We are very pleased to announce that Elise M. Martin, MD, MS, has been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor of Medicine, retroactively effective July 1, 2024. Dr. Martin joined the Division of Infectious in 2018 at the rank of Assistant Professor. Since joining the ID Division, Dr. Martin was concurrently appointed Associate Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)-Presbyterian in 2018. She served as a Physician for the COVID-19 Medical Response Office (CMRO), a position she held from 2020-2022. In 2022, Dr. Martin, joined the Veterans Administration Pittsburgh Health System (VAPHS) as Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology.

As Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology at VAPHS, Dr. Martin works with the VAPHS Infection Prevention team to decrease the spread of HAI, including central line associated blood stream infections (CLABSI), CAUTI, C. difficile, MRSA, VRE, surgical site infections, and other device associate infections. Dr. Martin leads a team of six infection preventionists and one nurse manager. Her work includes collaboration with all hospital services, most notably facilities management, environmental services, antimicrobial stewardship, nursing, medicine service line, surgery service line, long term care, and the emergency department. When Dr. Martin joined VAPHS, she started a “deep dive” program to identify opportunities for improvement in each HAI. To address the high C. difficile rate at VAPHS, she worked collaboratively with environmental services to expand bleach cleaning and is actively reeducating staff on hand hygiene and personal protective equipment compliance. As part of her work to address C. difficile, she identified a number of diagnostic stewardship opportunities. In addition to HAI prevention, Dr. Martin has been integral in VAPHS’s COVID-19 response. She has worked implement all key VA National and CDC COVID-19 prevention guidance, oversee acute care and community living center (long-term care) contact tracing, and has been vital in education and communication of key COVID-19 information and updates to VAPHS staff and the executive leadership team. Dr. Martin rounds on the general ID service at VAPHS, performing both in-person and e-consultations, for a variety of ID diagnoses. She is committed to her patients and the VA mission providing high quality patient care, remains current on clinical research, and collaborates with antimicrobial stewardship on up-to-date clinical guidance.

Dr. Martin has applied her knowledge to clinically important issues, including quality improvement research in infection prevention, decreasing the spread of hospital acquired pathogens and resistant organisms. She is widely recognized for her expertise in these areas and has a very strong record of achievement as a collaborator, mentor and leader. She is highly regarded by her patients and their families and well-liked by peers. Dr. Martin continues to distinguish herself by her public service addressing problems, improving the public’s health, benefiting the community, and, continuing to enhance the academic environment at the University of Pittsburgh.

Please join us in congratulating Elise on her well-deserved promotion!