Beth Pfotenhauer

MS, Bacteriology

Senior Virologist, Milwaukee Health Department Lab

she/her

Beth Pfotenhauer, MS – Speaker Bio

Current position: Senior Virologist, Milwaukee Health Department Lab

Previous positions: Intern/Research Scientist Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene (WSLH), Microbiologist-Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostics Lab (WVDL), Senior Virologist: MHDL

Current position description: I am a one Health Molecular Microbiologist and diagnostician. I have worked in environmental microbiology analyzing microbes in the “human” water cycle and protecting water health (drinking water to waste water to recreational waters and around again). I have seen the significant impact of zoonotic diseases and animal disease on agriculture, human and wildlife health. I have collaborated with experts on perplexing communicable diseases from respiratory to G.I. to STIs with all of their transmission sources and the uncertain human behavior variable in a clinical and public health world. I have been in the trenches during 4 significant regional epidemics in my career so far (H1N1’09, H5-Bird flu and dog flu, Zika and MPOX) and I helped make COVID diagnostics in Milwaukee a success. I love teaching these topics to the community and the next microbiologists.

Advice for current trainees: Don’t limit yourself only to your expertise. You are smart and can learn and apply new things. Do not write off potential collaborators. They expand your network of possibilities. Make sure to travel out of the US to get the bigger picture. Continue developing your communication, conflict resolution and soft skills so that working well with others is more effective.