Dr. Michael A. Pfaller stands as a preeminent figure in clinical microbiology and infectious disease research with decades of distinguished contributions to the field. He currently serves as Director and Consultant at JMI Laboratories, a specialized microbiology organization established in 2000 by Ronald N. Jones, MD, while maintaining his position as Professor Emeritus of Pathology at the University of Iowa College of Medicine. Dr. Pfaller received his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, where he also completed his residency in Laboratory Medicine followed by a research fellowship in microbiology and infectious disease. His distinguished academic career included significant appointments as Professor and Co-Director of the Molecular Epidemiology and Fungus Testing Laboratory at the University of Iowa, as well as a notable tenure as Professor and Vice-Chair of Pathology at Oregon Health Sciences University before returning to Iowa.
Dr. Pfaller has established himself as a world leader in the molecular epidemiology of nosocomial fungal infections, antifungal therapy, and standardized susceptibility testing methodologies that have shaped clinical practice worldwide. His prodigious scholarly output encompasses over 700 peer-reviewed articles, more than 100 book chapters, and 15 authoritative texts that have substantially advanced the understanding and management of infectious diseases. He has made seminal contributions to hospital infection control protocols and the critical role of clinical microbiology laboratories in epidemiological surveillance, authoring 72 publications on this subject between 1984 and 1997. His work has been instrumental in establishing the team approach involving clinical microbiologists, hospital epidemiologists, and infection control professionals for preventing transmission of healthcare-associated infections.
Beyond his research accomplishments, Dr. Pfaller has profoundly influenced the field through his editorial leadership and professional service, currently serving as Co-Editor in Chief of the 11th edition of the ASM Manual of Clinical Microbiology while maintaining editorial board positions with the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, and several other premier journals. He is board-certified in Clinical Pathology and has earned the distinguished recognition of being a Fellow of both the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American Academy of Microbiology. Dr. Pfaller continues to shape antimicrobial development through his consultancy at JMI Laboratories, where his expertise in reference microbiology and molecular laboratory services supports the advancement of novel antimicrobial therapies. His enduring commitment to scientific excellence ensures his ongoing influence in guiding the future direction of clinical microbiology and infectious disease management worldwide.
