Yoona Rhee

Yoona Rhee, MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Rush Medical College, Rush University. She serves as the Associate Director of Transplant Infectious Diseases Services, with a clinical focus on infections in solid organ and hematologic cancer transplant recipients. Her work bridges clinical care, infection prevention, and academic research.

Research Interests: Dr. Rhee's research centers on hospital epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance (particularly carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and MRSA), infection control practices (e.g., chlorhexidine bathing, contact precautions), and infectious complications in immunocompromised hosts. She investigates microbial transmission dynamics using genomic and microbiome analyses, with a focus on intensive care and long-term acute care settings. Her work also addresses vaccination strategies and infection screening in transplant populations.

Publication Trends: Her recent publications (2020–2024) reflect a strong focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on transplant patients, infection control interventions in ICUs, and genomic epidemiology of MRSA and multidrug-resistant organisms. Earlier work (2015–2020) established her expertise in KPC transmission, chlorhexidine efficacy, and CLABSI prevention in non-ICU settings.

• Scientific Awards: No specific awards are listed in the provided text.

Advising and Grants: While specific advisees or grant funding are not mentioned in the text, her extensive collaborative research network—evident from co-authorship with leading figures like Mary K. Hayden and Kyle Popovich—suggests active mentorship and research leadership. Her publications in top-tier journals indicate competitive research activity, likely supported by institutional or external funding.

Labs and Teams: Dr. Rhee is affiliated with the Division of Infectious Diseases at Rush University Medical Center. She is a key member of the Transplant Infectious Diseases team and collaborates closely with the hospital epidemiology and infection control group, particularly in multicenter studies on infection prevention practices.