A photo of Elizabeth Schlaudecker.

Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, MD, MPH


  • Clinical Medical Director, Division of Infectious Diseases
  • Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

About

Biography

Viral respiratory infections are a leading cause of hospitalizations and long-term medical complications in children throughout the world. These infections place infants and children at higher risk of developing wheezing and asthma later in life. When viral infections occur early in life, they may cause lung damage. Respiratory infections are a leading cause of hospitalizations in the United States and a major cause of mortality among children under age five worldwide. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and COVID-19 are all conditions that increase mortality risk among children. As such, scientific research in preventing respiratory viruses is essential for improving long-term health among children.

I enjoy learning how infections have shaped our world and society, and how interventions like antibiotics and vaccines can prevent infections. I enjoy figuring out what is causing an infection and how best to treat it. These interests stem from my work in various global healthcare settings, which made me determined to prevent respiratory viruses and other infections in children and infants.

One of my research interests involves vaccinating pregnant women to prevent their infants from contracting infectious diseases. In particular, my research aims to prevent respiratory viruses by focusing on maternal vaccination. I hope to help infants and children avoid respiratory infections early in life.

In addition to my respiratory virus research, my colleagues and I are currently using our research experience and knowledge of respiratory viruses to study COVID-19 infections.

For my role in teaching information about infectious diseases, I was awarded the Optime Magistrum Award (Most Excellent Teacher) in 2017 and 2019 at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. This award recognized my work in teaching medical students about preventing infections using vaccines. I was also awarded a Fogarty International Clinical Research Fellowship from the National Institutes of Health in 2009. During this fellowship, I studied the etiology and seasonal factors of viral respiratory conditions in Honduran children under five years of age. In 2011, I was granted the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Blue Ribbon Research award for maternal vaccine research in Bangladesh.

I continued influenza vaccine research in 2011 with the support of the Procter Scholars award and a K12 Child Health Research Career Development Award (CHRCDA) from the National Institutes of Health. My research has been published in respected journals, such as the Journal of Infectious Diseases, The Lancet Global Health, Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Pediatric Research and Vaccine.

MD: University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 2003.

Residency: Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 2006.

Chief Residency: Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 2007.

Fellowship: Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 2011.

MPH: Public Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 2011.

Certification: Pediatrics, 2006; Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 2013.

Interests

Global health; influenza; prevention of infant infection with maternal immunization

Services and Specialties

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Publications

Polymerase Chain Reaction Fails to Detect Mixed Malaria Infections in Siblings from Ethiopia. Hall, AD; Whitehurst, DA; Mortensen, JE; Prus, K; Staat, MA; Schlaudecker, EP; Prasanphanich, NS. Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy. 2025; 31:102777.

Burden of Disease and Spectrum of Illness From Enterovirus-D68 Infections in US Children 0-2 Years of Age From a Longitudinal Community-Based Cohort, 2017-2019. Teoh, Z; Midgley, CM; Conrey, S; Burrell, A; White, B; Mattison, CP; McMorrow, ML; Schlaudecker, EP; Vawter-Lee, M; Morrow, AL; Payne, DC; Staat, MA. Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. 2025; 14:piaf057.

Adenovirus Species in U.S. Children With Acute Respiratory Illness, 2016-2019. Probst, V; Stopczynski, T; Amarin, JZ; Gailani, A; Rahman, HK; Stewart, LS; Selvarangan, R; Schuster, JE; Michaels, MG; Williams, JV; Gerber, SI; Chappell, JD; Spieker, AJ; Halasa, NB. Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. 2025; 14:piaf051.

Antiviral Prescription in Children With Influenza in US Emergency Departments: New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN), 2016-2020. Stopczynski, T; Amarin, J; Antoon, J; Hamdan, O; Stewart, L; Chappell, J; Spieker, A; Klein, E; Englund, J; Weinberg, G; Toepfer, A; Campbell, A; Olson, S; Halasa, N. Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses. 2025; 19:e70124.

Assessment of Tuberculosis Infection-Related Outpatient Clinical Outcomes Across Neighborhood-Level Deprivation Quartiles. Day, ME; Duan, Q; Burkhardt, MC; Klein, M; Schlaudecker, EP; Beck, AF. Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. 2025; 14:piaf020.

Enterovirus D68-Associated Respiratory Illness in Children. Clopper, BR; Lopez, AS; Goldstein, LA; Ng, TF F; Toepfer, AP; Staat, MA; Schlaudecker, EP; Sahni, LC; Boom, JA; Schuster, JE; Englund, JA; McMorrow, ML; Moline, HL; Midgley, CM. JAMA Network Open. 2025; 8:e259131.

The Epidemiology and Burden of Human Parainfluenza Virus Hospitalizations in US Children. Weinberg, GA; Annabelle, AM; Qwaider, YZ; Stopczynski, T; Amarin, JZ; Stewart, LS; Williams, JV; Michaels, MG; Sahni, LC; Boom, JA; Toepfer, AP; Moline, HL; Halasa, NB; Szilagyi, PG. Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. 2025; 14:piaf026.

Apnea After 2-Month Vaccinations in Hospitalized Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Greenberg, RG; Rountree, W; Staat, MA; Schlaudecker, EP; Poindexter, B; Trembath, A; Laughon, M; Poniewierski, MS; Spreng, RL; Broder, KR; Randolph, EA; Aleem, S; Kilpatrick, R; Walter, EB. JAMA pediatrics. 2025; 179:246-254.

Interim Estimates of 2024-2025 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness - Four Vaccine Effectiveness Networks, United States, October 2024-February 2025. Frutos, AM; Cleary, S; Reeves, EL; Ahmad, HM; Price, AM; Self, WH; Zhu, Y; Safdar, B; Peltan, ID; Gibbs, KW; Grohskopf, LA; Reed, C; Garg, S; Ellington, S. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2025; 74:83-90.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease Burden and Nirsevimab Effectiveness in Young Children From 2023-2024. Moline, HL; Toepfer, AP; Tannis, A; Weinberg, GA; Staat, MA; Halasa, NB; Boom, JA; Klein, EJ; Williams, JV; Schuster, JE; Weddle, G; Weltmer, K; Williams, T; Zerr, D. JAMA pediatrics. 2025; 179:179-187.

From the Blog

It’s Safe to Give COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccines Together
Infectious Diseases and Vaccines

It’s Safe to Give COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccines Together

Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, MD, MPH, Mary Allen Staat, MD, MPH11/18/2024

Top 3 Reasons to Get Flu Shot in Third Trimester
Blog Vaccines

Top 3 Reasons to Get Flu Shot in Third Trimester

Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, MD, MPH2/20/2024

RSV Vax Trial Seeks to Protect Newborns by Protecting Moms
Infectious Diseases and Vaccines

RSV Vax Trial Seeks to Protect Newborns by Protecting Moms

Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, MD, MPH2/3/2022

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