Monica Sikka

Monica Sikka, MD, is a Medical Educator at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and serves as the Medical Director of the Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) program at the Portland VA Medical Center. She specializes in infectious diseases, with a focus on treating infections in patients with substance use disorders and reducing healthcare-associated infections. Dr. Sikka holds certifications in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases from the American Board of Internal Medicine. She actively teaches medical students, residents, and fellows, contributing to OHSU’s academic mission.

Education: She earned her M.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine (2003), followed by an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago (2006) and an Infectious Diseases fellowship at Rush University Medical Center (2009). Her certifications were renewed in 2016 and 2019.

Research Interests: Dr. Sikka’s work centers on improving outcomes for vulnerable populations, including patients with substance use disorders and those requiring OPAT. She explores antibiotic stewardship, infection prevention strategies, and innovative clinical care models. Her research often addresses practical challenges in managing complex infections and optimizing patient care pathways.

Awards: She received the OHSU Gold Rose Award (2021) for service excellence and was honored as a Corman IMPACT Honoree for her contributions to the OPTIONS-DC Multidisciplinary Conference (2022).

Grants & Advising: While specific grants are not detailed, her leadership in the OPAT program and involvement in multidisciplinary conferences reflect her commitment to translational research and clinical innovation. She advises on infection control policies and antimicrobial therapy protocols at the Portland VA Medical Center.

Labs/Teams: She collaborates with the Portland VA’s infection control team and the OPTIONS-DC initiative, fostering cross-disciplinary approaches to infectious disease management.