About
Michael Cappello, MD, is Professor and Chair of the Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases at the Yale School of Public Health, with joint appointments as Professor of Pediatrics and Microbial Pathogenesis at Yale Medical School. He graduated from Brown University (BA in Biomedical Ethics) and Georgetown University (MD), completing infectious disease training at Yale before joining the faculty in 1995. Dr. Cappello directs laboratory and field research programs focused on hookworm, malaria, and tropical diseases in resource-limited settings, particularly West Africa.
His research interests center on molecular parasitology, global health implementation, and developing novel interventions for neglected tropical diseases. Work includes:
- Characterizing hookworm/malaria co-infection dynamics
- Identifying parasite virulence factors
- Developing vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics
- Studying anthelminthic resistance mechanisms
- Investigating environmental determinants of transmission
Publications demonstrate consistent focus on translational parasitology, with recent emphasis on point-of-care diagnostics, metagenomic approaches, and community health worker interventions in Uganda and Ghana. His 115+ publications in journals including PNAS and PLoS NTDs reflect interdisciplinary methodologies spanning molecular biology, epidemiology, and implementation science.
Honors include:
- Bailey K. Ashford Medal (2007) for tropical medicine research
- Francis Gilman Blake Award for teaching excellence (2023)
- Recognition as Connecticut's Top Doctor (2019-2024)
- Membership in the Council on Foreign Relations
Dr. Cappello co-founded the Yale Partnerships for Global Health, chaired Yale's Council on African Studies (2016-2021), and directs the Yale Institute for Global Health. He maintains an active clinical practice in pediatric infectious diseases at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital and serves on advisory boards including Schwarzman Scholars at Tsinghua University.
