West Virginia University Potomac State College Alumnus, Matthew Simmons, Ph.D. (center), was recently recognized by the Alumni Association during a special ceremony with the inscription of his name on the Duke Anthony Whitmore/Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Academic Achievement Wall. Presenting the award was PSC Campus President Jennifer Orlikoff, Ph.D. (right), along with Connie Whitmore Kesecker.
Matthew Simmons, MD, Class of 2000, was recently recognized by the Alumni Association at West Virginia University Potomac State College with the inscription of his name on the Duke Anthony Whitmore/Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Academic Achievement Wall.
The Scholars’ Wall was created in order to recognize the academic and scholarly achievements of alumni, faculty, and students.
Dr. Simmons currently serves as an infectious disease specialist in Martinsburg, W.Va. He specializes in infectious disease medicine and internal medicine, for which he is board-certified in both by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Simmons earned an associate degree from Potomac State College prior to earning his bachelor’s degree in biology, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2001 from WVU. After earning a doctor of medicine at the WVU School of Medicine in 2006, Dr. Simmons completed his Internal Medicine Residency and an Infectious Disease Fellowship at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va.
Dr. Simmons has been honored with several distinguished awards, including the Margaret Albrink Fellow Research Award (2009), the Excellence in Patient Care Award (2007 & 2009), the PSC Young Alumni Achievement Award (2009), and the Fellow of the Year (2011) which is awarded by WVU hospitals to a single fellow who exemplifies excellence in their field of expertise.
Dr. Simmons has demonstrated that his experience isn’t limited to his expertise as a doctor, but also with his leadership capabilities, having served as director of the Infection Control Department, committee chair of the Infection Control Committee, chair of the Antimicrobial Subcommittee of Pharmaceuticals and Therapeutics, and as the chief infection control officer at City Hospital of WVU University in Martinsburg, W.Va. Additionally, he has served on various other committees, including Critical Care, Performance Improvement, Medical Executive, and Medical Staff Peer Review.
Dr. Simmons frequently writes guidelines and updates regarding infections control policies and procedures. He has given presentations on the subject of antibiotics stewardship at the National Conference of Infection Control Guidelines, and has been interviewed many times by radio stations, newspapers and television stations regarding his expertise in infectious diseases.