Sandra Nelson MD completed her medical school at Duke University School of Medicine, followed by residency training in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical Center.  She completed her fellowship training in Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins University before joining the faculty at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in 2007.    At MGH Dr. Nelson is Associate Clinical Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases where she oversees the Inpatient Infectious Diseases services and the Program in Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT).  Pre-COVID her academic focus has been in the care of patients with musculoskeletal infections where she has served in regional and national roles, including as recent Past-President of the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS).  

During the COVID-19 pandemic Dr. Nelson has served as the ID liaison to MGH's COVID response, facilitating inpatient care redesign and surge response, and working on vaccine rollout efforts. She has also worked to inform community reopening strategies including in corporations, athletic organizations, and schools. She is the co-director of the  Mass General Brigham COVID Consulting program and the medical advisor to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education where she has been advising the Commonwealth on school reopening strategies.