Nives Zimmermann, MD

I am a pathologist in the Division of Allergy and Immunology. One of my goals is to help patients understand what pathologists do. I tell my patients I am the detective who puts together all the pieces of the puzzle and diagnoses their disease.

My interests focus on pediatric pathology, especially related to asthma, eosinophils, lung inflammation and diseases that affect blood cells. I’ve always been curious about the mechanisms of disease, and I love looking into a microscope and asking, “What happened?”

My research concentrates on eosinophilic diseases, specifically why some patients get them and others don’t. Eosinophils can be present in some tissues with no ill effects, while at other times or in other tissues they cause serious damage. I want to learn the mechanisms that cause this damage.

I’m proud to have received several awards during my career, including the Woman Physician in Allergy Junior Faculty Development Award (special recognition); the ARTrust™ and Donald Y. M. Leung, MD, PhD Lectureship; the Pathology Department of the University of Cincinnati Disciplined Developer Award; and the Resident of the Year Award.