MD, University of Maryland
Residency, University of Michigan
Fellowship, Rush Medical College
MS, University of Illinois at Chicago - School of Public Health
In the past eleven years, Popovich has focused her research on two major areas: (1) the epidemiology of community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) and the disproportionate impact CA-MRSA has had on underserved populations and (2) the use of chlorhexidine gluconate for patient bathing in the intensive care unit. Her current research is integrating MRSA genomic data with epidemiologic data to optimize MRSA prevention efforts in community and acute care settings. She is the PI for an NIAID funded R01 which is using whole genome sequencing (WGS) and phylogenetic analysis to (1) define whether urban jails are non-hospital settings that are a controllable focus of MRSA and (2) determine how MRSA strains circulate between the community and urban jails. She was awarded an NIH supplement to study MRSA in incarcerate females. Results of these projects will define racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in MRSA and lead to epidemiologic-driven planning of interventions aimed at reducing MRSA spread.
Area of Expertise: community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
2008 - Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America Travel Award
2008 - National Institutes of Health Clinical Loan Repayment Program
2008 - Infectious Disease Society of America/ Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Fellow Travel Award
2009 - Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America Trainee Award
2010 - Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America Barry Farr Award
2016 - Named a Fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America
2018 - Infectious Disease Society of America IDWeek Investigator Award
Ongoing Research Support
1R01AI146079-01A1 3/2020-2/2025
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Title: A multi-level genomic and spatial analysis of MRSA transmission
Role: Principal Investigator
R01AI114688 8/1/2015-1/31/2021
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Title: Genomic Epidemiology of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Jail
Role: Principal Investigator
75D30118C02923 9/30/2018-4/29/2020
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Title: Genomic Epidemiology of Community-Onset Invasive USA300 MRSA Infections
Role: Principal Investigator