Michael S. Pulia

Dr. Michael S. Pulia is a tenured Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, holding dual appointments in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the School of Medicine and Public Health and as affiliate faculty in the Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering. He serves as Director of the Emergency Care for Infectious Diseases (EC-ID) Research Program and Director of Emergency Medicine Antimicrobial Stewardship, leading a health services research program focused on improving infectious disease diagnosis, infection control, and antimicrobial stewardship in emergency department settings.

Dr. Pulia's educational background includes:

• Undergraduate: Illinois Wesleyan University
• Graduate: University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Medical School: Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine
• Residency: University of Illinois Medical Center – Chief Resident

Dr. Pulia's research focuses on applying systems engineering principles to improve diagnostic accuracy and antimicrobial stewardship in emergency care settings. His work addresses critical challenges in emergency department management of infectious diseases, with particular emphasis on pneumonia diagnosis in older adults, cellulitis differentiation, and appropriate antibiotic prescribing. His innovative approach combines health services research with human factors engineering to develop practical interventions that enhance patient safety and healthcare quality in high-pressure emergency environments.

His extensive publication record demonstrates a clear trajectory toward optimizing diagnostic processes and antimicrobial use in emergency care. Recent work shows increasing focus on the intersection of diagnostic excellence, systems engineering, and pandemic response, with significant contributions to understanding antibiotic prescribing patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic and developing resilient stewardship strategies.

Dr. Pulia has received numerous prestigious honors recognizing his contributions to the field:

• Barry M. Farr Humanitarian Award from the MRSA Survivors Network (2015)
• Best Overall Presentation Award at the Wisconsin Emergency Medicine Research Forum (2024)
• Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society induction (2024)
• Fellow of IDSA designation from the Infectious Disease Society of America (2022)
• Distinguished Service Award from the Wisconsin chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (2021)

Dr. Pulia has secured substantial research funding from multiple sources including the National Institutes of Health, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Wisconsin Partnership Program. His current projects include:

• POISED study: Characterizing the Impact of COVID-19 on Antibiotic Prescribing
• Emergency Department Surveillance for Respiratory Viruses
• Lung on a Chip Model for Aspiration Pneumonia
• NIH Loan Repayment Award for Clinical Research

As Director of the EC-ID Research Program, Dr. Pulia leads a multidisciplinary team focused on developing and implementing systems-based solutions to improve infectious disease management in emergency settings. His work bridges clinical care, research, and education to advance the field of emergency medicine and enhance patient outcomes.