Alexander J Sundermann

Alexander J Sundermann serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of of Public Health. His research focuses on leveraging pathogen genomic surveillance and machine learning to revolutionize infection prevention practices in healthcare settings, with demonstrated impacts on outbreak detection accuracy and intervention speed.

Education:

• 2013: BS in Microbiology, University of Rochester
• 2014: MPH in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh
• 2022: DrPH in Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Sundermann's work centers on whole-genome sequencing of pathogens to detect healthcare-associated transmission invisible to traditional methods. His research demonstrates how genomic surveillance reveals hidden outbreaks of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and mucormycosis, directly linking colonization to clinical outcomes like ICU admission and mortality. He pioneers machine learning tools that analyze electronic health records to identify transmission routes, creating more efficient outbreak investigation frameworks across hospital networks.

His publication portfolio (2019-2025) shows a clear trajectory toward integrated genomic-clinical surveillance systems, with recent work quantifying clinical and economic impacts while addressing implementation barriers. This interdisciplinary approach bridges epidemiology, genomics, and data science to transform infection prevention protocols.

Scientific Awards:

No awards listed in available information.

Advising and Grants:

While specific advisees and grant details aren't provided, his multi-institutional collaborations suggest active mentorship within genomic epidemiology research teams. His work with the National Healthcare Safety Network indicates engagement with major public health surveillance infrastructure.

Labs and Teams:

Dr. Sundermann leads cross-functional teams including microbiologists, data scientists, and clinicians across multiple healthcare systems. His UPMC outbreak investigations and national linen contamination studies demonstrate operational frameworks for real-time genomic surveillance implementation in complex hospital environments.