Karen C. Carroll, M.D., is a professor of pathology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her research focuses on design, evaluation and implementation of novel diagnostics to detect bacterial pathogens responsible for healthcare associated infections (e.g. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridioides difficile) and bloodstream infections. She is also interested in diagnostic stewardship. Carroll serves as Director of the Division of Medical Microbiology and Co-Director of the Bacteriology section of the John Hopkins Microbiology laboratory. She is also Director of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), ACGME Fellowship Program in Medical Microbiology and is a contributing faculty member to the American Society for Microbiology’s Subcommittee on Postgraduate Educational Programs (CPEP) Medical Microbiology Fellowship Program.  

Carroll received her M.D. from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine, infectious diseases and medical microbiology. She has served on many committees for the American Society for Microbiology. She has served as a senior editor for the Journal of Clinical Microbiology and is currently a reviewing editor for Microbiology Spectrum. She is also on the editorial board of Clinical Microbiology Reviews.  Carroll is the co-editor in chief for the 12th and 13th editions of the Manual of Clinical Microbiology.   

Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the American Society for Microbiology Award for Excellence in Clinical Microbiology, the Infectious Diseases Society of America Kass Award (and named lecturer) and the Illinois Society for Microbiology Pasteur Award.