Chitra Pai, MD, D (ABMM)

She/Her/Hers

Areas of Expertise

• Microbiology
• Global health

Biography

Full-time Professor of Basic Sciences at TUC, delivering Clinical Microbiology instruction to preclinical medical and MSMHS students. Course Coordinator for Integrated Systems-EGR and the Global Health Program, and Director of the Department of Clinical Education at TUCOM.

Professional Highlights & Leadership

• 31+ Years of Global Expertise: Extensive international experience across India, Nepal, the Caribbean, and the United States in medical education, research, and laboratory administration.
• Clinical & Administrative Leadership: Former Director of Clinical Microbiology Laboratories, guiding diagnostic test reporting, Hospital Infection Control Programs, and Antibiotic Stewardship initiatives.
• Educational Innovation: Enthusiastic practitioner of active-learning strategies (Case-Based Learning, Team-Based Learning) designed to foster clinical reasoning across medical, dental, nursing, and graduate (MS/Ph.D.) programs.

Research & Scholarship

• Fields of Interest: MRSA, Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas virulence factors, COVID-associated mucormycosis, antimicrobial resistance among uropathogens, alternative antimicrobials, as well as HIV and Opportunistic Infections, Malaria and Tuberculosis.
• AI Research Projects: Investigating the impact of AI across microbiology diagnostics, AMR, and medical educational settings.
• Recognized Impact: Author of numerous clinical case reports from laboratory practice; awarded by the Hospital Infection Control Society of India for research on nosocomial pathogen carriage on mobile devices (featured on national television).

Clinical Specialty

• Medical Microbiology

Education

• MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery): Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital, Belgaum, India
• MD (Doctorate of Medicine): Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital, Belgaum, India
• Post-Doctoral FAIMER Fellowship: Awarded by the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER), Philadelphia
• Advanced Training: Laboratory Medicine Division, University of Minnesota Medical School

Certifications

• Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Microbiology (D(ABMM)): Board certified in Medical and Public Health Microbiology
• ACUE Certification: Association of College and University Educators certification in Effective Teaching Practices and Inclusive Teaching for Equitable Learning

Honors and Awards

• Teacher of the Year Award in Foundational Biomedical Sciences (2025–2026)
  Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, California (Apr 2026)
• Best Session Presentation Award
  9th GlobeHeal-Global/Public Health Conference, Bali, Indonesia (Feb 2026)
  For the paper: "The Impact of Screen Time on Child Development: A Systematic Review of Recent Evidence in Children Aged Five Years and Below" — a multidisciplinary collaboration linking clinical insights from TUCOM with technical expertise from engineering leadership at Meta and Apple.
• Teacher of the Year Award in Foundational Biomedical Sciences (2024–2025)
  Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine (Aug 2025)
• Teacher of the Year Award in Foundational Biomedical Sciences (2023–2024)
  Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, California (Aug 2024)
• Basic Sciences Teacher of the Year Award
  Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, California (Sep 2023)
• The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
  The Arnold P. Gold Foundation (May 2023)
  Recognizing faculty who embody humanism in patient care, teaching, and mentorship.
• Presidential Faculty Excellence Award
  Touro College and University System (Jul 2022)
  System-wide recognition for outstanding teaching across Touro locations in New York, Nevada, and California.
• Basic Sciences Teacher of the Year Award
  Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine (Apr 2022)
• First Annual Touro University California Outstanding Teaching Award
  Office of the Provost & Center for Innovative Learning and Teaching (CILT), TUC (Jun 2021)
• Basic Sciences Teacher of the Year Award
  Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, California (Apr 2021)
• Basic Sciences Teacher of the Year Award
  Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine (Apr 2020)
• Basic Science Teacher of the Year Award
  TUCOM Student Executive Council (Apr 2019)
• Most Approachable Professor Award
  American University of Antigua College of Medicine (May 2017)
• Outstanding Professor Award (Best Basic Sciences Teacher - Year 2)
  American University of Antigua College of Medicine (May 2017)
• Best Teaching Professor Award ('Disease Immunity Therapeutics' Course)
  American University of Antigua (May 2016)
• Outstanding Professor Award (Best Basic Sciences Teacher - Year 2)
  American University of Antigua (May 2016)
• MaGEX Award for International Academic Excellence
  Manipal Global Education Inc. (Jun 2015)
  Awarded for excellence in teaching, research, curriculum development, and service.
• Young Scientist Award
  Photon Foundation (Jan 2015)
• Best Paper Award
  Indian Academy of Tropical Parasitology, India (Jan 2013)
  For research evaluating conventional staining and immunological techniques in malaria diagnosis.
• Conference Presentation Award on Enterococcal Infections
  UGC Sponsored Microbiology Horizons in Biomedical Sciences Conference (Jan 2013)
• Featured FAIMER Fellow Highlight
  FAIMER Foundation, Philadelphia (Jan 2010)
• First Prize for Poster Presentation (Hepatitis B Virus Real-Time PCR Detection)
  National Seminar on 'Frontiers in Biotechnology', Navi Mumbai, India (Jan 2010)
• First Prize for Poster Presentation (Microbial Flora Harbored by Mobile Phones of Health Care Workers)
  National Conference of the Hospital Infection Society of India (HISICON) (Jan 2009)
• Group Study Exchange Program Awardee (Norway)
  Rotary International (Jan 1998)
• Graduated Summa Cum Laude, M.D. (Medical Microbiology)
  J. N. Medical College, Belgaum, India (Jan 1996)

Recent Publications

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1DyMvseKqAYcvX/bibliography/public/

Memberships and Affiliations

• IAMSE-International Association of Medical Science Educators
• ASM-American Society of Microbiology
• ABMM validation subcommittee
• IAMM-Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists

Teaching Responsibilities

Fundamentals of Medicine course, Integrated Systems-Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Renal course, Integrated Systems-Musculoskeletal and Neurology course, Integrated Systems-Gastrointestinal, Endocrine, Reproductive, Dermatology course for medical students. Immunity and Infection course for Master of Science in Medical Health Sciences students. Global Health Program course.