Amy Mathers, MD
The Committee on Women in Medicine and Science (COWIMS) is proud to celebrate the work of Amy Mathers, MD, as March’s Woman of the Month, for her outstanding contributions to the field of infectious disease. Dr. Mathers is the Mandell Professor of Internal Medicine and Pathology, with a primary appointment in the Department of Medicine.
“Dr. Mathers is so deserving of this honor. She is a master clinician and researcher who has made seminal contributions to the area of prevention of nosocomial infections. Her work in the microbiology hospital lab has been critical to UVA’s success in managing numerous threats to our community such as the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a regional and national leader and we are fortunate to have her as a colleague and role model,” remarks, Dr. Mitch Rosner, Interim Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Henry B. Mulholland Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine.
Dr. Mathers comments, “the thing I love the most about my research is the idea that I get to discover new things, and that allows me to see the world in a different way. For example, when we discover that drug resistant pathogens were living in hospital drains. It allowed me to look at drains and sinks differently, and I continue to try to problem solve as I look at drains and sinks to come up with better interventions to prevent them from getting to patients.”
As an infectious disease researcher, Dr. Mathers is dedicated to combating antibiotic-resistant infections—one of the leading global health threats. Her work focuses on how resistance genes spread between bacteria, how these pathogens are detected in clinical and hospital settings, and how to prevent their transmission to and from patients. By uncovering the mechanisms behind antibiotic resistance transmission between bacteria and patients and the environment, her research aims to improve detection, containment, and prevention strategies, ultimately reducing the burden of drug-resistant infections in hospitalized patients.
The Committee on Women in Medicine and Science thanks Dr. Mathers, with gratitude for her tireless efforts, expertise, and commitment to the well-being of her patients.
If you would like to nominate a future COWIMS Woman of the Month, click here.
Filed Under: Faculty