN and APIC NE for an engaging and informative workshop dedicated to infection prevention and control in all healthcare settings.

The symposium will begin with a welcome and introductory remarks celebrating the 45th anniversary by NICN President Dr. Rick Starlin (Section Chief, Community ID, Medical Director, Employee Health, UNMC) and will feature internationally renowned expert speakers and interactive discussion on infection prevention strategies, leadership development, vaccination promotion, and media interaction skills. Click here for a full list of content & speakers!

Date/Time/Location: Friday, August 29, 2025, 8:00 AM to 3:15 PM, The Holland Center, 1200 Douglas Street, Omaha, NE 68102

Physicians and Nurses can receive Continuing Education credits with participation in the activity. Register here!

Welcoming our New Infectious Diseases Fellows: Dr. Charlie Oertli

We are excited to welcome Dr. Charlie Oertli as a new fellow in our Infectious Diseases program! Read on to learn a little more about him.

Tell us about the position you are starting
I am starting as a combined adult and pediatric infectious diseases fellow at University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). I will start with 2 years of adult infectious diseases, followed by 2 years of pediatric infectious diseases.

Tell us about your background
I am from Dodge Center, Minnesota, a small town in southern Minnesota. My parents are both accountants, so, naturally, I chose a career in medicine. I received both my Bachelor of Science in Biology and Medical Doctorate degrees from Creighton University. I then completed an Internal Medicine and Pediatrics residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Now, I’m coming back to my second home in Omaha to complete my infectious disease fellowship training.

Why did you choose to come work at UNMC
I loved my time in Omaha, and I couldn’t wait to get back to the land of Runza and college sports! My wife and I met at Creighton and have so many fond memories in this city, so we were really excited to match here. When looking for fellowships, I wanted a program with a large variety of patients and services, so I could get exposure to all of the fields that infectious diseases offers. From the transplant and biocontainment unit services, to the general and community infectious diseases services, I felt like I would get excellent training from the rare and unique infections all the way to the common, everyday consultant questions.

What makes you excited about working in ID
Ever since medical school, I have loved the pathophysiology of infectious organisms thriving in our human biome as well as the pharmacology of the antimicrobials that we get to use to combat those infections. But when I really fell in love with ID was when I started working with the patients. We have an opportunity to serve some of the most vulnerable members of our community struggling with circumstances that most people cannot understand, and I feel like that is a huge privilege that we get as infectious disease doctors.

Tell us something about yourself that is unrelated to medicine
I have many passions outside of work including anything Creighton or Minnesota sports related (especially Creighton basketball and Twins baseball), board games, competition reality TV shows, and running. I studied art history in college, so I love a good art museum (shoutout to the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha!). I also love spending time at the lake with my wife, Jen, and our 8-month-old son, Elliot.

image of a family holding a baby, sitting on a boat in a lake, wearing red/white/blue clothing

two people standing wearing twins jerseys in foreground. background building with other people

🧬 Science, Safari, and Synergy: Nebraska ID Society’s Annual Meeting is THIS FRIDAY!

The Nebraska Infectious Diseases Society (NIDS) annual meeting is this Friday, August 15th at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, from 8am-5pm. Join us for a day filled with insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and the latest updates in the field of infectious diseases. The 2025 meeting has a One Health theme and will include talks from our veterinary and dental colleagues.

Click the arrow to see the full list of sessions and presenters

IDSA Leader Keynote: Role of ID physicians for Supporting One Health	Trini Mathew, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA. Associate Professor (adjunct) Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and Wayne State University School of Medicine
Emerging Zoonotic Infections	Taylor Yaw, DVM, CertAqV, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ABVP (Fish Practice). Vice President of Science and Animal Health, Henry Doorly Zoo
*Using population genomics of Ixodes scapularis* ticks to understand current and future risk of tick-borne diseases in Nebraska**	Joseph Fauver, PhD. Assistant Professor UNMC Department of Epidemiology Roberto Cartiñas, PhD, DVM. Professor of Practice, University of Nebraska School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Antibacterial Resistance in Agriculture and Its Effect on Human Health, an Agricultural State’s Conundrum	J. Dustin Loy, PhD, DVM. Director, Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center
Emerging Infections and the Human/Wildlife interface	Marnee Rountree, PhD. Wildlife Health Program Manager, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission & Liz VanWormer, PhD, DVM. Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska One Health Coordinator
Oral microbiome and fluoridation and the effects on human health	Jessica Meeske, DDS. Clinical Instructor of Pediatric Dentistry, UNMC College of Dentistry & President of the Nebraska Dental Association
Nebraska Measles Update	Syndey Stein, DVM. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Epidemiologist.
State Level Medicaid Review of Antimicrobial Use and Budget Implications	Jacob Kilgore, MD, MPH, FAAP. Associate Professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Marshall University, West Virginia

Trainee Presentations

One of the most anticipated events held during the meeting is the trainee poster session, which continues to grow each year and features fascinating cases and novel research, most of which is led by trainees, residents, and fellows. As usual, the top abstracts in each category will also be presented orally. A huge congratulations to our top abstract winners: Drs. Nicholas Mielke and Natalie Sturd. In addition to these talks, dozens of other fascinating projects will be presented as part of the poster session.

Natalie Sturd, PhD received her PhD from the lab of Dr. Elizabeth Rucks, examining the host-pathogen interactions of Chlamydia trachomatis. She is currently in her 4th year of medical school at UNMC and in her final year of the MD-PhD program and plans to pursue a combined career as a physician-scientist in infectious disease. Dr. Sturd will present her winning clinical vignette abstract: A Case of KS-IRIS in Advanced HIV: Challenges in Managing Visceral Kaposi Sarcoma and Pericardial Effusion.

Nick Mielke, MD is a third-year internal medicine resident at Creighton University whose work focuses on advancing health equity, optimizing vascular access, and leading vaccine-related research at the intersection of clinical medicine and public health. He has contributed to multiple peer-reviewed publications and presented his research at national conferences. Dr. Mielke will present his winning research abstract: Differential Uptake of Zoster and COVID-19 Vaccines in a System without Financial Barriers: A Multivariable Analysis of Race, Demographics, and Provider Factors

Here is a list of our poster presenters. Stay through the end of the meeting to celebrate the winners of the trainee poster competition!

Click this arrow to see the full list.

Poster ID	Poster Category	Poster Presenter	Poster Title
2	Case Vignette	Cima, Sophia	Development of Fungal Retinitis in Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
3	Research/QI	Moreno, Samantha	Early Exposure to Infectious Diseases Specialty Among Undergraduate Students with Interests in Healthcare Careers
4	Research/QI	Works, Duncan	Analysis of a Learning Needs Assessment Survey Outcomes to Inform Development of the Extension for Community Health Outcomes Model for HIV Training in Midwestern Non-Metropolitan Areas
5	Research/QI	Preusker, Jenna	Analyzing Antibiotic Usage Rates Reported to NHSN by Nebraska Hospitals: Insights by Hospital Size and Rurality
6	Case Vignette	Baxter, Emily	CMV Strikes Back: A Viral Awakening Post-Transplant
7	Case Vignette	Shad, Kari	Kaposi Sarcoma and KSHV/HHV8-Associated Multicentric Castleman Disease: A Case Report
8	Research/QI	Dang, Ashley	Community Acquired Pneumonia and MRSA Nasal Screening Protocol: Appropriately Being Used?
9	Research/QI	Kilzer, Anna	Biopreparedness Education in US Medical Schools
11	Case Vignette	Albrecht, Calvin	Smear Tactics: Unusual Presentation of Fever in a Returning Traveler
12	Case Vignette	Starlin, Makenzie	Hoarseness in Immunocompetent Host – A Rare Etiology
13	Case Vignette	Hesseltine, Lydia	A Puzzle of the White Matter: Navigating Diagnostic Uncertainty
14	Research/QI	Chandler, Sarah	Genomic epidemiology informs transmission dynamics of West Nile virus outbreaks in Nebraska
15	Case Vignette	Speelmon, Charlie	Persistent Diarrhea of Unknown Etiology: Unraveling a Diagnosis Clinicians Should Not Miss
17	Case Vignette	Meyer, Matthew	Enteric/Typhoid Fever in a returning traveler: an approach to a thorough medical workup
18	Research/QI	Kusnik, Nicole	Intended and Unintended Consequences of a Blood Culture Bottle Shortage: Changes in Antibiotic Prescribing, Contamination Rates, and Sepsis Measures at a Large Academic Institution
19	Research/QI	Zwiener, jennifer	Detectable HIV Viral Levels in Pediatric Patients on Injectable Cabotegravir and Rilpivirine
20	Case Vignette	Becken, Bradford	A Cavity in the Infectious Differential: An Atypical Lesion
21	Case Vignette	Uhm, Sarah	Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis due to Pasteurella multocida in a Non-Dialysis Patient with Decompensated Cirrhosis
22	Case Vignette	Youngblood, Olivia	Disseminated Tuberculosis in the Setting of Advanced HIV: A Diagnostic Tightrope
23	Case Vignette	Klementiev, Alexander	A Tale of Two Histoplasma Prosthetic Joint Infections
24	Case Vignette	Bristol, Natalie	Unmasking the Hidden Threats: Complications of Lemierre’s Syndrome
25	Case Vignette	Staab, Ellie	Recurrent Mucosal Leishmaniasis in an Immunocompetent Host Due to Leishmania braziliensis
26	Case Vignette	Rhyner, Jordan	Hepatitis B virus reactivation following switch to long-acting injectable ART: A cautionary case
27	Case Vignette	Stevenson, Scott	Sticky Situations: Identification and Management of Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in Nebraska
28	Case Vignette	Moody, Joanna	Missed in the Margins: Peritoneal tuberculosis Disguised as Malignancy in Advanced HIV
29	Case Vignette	Meyers, Hunter	When Milk is Not Taken Out to Pasteur: A Case Report on Brucella in an Otherwise Healthy Child
30	Case Vignette	Becken, Bradford	Obtaining a Bacteriophage: A Capsid, A Tail, and Reinventing the Wheel
31	Research/QI	Foral, Pamela A	Evaluation of Allergy to Beta Lactams at a VA Medical Center: An Opportunity to Delabel
32	Case Vignette	Shalmali Mirajkar	Multifocal Brain Abscesses Secondary to Streptococcus constellatus Following Histoplasmosis-induced Bronchial Fistulas in an Adolescent
33	Research/QI	Holderjano, Cole	The Papanicolaou Smear, a Novel Frontier for Chlamydial Transcriptomics
35	Research/QI	Green, Evangeline	Turning Crisis into Opportunity: Blood Culture Stewardship and the National Impact of a Blood Culture Bottle Shortage on Clinical Care
36	Case Vignette	Clodfelder, Christian	Rich Rolled: A Case of Mistaken Identity
37	Research/QI	Mack, Jillian	Stewardship Focused Evaluation of Patients Enrolled in an Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Program Treated with Ceftriaxone for Penicillin-Susceptible Streptococcus spp. Infections

Welcoming our New Infectious Diseases Fellows: Dr. Albert Wu

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We are excited to welcome Dr. Albert Wu as a new fellow in our Infectious Diseases program! Read on to learn a little more about him

Tell us about the position you are starting
Hello everyone! I will be working as an infectious diseases fellow at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). My responsibilities will be centered around the myriads of infections that can affect our health. I will be learning how to diagnose infections, to treat them with antimicrobials, to prevent their spreading in the context of public health management, and more!

Tell us about your background
I was born in Missouri, but I spent most of my life in South Dakota, close to Sioux Falls. I then enrolled in Washington University in St. Louis for my undergraduate education. Afterwards, I took a gap year working as a medical scribe in the emergency department of several hospitals in St. Louis, where I came to love medicine and decided to make it a career. I returned to South Dakota for medical school at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine and completed my residency at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

Why did you choose to come work at UNMC
For infectious diseases, working at UNMC provides a comprehensive curriculum in all its different aspects. The program provides a balance between clinical rotations and research to allow me to hone my skills in both. It also has a multidisciplinary facility that provides medical care to people from all walks of life throughout Nebraska and the surrounding states, ensuring that we will be prepared to handle any situation. In fact, Nebraska has the highest number of refugees in proportion to its population, so we will receive a robust education in global health. UNMC also stands out with its biocontainment facility, which will provide a unique opportunity to learn about pathogens that otherwise would be difficult to safely handle. Finally, all the above would not be possible without the wonderful faculty here! They are dedicated physicians at the forefront of the field of infections diseases, but at the same time, they are incredible teachers who are always happy to impart their knowledge to us.

Outside of work, coming to UNMC also means I can experience Omaha! I feel that it is an ideally sized city – large enough to run the gamut of activities and attractions, but not so large it becomes overwhelming. It’s got college sports (go Huskers!), outdoors areas and parks, a fantastic world-class zoo, and many more. In addition, this is all while maintaining an affordable cost of living. Omaha also shines with respect to its food – I am a foodie and always happy to try new things to eat! There is something for everyone here in Omaha.

What makes you excited about working in ID
For me, working in infectious diseases gives me the chance to make a difference. The field is always changing, and there are always new challenges to tackle, such as new infections presenting themselves, or known infections becoming resistant to treatment. We’ve lived through the swine flu and COVID-19 and all know how terrible these were. These certainly won’t be the last infectious calamities we encounter, so we need to roll with the punches and rise to the challenge. I want to do my part towards helping patients and meeting these challenges so that we will be able to better handle these conditions in the future.

I also believe that variety is the spice of life, and infectious diseases provides plenty of variety. Any body system can develop some sort of infection, so we will have plenty to learn about. It will never get tiresome being able to help out with so many different conditions. Furthermore, infectious diseases also provides an assortment of career opportunities. We can choose between general ID or focus on a specific sub-specialty (transplant, antibiotic stewardship, HIV, etc.), inpatient or outpatient, or clinical and research positions.

Tell us something about yourself that is unrelated to medicine

In my free time, I love running, particularly running outdoors. It’s a wonderful way to just focus on the nature around me and let all my stress melt away. This has been a life saver in getting me through difficult days. I also love to take pictures of the interesting plants and animals that I encounter so I can try to identify them and read about them later! Some of my other hobbies include reading and playing tennis.

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New Leadership transitions in UNMC ID

2025 is a year of leadership transitions for our division. At the beginning of the year, we welcomed our new Division Chief, Dr. Dave Warren, to the division. Recently a few other leadership transitions have occurred starting July 1, and we are excited to share!

New Specialty Care Clinic Leadership: Dr. Fadul–>Dr. Bares

Dr. Nada Fadul is a Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at UNMC. A University of Khartoum graduate, she has been the Medical Director of the Specialty Care Clinic since she came to UNMC in 2018. She leads the Ryan White HIV programs and focuses on health disparities and global health. During her time in this role, Dr. Fadul has guided the clinic through rural expansion through telehealth, COVID-19 and mpox crisis management, implementation of long-acting antiretroviral treatment programs, and comprehensive HIV education programs. After serving in the Medical Director role for the past 7 years, she is stepping away from these responsibilities to focus on her new role as Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs. She will continue to direct the Ryan White program and see patients in her clinic. Dr. Fadul is a published researcher, mentor, and advocate, serving on the Board of the HIV Medical Association, and multiple other local, national, and international organizations.

Dr. Sara Bares is an Associate Professor at UNMC and as of July 1, is the new Medical Director of the Specialty Care Center. A graduate of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, she completed her residency and fellowship training at the University of Chicago. Since joining University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2013, Dr. Bares has been active in patient care, clinical research, and medical education. She specializes in HIV care, especially for Spanish-speaking populations, and founded a Spanish-language HIV clinic. Dr. Bares is an NIH-funded, nationally and internationally renowned researcher whose scholarship focuses on HIV comorbidities and women’s health. She provides education in both the undergraduate and graduate medical education curricula and has received multiple teaching awards throughout her time at UNMC.

Sara Bares, MD, photographed with the Kaneko columns on Medical Center Plaza on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. — Nada Fadul, MD, FIDSA

New Orthopedic Infectious Diseases Service Leadership: Dr. Hewlett–>Dr. Cortes-Penfield

Dr. Angela Hewlett is Professor of Infectious Diseases and George W Orr MD and Linda Orr Chair in Health Security at UNMC. Dr. Hewlett has been at UNMC since 2009. Her areas of expertise include biopreparedness/biocontainment and orthopedic infections. She is the Medical Director of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, and played a key role in treating patients with Ebola virus disease as well as some of the first COVID-19 patients in the U.S. A UTMB graduate, she is the author of a biopreparedness textbook. She leads education in biocontainment at UNMC and developed a biopreparedness and biocontainment Enhanced Medical Education Track (EMET) program in the medical school. Dr. Hewlett was the founding Medical Director of the Orthopedic Infectious Diseases Service Line, is a past-President of the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS), and is a national and international expert on orthopedic infections.

Dr. Nicolas Cortes-Penfield is an Associate Professor at UNMC and as of July 1, he is the Medical Director of the Orthopedic Infectious Diseases Service Line. He specializes in orthopedic infectious diseases and outpatient IV antibiotic therapy. He has been the Medical Director of the Nebraska Medicine Outpatient Parental Antimicrobial Therapy Program since 2019, leading the expansion of this program and guideline development. A Baylor College of Medicine graduate, Dr. Cortes-Penfield is a national and international expert known for his work on device-related infections and evidence-based practice. He’s a mentor, educator, and award-winning faculty member, active in the IDSA Medical Education Community.

New Leadership Position: Nebraska Biocontainment Unit

Dr. Richard Hankins will be joining the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit (NBU) Leadership team as Associate Medical Director of the NBU. Dr. Hankins is an Assistant Professor at UNMC, and an Associate Medical Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Control at Nebraska Medicine. Dr. Hankins has been a member NBU team for several years. He will be working closely with Dr. Hewlett to continue the success of the NBU.

Congratulations to Drs. Bares, Cortes-Penfield, and Hankins on their new leadership roles, and huge thank you to Drs. Fadul and Hewlett on their outstanding leadership and mentorship of junior faculty to step into their roles.

Mid-Year Accolades! – We are so PROUD of our people!

Congratulations to members of our division for their achievements and recognitions so far this year! These are just a few of the outstanding accomplishments of our division.

Kelly Cawcutt MD, Rick Starlin MD, and Nico Cortes-Penfield MD, are part of the inaugural graduating class of the inaugural Nebraska Medicine Physician Leadership Academy. Sara Bares MD, will join the Physician Leadership Academy this academic year.

Jenn Davis, MD was one of the top-performing reviewers for Clinical Infectious Diseases this quarter. She completed multiple reviews that the editors rated as the highest quality and received a notice of appreciation for this achievement.

Kelly Cawcutt, MD was elected to Fellowship of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA).

Jasmine R. Marcelin, MD was invited as an international faculty member to deliver a career development workshop session as part of the Emory-Nigeria Research Training Program Workshop in Lagos, Nigeria

Angela Hewlett, MD was selected as chair of the inaugural IDSA Outbreak and Pandemic Preparedness Panel

Jonathan Ryder, MD presented a webinar to the Healthcare Association for New York State titled “Stewarding Skin and Soft Tissue Infections”

Andre Kalil, MD was the invited guest for the Critical Matters Podcast, in which he discussed his approach on the management of patients with pneumonia in the ICU.

James Lawler, MD led a Kenyan health delegation through a tour of the Training, Simulation and Quarantine Center, and the National Quarantine Unit.

Jasmine R. Marcelin, MD contributed to a brand-new chapter in the new edition of Mandell’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, focused on Communicating about infectious diseases with the public. This new addition to the textbook highlights the important role infectious disease physicians play in guiding communities through times of uncertainty and crisis. Drs. Mark Rupp, Nico Cortes-Penfield, Jonathan Ryder, Trevor Van Schooneveld and Paul Fey, also authored recurring chapters in this edition of Mandell’s.

Angela Hewlett, MD and Nico Cortes-Penfield, MD were invited delegates at the International Consensus Meeting on Periprosthetic Joint Infection (ICM) in Istanbul, Turkey

Scott Bergman, PharmD received the Commitments to Pharmacy Excellence award from the West Virginia University Hospitals residency program and gave the keynote address at their graduation banquet

Richard Hankins, MD received the Dr. James A. Cottone Research Award from the Association for Dental Safety

Nico Cortes-Penfield, MD was promoted to Associate Professor on July 1

Andrea Zimmer, MD was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors Society

Trevor Van Schooneveld, MD was an invited speaker in 2 sessions at the ASM Microbe conference in June

Jenn Davis, MD was the faculty lead on an e module titled, “Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Guide to Treatment” for the E learning awards program cohort this year. Dr. Jonathan Ryder, Shawna Sunagawa, and Dr. Richard Hankins also participated from our department. This e-module was the top vote recipient!

Rick Starlin, MD leads the Bronchiectasis and NTM clinics, recently designated as a Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center Network by the Bronchiectasis and NTM Association

Caroline Song joined as our new ID Fellowship Program Coordinator

Elizabeth Schnaubelt, MD was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Air Force

David Warren, MD joined us as our new Division Chief in January

Mark Rupp, MD became the interim Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine in January