The UW Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR) has named Michael Pulia, MD, PhD, associate professor of emergency medicine with tenure, as co-director of its KL2 Scholars Program.
ICTR announced the appointment on December 2, citing Pulia’s mentoring experience and leadership in emergency medicine research, including nationally recognized work using translational strategies to improve the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases in acute care settings.
The KL2 Scholars Program provides early-stage investigators with research training, mentorship and protected time to build independent research careers. Over the past two decades, more than 90 KL2 scholars at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have secured nearly $1 billion in federal, state and foundation funding, with many advancing to lead major research initiatives and train future clinician-scientists.
As co-director, Pulia will help shape program strategy and strengthen pathways for emerging researchers across campus. He will focus primarily on mentoring scholars pursuing clinician-scientist careers.
A successful clinician-scientist, Pulia directs the Emergency Care for Infectious Diseases (ECID) research program in the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine. His work centers on optimizing antibiotic prescribing, developing rapid diagnostic approaches and improving infection-related care delivery in emergency departments and other front-line settings.
He also brings extensive experience mentoring students and trainees at every level — from undergraduates to postdoctoral fellows — a core priority of the KL2 program. ICTR highlighted his “deep commitment to developing the next generation of clinician-scientists” and his strong record of multidisciplinary collaboration as key strengths he brings to the role.
Pulia joins ICTR’s leadership team at a pivotal moment for UW–Madison’s clinical and translational research enterprise. His expertise in implementation science, diagnostic stewardship and emergency care innovation aligns closely with the KL2 program’s mission to prepare investigators to confront urgent health challenges through rigorous, team-based science.
The Department of Emergency Medicine congratulates Dr. Pulia on his appointment and celebrates this recognition of our faculty’s impact on the university’s research mission.
Read ICTR’s full announcement: “KL2 Scholars Program names new co-director” (December 2, 2025).