Biographical summary
Elitza S. Theel, Ph.D., is a Clinical Microbiologist with specialty in infectious disease serologic testing, which includes detection of pathogen-specific antibody and antigens from different body fluids. Her specific interests and clinical focus include developing and evaluating novel serologic assays for the detection vector-borne diseases, viruses and dimorphic fungi. The assays evaluated and implemented by Dr. Theel's lab are available to patients and providers at both Mayo Clinic and through Mayo Clinic Laboratories.
In addition to these efforts, Dr. Theel has been involved in an international laboratory outreach program in Belize City, Belize, with the overall goal to implement new diagnostic assays of high clinical relevance to the country and to further optimize the quality and safety of laboratory testing in the country.
Dr. Theel is Program Director for the Clinical Microbiology PhD Fellowship program, accredited through the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).
Finally, Dr. Theel authors expert content and publishes in high-impact scientific medical journals on the topics of clinical microbiology and immunology. She is also Editor for the Journal of Clinical Microbiology and the Clinical Microbiology Newsletter, and she co-hosts a monthly podcast sponsored by ASM for the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.
Mayo Clinic locations
Education
- 2012
ResidentClinical Microbiology-PhD, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
- 2012
Postdoctoral Fellowship - Clinical MicrobiologyMayo School of Graduate Medical Education
- 2010
Ph.D.University of Wisconsin, Madison
- 2005
BSUniversity of Notre Dame
Activities and honors
Certifications
- 2012
Medical MicrobiologyAmerican Board of Medical Microbiology
Awards and honors
- 2024
Fellow - American Academy of MicrobiologyAmerican Society for Microbiology
- 2021
Young Investigator AwardPan American Society for Clinical Virology
- 2020
30 Under 40 Award Business Insider
- 2020
Heroes of the Pandemic HonoreeStar Tribune
- 2017
40 Under 40 HonoreeAmerican Society for Clinical Pathology
- 2017
Physician's Choice AwardMayo Medical Laboratories, Mayo Collaborative Services, LLC
- 2015
Mayo Quality Fellows Program - Silver AwardMayo Quality Fellows Program, Mayo Clinic Quality Academy
- 2012
Distinguished Poster Award for a Clinical FellowMayo Clinic Young Investigator Research Symposium
- 2012
ASM Student Travel Grant AwardAmerican Society for Microbiology
- 2011
George McCracken Infectious Diseases Fellow AwardAmerican Society for Microbiology
- 2011
ASM Infectious Disease (ID) Fellow Travel Grant AwardAmerican Society for Microbiology
- 2010
Ortho Diagnostic Postdoctoral Fellow AwardOrtho Clinical Diagnostic
- 2008
Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Responses Training GrantNational Institutes of Health
- 2007
Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Responses Training GrantNational Institutes of Health
Professional memberships
- 2024 - present
Immunology and Infectious Diseases Division - TreasurerAssociation for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine
- 2024 - 2026
Annual Meeting Organizing Committee MemberAssociation for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine
- 2024 - 2025
ID Lab Con Program Committee MemberAssociation of Public Health Laboratories
- 2024 - present
Vice Chair - M70 Document Development CommitteeClinical and Laboratory Standards Institute
- 2024 - 2025
IDCon Annual Meeting Program Committee MemberAssociation of Public Health Laboratories
- 2024 - present
Chair - M69 Document Development CommitteeClinical and Laboratory Standards Institute
- 2023 - 2024
Clinical Virology Symposium Annual Meeting Organizing Committee MemberAmerican Society for Microbiology
- 2023 - 2025
Councilor - Research & Laboratory Medicine and PathologyMayo Clinic Rochester Officers and Councilors
- 2022 - present
MemberDLMP Quality Oversight Subcommittee - CPC, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
- 2021 - present
Board MemberMinnesota Department of Health Congenital Syphilis Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Review Board
- 2020 - present
CDC Import Permit - SignatoryMayo Clinic
- 2020 - 2024
Chair - Digital Outreach CommitteePan American Society for Clinical Virology
- 2020 - present
CouncilorPan American Society for Clinical Virology
- 2020 - 2023
Division V ChairAmerican Society for Microbiology
- 2019 - 2020
MemberPLM Program Steering Committee
- 2019 - 2020
Chair - Distance Learning CommitteePan American Society for Clinical Virology
- 2019 - 2020
Working Group MemberCDC/APHL Lyme Disease Reporting Guidelines Working Group
- 2019 - 2024
Member - Microbiology Resource CommitteeCollege of American Pathologists
- 2018 - present
Member, Program CommitteeAmerican Society for Microbiology
- 2016 - 2018
Working Group MemberCDC/APHL Syphilis Guidelines Working Group
- 2015 - present
ChairQuality Group, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
- 2015 - present
MemberInfection Prevention and Control Committee, Clinical Practice Committee - Rochester
- 2013 - 2023
MemberGrand Rounds Committee, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
- 2013 - present
MemberInstitutional Biosafety Committee, Mayo Clinic Committees
- 2012 - present
MemberInfectious Disease Society of America
- 2012 - present
MemberPan American Society for Clinical Virology
- 2010 - present
MemberAmerican Society for Microbiology
- 2010 - present
MemberMayo Clinic Fellows Association
Publications
Research activities