Title(s): Clinical Professor, Director, State Hygienic Laboratory
Department: Epidemiology
Office: S433 CPHB
Phone: (319) 384-1573
Dr. Pentella is a Clinical Professor at the University of Iowa, College of Public Health and Director of the Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory. His experience spans over forty years in clinical microbiology and public health laboratories. He is certified as an American Board of Medical Microbiology Diplomate, a specialist in microbiology through the American Society for Clinical Pathology, and certified in infection control through the Association of Professionals in Infection Control. Dr. Pentella is a member of the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee (former chair), Public Health Preparedness and Response, Infectious Disease Committee, Rabies Diagnostic Working Group, CIDT Survey Data Workgroup, Influenza and Respiratory Pathogen subcommittee, and the Antibiotic Resistance Laboratory Workgroup. He has made several contributions that have improved the practice of clinical microbiology and biosafety. He has written over 50 articles and twenty book chapters.
Courses Taught
- Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
- Diagnostic Microbiology
- Public Health Laboratory
Research Interests
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Public health laboratory methods
- Infectious disease prevention
In the News
- Pentella offers food safety tips for 4th of July cookouts
- Pentella offers food safety tips for cookouts
- Pentella discusses bird flu, influenza, and testing
- Q&A: Pentella shares best practices to prevent spread of bird flu
- Pentella comments on E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s
- Pentella comments on SHL’s ability to test wastewater for influenza
- State Hygienic Lab recognized nationally for wastewater testing
- Iowa research partnership developing a rapid, low-cost test for diarrheal diseases
- Pentella comments on expanded wastewater testing for viruses
- Pentella discusses health risks of raw milk consumption
- From the Front Row: Monkeypox – What is it, where does it come from, and how dangerous is it?
- Pentella discusses ‘brain-eating amoeba’
- Pentella comments on at-home COVID-19 antigen tests
- State Hygienic Lab honored with Gazette Business Award
- View the CPH Spotlight webinar on COVID-19
- Pentella’s work fighting COVID-19 highlighted
- Parker, Pentella discuss COVID-19
- Video: CPH Spotlight Seminar on COVID-19
- Pentella part of expert panel on coronavirus
- A century later, UI experts recall deadly flu outbreak, prepare for new flu season
- Pentella, Atchison honored with APHL Lifetime Achievement Awards
- State Hygienic Lab teaches public health students
- Epi Prof. Michael Pentella named State Hygienic Lab director
- University of Iowa names Michael Pentella as interim SHL director
- Pentella receives Leadership in Biosafety and Biosecurity Award