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Faculty

Ernestine Marie Vellozzi

Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences

B.S., M.S., Ph.D., St. John’s UniversityM.S., College of Pharmacy and Allied Professions, St. John’s University

Description

Dr. Vellozzi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, in the School of Health Professions and Nursing, where she teaches Immunology, Clinical Immunology, Clinical Bacteriology, Medical Microbiology, Advanced Medical Microbiology, Medical Virology, Medical Parasitology, and Medical Mycology in the bachelor’s and master’s programs in Biomedical Technology, Forensic Science, Biomedical Sciences, and Clinical Laboratory Science.

She earned a Ph.D. in Microbiology, and both a B.S. and M.S. in Biology from St. John’s University, and a M.S. in Pharmacology from St. John’s College of Pharmacy. Dr. Vellozzi also holds a Certificate of Qualification, as a Laboratory Director from the New York State Department of Health, and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Microbiology. This internationally acknowledged board certification is the highest credential available to physicians and doctoral scientists holding a Director-level position in the field of Medical and Public Health Microbiology.

Dr. Vellozzi has over 30 years experience in clinical microbiology, research, teaching, and clinical laboratory management. Prior to her appointment at LIU Post in 2007, she was the Chief of the Division of Microbiology, and Associate Attending in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC), in New Hyde Park, NY.  She also held the academic rank of Associate Professor of Pathology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and was the former Technical Director of Microbiology and Immunology at the SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories, in N.Y.  She currently continues her affiliation with the North Shore-LIJ Health System Laboratories as a Clinical Microbiology research Collaborator. Dr. Vellozzi has also held various academic teaching positions, and has taught undergraduate, graduate, medical school students, and medical and pathology residents and fellows at various institutions, including Baruch College, St. John’s University, Queensborough Community College, the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

For the past 19 years, Dr. Vellozzi has been a council member of the New York City Branch, of the American Society for Microbiology, and has also served as the Branch’s President. Dr. Vellozzi’s clinical interests are in mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and her research contributions to date have helped elucidate antibiotic efficacy and development of more effective identification and treatment regimens in bacterial and parasitic infections of the eye. Her other research interests have included rapid systems of microbial identification, vancomycin heteroresistance in methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and epidemiologic surveillance of nosocomial infection transmitted by hand held devices.  Dr. Vellozzi is currently involved in an on-going research collaboration with the North Shore-LIJ Health System Laboratories, Division of Infectious Disease Diagnostics, working on a Department of Defense grant investigating Syndromic Surveillance Systems for Infectious Diseases. 

Dr. Vellozzi has authored and co-authored various scientific articles, abstracts, poster sessions, and chapters in publications. She was also former section editor of the “Instrument Maintenance and Quality Control” chapter in the Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, published by the American Society for Micro-biology Press. This three volume work is considered one of the standard reference books for clinical microbiology.

Specialties

Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Immunology, Infectious Disease Microbiology, Clinical Laboratory Management.

Publications

Author, Vellozzi, E.M., F. Zhang, J. Bush, A. Joseph, R. Manji, R. Tahman, J. Greenko, and C. Ginocchio, 2013. Effect of pandemic 2009 Infuenza A H1N1 on respiratory virus epidemiology.(Manuscript in Preparation).

Co-author, Patel,S., S. Orsinger, E.M. Vellozzi, P. Gialanella, L. Nimrichter,K. Miranda, and L.R. Martinez, 2013. Use of stainless steel washer platform to study Acinetobacter baumanii biofilms on abiotic surfaces. Microbiology (In Review).

Co-author, Macherla, C., D.A. Sanchez, M.S. Ahmadi, E.M.Vellozzi, A.J. Friedman, J.D. Nosanchuck, and L.R. Martinez, 2012. Nitric oxide releasing nanoparticles for treatment of Candida albicans burn infections. Front Microbiol 3:193-201.

Author, Vellozzi, E.M. and E.R. Giugliano, 2009. “The Genus Helicobacter”, p. 579 – 602. In E.

Goldmanand L. H. Green (eds.), Practical Handbook of Microbiology, 2nd Edition. CRC Press, Boca

Raton,London, New York.

Co-author, Bowman, C, E. M. Vellozzi, Y. Saffari, S. White and Y. Shi, 2006. College of American Pathology (CAP) Proficiency Testing Summary Critique and Discussion for Bacteriology XM 16-20.

Co-author, Kotlus, B.S., R. A. Wymbs, E.M. Vellozzi, I.J. Udell, 2006. In vitro activity of fluoroquinolones, vancomycin and gentamicin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ocular isolates. Am J Ophthalmol 142: 726-729.

Co-author,Shames, R., F. Satti, E.M. Vellozzi, M.A. Smith, 2006. Susceptibilities of Proprionibacterium acnes ophthalmic isolates to ertapenem, meropenem and cefepime. J Clin Microbiol 44(11): 4227-4228.

Co-author, Kennedy, D.L., P. Masidonski, E.M. Swierkosz, K. Davidson, B.T. Edwards, E.M. Vellozzi, et.al. 2005. Pseudomonas Bloodstream infections associated with heparin/saline flush-

Missouri, New York, Texas and Michigan. 2004-2005. MMWR 54(11): 269-272.     

Co-author, Zwerling, B.H., B. H. Kotlus, R.A. Wymbs, E.M. Vellozzi, S. Mandelbaum, I.J. Udell, 2005. Which antibiotics are more effective against ocular isolates? Abstracts of the Annual Meeting; of the  American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Co-author, Hassoun, A., E.M. Vellozzi,  M.A. Smith, 2004. Colonization of personal digital assistants carried by healthcare professionals. Infect Control and Hosp Epidemiol 25(11): 1000-1001.

Co-author, Kotlus, B., R. Wymbs, E.M. Vellozzi, I.J. Udell, 2004. In vitro activity of moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ocular isolates.

Abstracts of the Annual Meeting of the American AcademyOf  Ophthalmology.

Co-author, Hassoun, A., E.M. Vellozzi, M.A. Smith, 2004. Colonization of personal digital assistants (PDAs) carried by healthcare professionals. Abstracts of the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Infectious  Disease Society of America.

Co-author, Haimi- Cohen,Y.,  E.M. Vellozzi, L.G. Rubin, 2002. Initial concentration of Staphylococcus epidermidis in simulated pediatric blood cultures correlates with time to positive resultswith the automated, continuously monitored BACTEC Blood culture system. J Clin Microbiol 40(3): 898-901.

Co-author, Dali, P., E.R. Giugliano, E.M. Vellozzi , M.A. Smith, 2001.Susceptibilities of Proprionibacterium acnes ophthalmic isolatesto moxifloxacin.  Antimicrob Agents Chemother 45 (10): 2969-2970.

Co-author, Wu, M., P. Wasserman, M. Aziz,  H.D. Isenberg,  E.M.Vellozzi,  B. Krumholz,  L.B. Kahn, 2000. Comparison of 118 patients with abnormal cervical cytology by thin prep in 1000 individual cohorts and results of the HPV DNA by hybrid capture. Abstracts of the 10th World Congress of Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy.

Co-editor, Della-Latta,  P. and E.M. Vellozzi, 1998. “Instrument Maintenance  and Quality Control”, p.693-731. H.D. Isenberg (ed.), Essential Procedures in Clinical Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology Press.

Co-author, Rubin, L.G., R.A. Kahn, E.M. Vellozzi , H.D. Isenberg, 1996. False-positive detection of Group A Streptococcus due to colonization with cross-reacting viridans streptococci in a child with recurrent pharyngitis. Ped Infect Dis J. 15(8): 715-717.

Co-author, Smith, M.A., P. Alperstein, K. France, E.M. Vellozzi, H.D. Isenberg, 1996. Susceptibility testing of Proprionibacterium acnes comparing agar dilution with the E-test. J Clin Microbiol 34: 1024 – 1026.

Author, Vellozzi, E.M., 1995. The evolving role of Helicobacter pylori in gastric disease. Clinical Microbiology Updates. Hoechst- RousselPharmaceuticals, Inc. 6(4): 1-7.

Co-editor, Della-Latta,  P. and E.M. Vellozzi, 1993. “Instrument Maintenance  and Quality Control”, p. 12.0.1 – 12.22.6.  H.D. Isenberg (ed.), Clinical Microbiology Procedures

Handbook, Vol. II. American Society for Microbiology Press, Washington, D.C.

Co-author,Wenocur, H.S., M.A. Smith, E.M. Vellozzi, J. Shapiro,H.D. Isenberg, 1988. Odontogenic infection secondary to Leuconostoc species. J Clin Microbiol 26:1893 – 1894.

Co-Author, numerous articles in the Journal of Infectious Disease, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, and the American Journal of Ophthalmology.

Honors/Awards

Recipient, Past Presidents Award, New York City Branch of the American Society for Microbiology.

Recipient, Outstanding Educator Award, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Professional Affiliations

Diplomate, American Board of Medical Microbiology

Laboratory Director, Certificate of Qualification, New York State Department of Health. Certified in Bacteriology, Mycology, Mycobacteriology, Parasitology, Virology and Clinical Immunology

Licensed Clinical Laboratory Technologist, University of the State of New York

Reviewer, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, The American Society for Microbiology

Clinical Microbiology Consultant, Long Island Jewish Medical Center

Clinical Microbiology Research Collaborator, North Shore-LIJ Health System Laboratories

Council Member (Elected Position), New York City Branch of the American Society for Microbiology (1994- Present)

President (Elected Position), New York City Branch of the American Society for Microbiology (2001-2003)

Member, American Society for Microbiology

Member, Infectious Disease Society of America

Member, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology

Member, New York Academy of Science

Former Inspector for Laboratory Accreditation, College of American Pathologists

Former Microbiology Laboratory Curriculum Consultant, Syosset School District

Former Institutional Review Board Committee Member, Touro College