From studying art history to tackling antibody immunity, the path Liise-anne Pirofski, MD, FACP, FIDSA, took to get where she is today in the field of infectious diseases is anything but typical. However, one thing has remained constant throughout her career: her drive to make the world a better place and help others. As chief of…
With diseases like polio and measles declared eliminated in the U.S. and smallpox eradicated worldwide, it’s hard to believe there was a time when these infections could be easily acquired. Many infections that once caused widespread illness and death are now simply anecdotes of the past, and at the heart of many of these successes are highly effective vaccines. August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, there has never…
The field of infectious diseases is continually evolving, and our ability to research and treat existing bugs, combat antimicrobial resistance and respond to global pandemics all comes down to dedicated ID and HIV professionals. These researchers and clinicians act as detectives, collaborating across all areas of medicine to investigate emerging diseases and find innovative solutions to deliver the best patient care. This commitment is evidenced by ID specialists like IDSA Foundation supporter Steven Schnittman, MD, and…
From a refugee camp in Thailand to a laboratory at Johns Hopkins University, Cynthia Sears, MD, FIDSA, is an infectious disease expert dedicated to innovative research, compassionate care and health equity. In recognition of her impactful career, the IDSA Foundation is proud to honor Dr. Sears as a 2021 Women of ID honoree. As a…
Do you think serving underserved and underrepresented populations is one of the most important issues facing our country? Us too. And this doctor is doing just that. This is an IDSA member who shares her time, talent and treasure with the IDSA Foundation. But that isn’t (exactly) what makes her special. What makes her special will be obvious…
The IDSA Foundation is sad to share the news of Dr. John Bartlett’s passing earlier this week. A trailblazer in Infectious Diseases, Dr. Bartlett contributed to so many key discoveries and mentored countless students, fellows and attending physicians. Mention the name John Bartlett, M.D. to the legions of doctors he mentored during his long and…
David M. Aronoff, M.D., FIDSA, FAAM is a physician-scientist with a primary focus on maternal-child health and infections that complicate pregnancy. He has been highly involved in the diagnosis and clinical care of COVID-19 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. As immediate past chair of the IDSA Foundation’s Mentorship Program Committee, Dr. Aronoff is a champion…
Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture and achievements of the United States. The IDSA Foundation is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of our Latinx members, and recently had the privilege of speaking with Lilian Abbo, M.D., FIDSA to learn more about her work and the importance of building a diverse infectious diseases (ID) workforce. Originally from Caracas,…
Sai Dodda, BS and Chris Sleckman, MS, both of HIVE, a student-run biotech startup at Washington University in St. Louis were the 1st place winners of the 2019 IDea Incubator competition. The 2019 winning innovation was a sensor that detects when and how long IV medication is connected to a patient’s peripherally inserted central catheter…
The Infectious Diseases field is fortunate to have women that so many call mentors, leaders, pioneers and mavericks and the IDSA Foundation is honored to celebrate these unstoppable change makers. This month we are thrilled to feature our second 2020 Woman of ID, Lucy Tompkins, MD, PhD. Dr. Tompkins leadership and determination has helped set the…