Daniel J. Wozniak, PhD, professor and vice chair of Microbial Infection and Immunity at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, and professor of Microbiology in theCollege of Arts & Sciences, received the 2022 Distinguished Scholar Award. The award was announced to a surprised Wozniak by senior leadership with Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge at a recent College of Medicine department faculty meeting.
Dr. Wozniak’s scholarship and research activities focus on infectious diseases, which impact more individuals worldwide than any other health issue. His studies focus on the problem of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens, with primary focus on two multi-drug-resistant pathogens, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas. These pathogens cause illness and death in numerous people and play a major role in hospital-acquired infections. The two areas impacted by Wozniak’s decades of scholarly work are cystic fibrosis lung infections and chronic woundpathogenesis. Wozniak’s research is evidenced by more than 140 peer-reviewed manuscripts, five book chapters, three patents and over 300 abstracts/conference proceedings. Wozniak’s publications are found in journals that are among the most highly cited inmicrobiology and infectious disease.
"This is an extraordinarily important accolade recognizing the work of Dr. Wozniak and his gigantic impact on our understanding of infections and the transformation ofhuman health in our country and across the world,” said Carol R. Bradford MD, MS, FACS, dean of the Ohio State College of Medicine and vicepresident for Health Sciences at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.
Wozniak received a Ph.D. in microbiology from The Ohio State University in 1989, followed by a three-year Cystic Fibrosis Foundation fellowship at the University ofTennessee Medical School. Then, Wozniak served as faculty at Wake Forest University School of Medicine until 2008, before returning to Ohio State. He is a fellow of the American Academy for Microbiology and American Association of the Advancement of Science.
“I sincerely appreciate the support of the department and college. I am a Buckeye. Idid my graduate work here, and it’s wonderful to be among so many great people. Iappreciate all my colleagues who have supported me, past and future. I share thisaccolade with them,” said Daniel Wozniak 2022 Distinguished Scholar Award.
The Distinguished Scholar Award is among the highest annual honors awarded at Ohio State. The university-level award honors six faculty members who demonstrate scholarly activity, conduct research or creative works, that represent exceptional achievements in their fields and garnered distinction for the university. Award recipients are nominated by their departments and chosen by a committee of senior faculty, including past award recipients. Distinguished Scholars receive anhonorarium and a research grant to be used over the next three years.