Current Fellows in the Infectious Disease Fellowship

Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Residency: Ascension St. Vincent

Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Residency: University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics

Dr. Zaynab Almothafer's Scholarly Activity

• Almothafer, Z., & Crnich, C. J. Infection Prevention and Control in Long-Term Settings. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America. 2026. 40(2), 477–496.

Medical School: University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine
Residency: Creighton University
Professional Interest: Transplant infectious disease and critical care

Dr. Michael Pennella's Scholarly Activity

• Presented abstract at Jarjour Research Day in Madison, WI, titled "Mollicute screening and hyperammonemia syndrome prophylaxis for lung transportation recipients: a single-center experience"
• 2026 DOM Education Award Recipient: “Improving Interdisciplinary Communication during Consultation using an Intergroup Communication Framework to Improve Patient Care and Trainee Wellbeing.”

Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP) Trainee

Medical School: University of Michigan Medical School

Residency: Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center/University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics

Dr. Michael Dieterle's Scholarly Activity

• Member of the ICU Data Science Lab with Dr. Matthew Churpek
• M. G. Dieterle, K. Cinnamon, M. Kessler, J. Yandre, S. Kakumanu. A Bone to Pick: Navigating the Impact of Penicillin Allergy Labels on Bone and Joint Infections. Current Infectious Disease Reports. 2026 Jan 9;(2026) 28:4
• Presented at Dennis G. Maki Infectious Disease Conference titled, "Difficult Patient Cases"
• M. G. Dieterle & K. Rao. "Serum And Stool Inflammatory Mediators Are Viable Indicators of Risk For Developing Recurrent Clostridioides Difficile Infection." ANAEROBE 2024. July 9th.

Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP) Trainee

Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Residency: University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics

Professional Interest: Transplant infectious diseases

Dr. Caroline Ewing's Scholarly Activity

• Member of the ICU Data Science Lab with Dr. Matthew Churpek
• Ewing CB, Siraj D, Lepak A. First Case of Neuroinvasive Oropouche Virus in Wisconsin: A Case Report. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2025;12(9):ofaf402.
• Mehrotra N, Ross MM, Chilukuri AS, Eljamri S, Ewing C, Patel S, Patel V, Siegel LB, Sistla D, Shariff RK, Fazeli PK. 8263 Long-term Imaging Follow-up of Non-functioning Pituitary Adenomas. J Endocr Soc. 2024;8(Suppl 1):bvae163.1268.
• Presented abstract at Association of American Physicians/American Society for Clinical Investigation/American Physician Scientists Association Joint Meeting in Chicago, titled "Blastomyces dermatitidis titers decline rapidly in severe disease and azole monitoring levels stabilize over time with less variability in older patients"
• Presented at Dennis G. Maki Infectious Disease Conference titled, "Difficult Patient Cases"

Medicine-Pediatrics Infectious Diseases Joint Track

Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Residency: Tulane University

Professional Interest: Antibiotic stewardship, HIV, and vaccines

Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP) Trainee

Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Residency: University of Maryland Medical Center

Professional Interest: Virology 

Dr. Christopher Gelbmann's Scholarly Activity

• Member of the Mehle Lab
• M.S. Ohman, E.R. Albright, C.B. Gelbmann, & R.F. Kalejta. The Pentamer glycoprotein complex inhibits viral Immediate Early transcription during Human Cytomegalovirus infections. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 121 (39) e2408078121 (2024)
• Presented at Dennis G. Maki Infectious Disease Conference titled, "Difficult Patient Cases"