Monica Abdelnour, MD

Medical School:  National University of Ireland, Galway
Residency:  Southern Illinois University
My favorite microbe: Haemophilus influenzae, a bacterium which can colonize some children or cause invasive disease in others… a sneaky pathogen when it wants to be (unfortunately)! Although we have come a long way with our H. Influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine and drastically reduced Hib associated invasive infections, this bug is a rebel and continues to cause invasive disease with other serotypes and nontypable strains. 
Why I chose infectious diseases: I love to investigate. My curiosity is too strong and won’t stop till I have dug deep into a patient’s chart and exposure history! I also think the well-rounded nature of infectious disease physicians creates excellent educators and overall clinicians. 
What I love about Washington University: WashU allows you to learn from a large and diverse patient population. Diversity is also present in the faculty’s clinical and research interests. After meeting everyone on my interview day, I was confident I would receive excellent training while surrounded by brilliant and friendly mentors that guide me in my future career.