Patricia Pavlinac

Patricia Pavlinac, PhD, MS is an epidemiologist and Associate Professor in the Departments of Global Health and Epidemiology (adjunct) at the University of Washington. Over the last 15 years, she has conducted research related to Shigella and diarrheal disease epidemiology around the world, including as Primary Investigator of a multi-country Shigella diarrhea surveillance study aimed at preparing for Shigella vaccine licensure trials (Enterics for Global Health [EFGH]). She has led several clinical trials addressing treatment interventions for children suffering from acute illnesses, such as diarrhea, and addressing underlying mechanisms as well as potential indirect consequences, such as antibiotic resistance in communities in Kenya.  Dr. Pavlinac’s team led a foundational systematic review of treatment options for Shigella-attributed diarrhea, highlighting the undertreatment of this enteric bacterium by current syndromic guidelines which limit treatment to dysentery. Her recent analysis of the Antibiotics for Children with severe Diarrhea (ABCD) trial highlighted the clinical benefits associated with azithromycin treatment for children with non-dysenteric Shigella, St-ETEC, and typical EPEC attributed diarrhea.  Dr. Pavlinac also led the design and implementation of studies assessing novel diagnostics for tuberculosis in children, including adapting the sample processing protocol for the molecular Gene Xpert MTB/RIF test, which is designed to test sputum samples, to test stool samples because this is a much easier sample to collect in children.  She joined START as a student in 2010 on the first START project creating a prioritization framework for countries considering mortality prevention interventions, such as mass drug administration of azithromycin.

Regarding her experience at START, Patty shared that, "As a PhD student in the department of Epidemiology, I was anxious to apply the methods I had spent the last few years learning to real-world global health problems. The START Program equipped me with the skills of synthesizing large volumes of scientific information and creatively presenting this information in a way that would be useful for decision makers. By working with a team of motivated students and highly attentive and engaged mentors we were able to produce reports and manuscripts that I was extremely proud of and that have helped me to think more creatively and practically in my subsequent research. I consider the START Program to be an essential launching point for my career in global health research." She re-joined START as a faculty lead in 2024 contributing to projects related to pediatric infectious diseases.

Patty currently works as Co-Director of Integrated Health of Women, Adolescents and Child with Global WACh.