Principal Investigator
Stephanie Fritz, MD, MSCI
Professor of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases
Co-Director of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program
- Phone: 314-454-6050
- Email: fritz.s@nospam.wustl.edu
Stephanie Fritz, MD, MSCI grew up in southeastern Wisconsin and earned a Bachelor’s degree in bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin. She then attended the Medical College of Wisconsin for her medical school training and completed her pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. She came to Washington University for fellowship training in pediatric infectious diseases, where she was inspired by the rich research environment and earned a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation. For her outstanding research, she has received the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Young Investigator Award and the Washington University Medical Center Alumni Association Resident/Fellow Alumni Achievement Award.
Fritz is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of clinician scientists! She is the co-director of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship program and the co-director of the Summer Program for Pediatric and Research Careers (SPPARC). She was thrilled to receive the Washington University 2021 Clinical Research Training Center Mentor of the Year Award
Her outside interests include cheering on the Wisconsin Badgers football and St. Louis Cardinals baseball teams, hiking, planning Disney vacations, playing board games, and volunteering with Dirk’s Fund Golden Retriever Rescue.
Personnel
Mary Boyle, RN, MSN, CCRC
Research Nurse Coordinator
- Email: mboyle@wustl.edu
Mary Boyle attended Saint Louis University where she graduated from the School of Nursing with a BSN and an MSN in the Nursing of Children. She is a certified clinical research coordinator (CCRC). She has worked as a research coordinator at Washington University for over 20 years. She has three children and likes to run, swim, practice yoga and hike at National Parks.
Lauren Norton, MPH
Clinical Research Coordinator
Lauren graduated from Kentucky Wesleyan College with a BS in Chemistry. She moved to St. Louis in 2018 to attend Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice and graduated in May of 2020 with a Master of Public Health and a concentration in Maternal and Child Health. She enjoys taking her dog to the park, hiking and spending time with friends and family.
Lisa Richardson
Senior Clinical Lab Technologist
Lisa Richardson graduated from Greenville College with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. She continued her studies at Jewish Hospital College of Nursing and Allied Health and received a certificate in Clinical Laboratory Science. In addition to working in the Fritz lab, she has worked in the Clinical Bacteriology Lab at St. Louis Children’s Hospital for 20 years. She truly enjoys working along side with the Infectious Disease physician’s. When not in the lab, she spends lots of quality time with her son Caleb and MissyAnn her adorable cat, gardening and spending time with friends and family.
Alaina Schneider
Clinical Research Coordinator II
Alaina Schneider grew up in New York and earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island in 2015. She moved to St. Louis in 2017 to earn her Ph.D. in Anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis with a concentration in human biology. She enjoys spending time outside, knitting, reading and yoga.
Michelle Mut
Clinical Research Study Assistant I
Michelle Mut graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2023 with BAs in Biology and French, with a minor in Psychological & Brain Sciences. She looks forward to entering medical school in 2024, where she plans to pursue her interests in obstetrics, gynecology and maternal health. When she is not working, she enjoys baking, reading, dancing, and running in Forest Park.
Ainsley Heidbreder
Clinical Research Aide
Ainsley is an undergraduate student-athlete at Washington University in St. Louis. She grew up in the St. Louis area, and is a huge fan of all things Cardinals and Blues. She is majoring in biology with a biochemistry focus while pursuing the pre-medical track. When she isn’t studying or playing tennis, she enjoys watching movies with her friends, family, or her dogs, Bella and Izzy.
Koji Barrette
Pediatric Summer Research Program Participant
Koji Barrette is a St. Louis Native and a current undergraduate student at Washington University in St. Louis. He is majoring in Economics and minoring in East Asian Languages and Cultures on the pre-med track. He hopes to attend medical school in the future and is excited to learn more about Pediatric Research and patient care in the Fritz Lab. At WashU, he is President of the Club Swim Team and the Sports Club Board. He is a big Seattle Seahawks Fan, and his hobbies include swimming, hiking, and playing with his dog, Millie.
Past Personnel
Lara Counts
Master of Public Health Intern
Lara Counts graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Natural Sciences. She is currently a graduate student at Washington University in St. Louis pursuing a Master of Public Health with a specialization in Global Health. Her previous research experiences have been focused on microbiology and maternal and child health. In her free time she enjoys hiking, backpacking and exploring the city with her friends.
Samantha Hayes
Clinical Research Coordinator
Sam Hayes grew up in an American, Midwest town too small for stoplights. She graduated from Southern Illinois University with a BS in Biology and a curiosity in diseases. She then attended Saint Louis University and graduated with a Master of Public Health and a concentration in Epidemiology and Biosecurity Disaster Preparedness. When not working, Sam can be found baking macarons, seeking new coffee shops, and striving to cook every egg dish possible.
Lauren Hunstad
Pediatric Summer Research Program Participant
Lauren Hunstad grew up in St. Louis and is currently attending Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she is majoring in chemistry with a minor in biology. She is planning on a future career in research, in a chemistry or virology-related field. At Drake, she is in Women in STEM and Kappa Kappa Gamma, works in the chemistry stockroom, and serves as the VP of Membership Development on the Panhellenic Council. Outside of school her hobbies include spending time with family and friends, reading, and watching Formula 1.
Emily Hunter
Master of Public Health Intern
Emily Hunter graduated from the University of Miami in 2018 with a BS in Biology. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Public Health at Saint Louis University with joint concentrations in epidemiology and behavioral science and health education. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in clinical research and mix her biology background with newfound epidemiology skills. She is eager to join the Fritz lab and learn more about how community health and infectious diseases intersect. Emily’s hobbies include reading thriller novels, hanging out in Forest Park and trying new STL restaurants with her friends.
Hannah Kinzer, MPH
Doctoral Student, Public Health Sciences
Hannah Kinzer graduated from Lawrence University with a BA in Biology and completed her MPH at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Public Health Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. Her research focuses on equity and communication in infectious disease prevention. Her interests are informed by her experiences in immunobiology, epidemiologic surveillance, community-based participatory projects, and health communication research. Outside of her studies and research, you can find Hannah running, volunteering at community events, and trying new recipes.
Madison Martin-Giacalone
Master of Public Health Intern
Madison Martin-Giacalone graduated from Truman State University with a BS in Biology and a minor in Psychology. Madison is currently a masters student at St. Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice, where she is concentrating in Epidemiology and Maternal and Child Health. She grew up in the St. Louis area and is happy to be back home where she is close to family. Madison plans to pursue a career in research in perinatal epidemiology, and work to improve birth outcomes in the St. Louis area. In her free time, Madison enjoys taking her dog to the park, reading a good book, and riding horses.
Chris O’Connor
Master of Public Health Intern
Chris O’Connor grew up in the far off suburbs of Chicago (fan of all Chicago teams except the White Sox). He received his BS and MA in Biology from Drake University. From there he went on for his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is currently enrolled in the MPH program at Washington University in St. Louis with an emphasis in Epidemiology/Biostatistics. When he’s not studying/working, he enjoys playing with his twin boys and occasionally picks up the guitar and will sing a song or two (sometimes in front of other people).
Samik Partha
Pediatric Summer Research Program Participant
Samik Partha grew up in Madison, WI, and is a huge Milwaukee Bucks fan. He is currently an undergraduate at Washington University as part of the University Scholars Program in Medicine and is majoring in biology and minoring in anthropology: global health. In the future, he looks forward to attending Washington University School of Medicine and exploring his interests in infectious diseases, cancer biology and immunology. Outside of work, Partha enjoys singing, riding his bike and volunteering at local food pantries.
Rinat Tal
Clinical Research Aide
Rinat Tal graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a BA in Anthropology: Global Health and the Environment and minors in Biology and Medical Humanities. She is continuing her studies with the goal of attending medical school in the next few years. Her interests and previous experience have centered around maternal and child health. When she is not working or studying, Tal enjoys singing, cooking and spending time in Forest Park.
Kyle Whittington
Medical Student, TL1 Predoctoral Clinical Research Program
Kyle Whittington grew up in Southern Illinois and earned a BS in Biological Sciences from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He is now a medical student at SIU School of Medicine, taking a year off after his third year to participate in the TL1 Program at Washington University. During this year he is excited to take part in clinical research with a focus on rural health and purse a masters degree. He’s a huge NBA fan, St. Louis sports supporter and willing participant in any game that keeps score.