Professor
Department of Internal Medicine,
Division of Infectious Diseases,
RUSH Medical College
Education
MD, University of Maryland
Residency, University of Michigan
Fellowship, Rush Medical College
MS, University of Illinois at Chicago - School of Public Health
Research Areas
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