Michael Virata, MD, FACP, FIDSA
Cards
About
Titles
Associate Professor Term
Director, HIV Clinical Services, Internal Medicine; Associate Professor of Clinical Internal Medicine, Yale Medicine
Biography
My mission is to be able to serve the most diverse population possible. My passion is with HIV care and I have been involved with patients throughout my entire medical career. My goal is to find solutions to help control and possible eradicate HIV from the community.
Appointments
Infectious Diseases
Associate Professor on TermPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Fellowship
- Yale University School of Medicine (1997)
- Fellowship
- Yale University School of Medicine (1994)
- Residency
- Sinai Hospital of Baltimore (1993)
- Internship
- Sinai Hospital of Baltimore (1991)
- MD
- University of the Philippines (1989)
Research
Publications
2023
Perspectives on unhealthy alcohol use among men who have sex with men prescribed HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis: A qualitative study
Strong S, Oldfield B, van den Berg J, Cole C, Biegacki E, Ogbuagu O, Virata M, Chan P, Edelman E. Perspectives on unhealthy alcohol use among men who have sex with men prescribed HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis: A qualitative study. Preventive Medicine Reports 2023, 37: 102553. PMID: 38282665, PMCID: PMC10810836, DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102553.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchUnhealthy alcohol usePre-exposure prophylaxisAlcohol reduction interventionsAlcohol useHIV pre-exposure prophylaxisOral pre-exposure prophylaxisAcquisition of HIVAlcohol-related harmPrEP adherencePrEP careTreatment optionsOral formulationReduction interventionsPrEP programMSMPrEPProphylaxisHIVMultimodal approachMenCareAdherenceInterventionSexUnited States1478. Evaluation Of Anal Cancer Screening Program in men who have sex with men (MSM) persons with HIV (PWH) At Two academic center HIV Clinics 2018-2022
Achhra A, Chan E, Applebaum S, Guerrero M, Hao R, Pantel H, Virata M, Barakat L. 1478. Evaluation Of Anal Cancer Screening Program in men who have sex with men (MSM) persons with HIV (PWH) At Two academic center HIV Clinics 2018-2022. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2023, 10: ofad500.1314. PMCID: PMC10677807, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad500.1314.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAnal dysplasiaAbnormal PapHIV clinicAnal cancer screening programsAmbulatory HIV clinicRetrospective chart reviewHistory of smokingCancer screening programsSquamous cell carcinomaAnal cytologyAntiretroviral therapyHIV careChart reviewClinic visitsMedian ageMultivariable analysisCell carcinomaScreening programPrior historyAge 35High riskType of insuranceBackground treatmentCharacteristics of peoplePWH1538. Is there value in performing yearly screening for latent tuberculosis infection by interferon-gamma release assay among patients living with HIV in non-endemic settings?
Palacios C, Achhra A, Barakat L, Virata M, Hao R, Baxter J, Malinis M. 1538. Is there value in performing yearly screening for latent tuberculosis infection by interferon-gamma release assay among patients living with HIV in non-endemic settings? Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2023, 10: ofad500.1373. PMCID: PMC10678242, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad500.1373.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchInterferon-gamma release assaysLatent tuberculosis infectionNew latent tuberculosis infectionsTuberculin skin testingNon-endemic settingRisk factorsCD4 countTuberculosis infectionCurrent guidelinesGroup APositive interferon-gamma release assaysHigher HIV viral loadUrban academic medical centerChest imaging resultsLow CD4 countTB exposure riskTB risk factorsCells/mm3HIV viral loadRetrospective chart reviewFeatures of patientsRisk of reactivationInterferon-gamma releaseCommon risk factorsAcademic medical centerBuilding an Infectious Disease Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism (ID2EA) Curriculum: A Single Center's Experience and Reflections
Gleeson S, Zapata H, Bathgate M, Emu B, Frederick J, Friedland G, Golden M, Meyer J, Radin J, Sideleau R, Shaw A, Shenoi S, Trubin P, Virata M, Barakat L, Desruisseaux M. Building an Infectious Disease Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism (ID2EA) Curriculum: A Single Center's Experience and Reflections. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2023, 77: 703-710. PMID: 37078888, DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad236.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEducational activitiesHealthcare inequitiesInfectious Diseases SectionSingle-center experienceCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemicDisease 2019 pandemicMixed-methods assessmentLearning objectivesPilot curriculumEducational trainingCurriculumCenter experienceLong-term behavioral changesProgram outcomesDisease sectionDisease diversityPhysician perspectivesResponse rateHealth disparitiesYale SchoolInequitiesAntiracismBehavioral changesRacismEquityAvailability and Accessibility of Live Nonreplicating Smallpox/Mpox Vaccine
Kahn P, Ying X, Virata M, Magahis P, Li S, Mathis W. Availability and Accessibility of Live Nonreplicating Smallpox/Mpox Vaccine. JAMA Network Open 2023, 6: e237873. PMID: 37027158, PMCID: PMC10082399, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.7873.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2021
843. Targeted HIV Testing for Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19
Virata M, Villanueva M, Miceli J. 843. Targeted HIV Testing for Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2021, 8: 512-512. PMCID: PMC8643876, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofab466.1038.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchYale New Haven Health SystemHIV risk factorsCOVID-19 infectionHIV testingSARS-CoV-2Comorbidity scoreRisk factorsProtease inhibitorsUse of PIsAppropriate HIV treatmentComorbidity of HIVHIV testing resultsMajority of PWHPerformance of HIVTargeted HIV TestingElixhauser comorbidity scoreSubset of patientsLimited clinical dataSevere respiratory illnessHIV infection ratesSpecific underlying conditionLarge healthcare systemCOVID-19Chi-squared analysisComplicated diabetes
2020
543. SARS-CoV-2 Viral Dynamics For Symptomatic People Living with HIV Requiring Hospitalization For COVID-19
Virata M, Villanueva M, Shenoi S, Ladines-Lim J, Aoun-Barakat L. 543. SARS-CoV-2 Viral Dynamics For Symptomatic People Living with HIV Requiring Hospitalization For COVID-19. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2020, 7: s338-s338. PMCID: PMC7777445, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.737.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSARS-CoV-2 viral loadViral loadRespiratory samplesViral dynamicsUndetectable HIV viral loadSARS-CoV-2 infectionSevere acute respiratory syndrome 2SARS-CoV-2 viral dynamicsMedian CD4 countRetrospective cohort studyCells/mm3HIV viral loadRNA viral loadMain outcome measuresUrban academic centerCT of patientsPresentation of illnessYears of ageCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2COVID-19 diseaseCycle threshold valuesHospital mortalityAdvanced diseaseCD4 count
2018
566. Earlier Linkage and ART Initiation Via Fast Track Referral System for New HIV Patients Leads to Stronger Engagement and Better Outcomes
Virata M, Comia C, Cudahy P. 566. Earlier Linkage and ART Initiation Via Fast Track Referral System for New HIV Patients Leads to Stronger Engagement and Better Outcomes. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2018, 5: s210-s210. PMCID: PMC6255605, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofy210.574.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEarly intervention servicesAntiretroviral therapyViral suppressionStandard of careCD4 recoveryHIV careFast-track referral systemNew HIV patientsDays of diagnosisSingle academic centerLocal health departmentsPublic health perspectiveART initiationHIV patientsOnly patientsInitial visitMedical recordsAcademic clinicEarly initiationNew patientsOutcome dataReferral systemBetter OutcomesPatientsAcademic centers
2017
Efficacy of an 8-week course of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir for the treatment of HCV infection in selected HIV-infected patients
Ogbuagu O, Hao R, Virata M, Villanueva M, Malinis M. Efficacy of an 8-week course of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir for the treatment of HCV infection in selected HIV-infected patients. F1000Research 2017, 6: 620. DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.11397.1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHCV genotype 1 infectionGenotype 1 infectionHCV viral loadSOF/LDVViral loadSVR 12Treatment regimenGenotype 1Sustained virologic response 12 weeksYale New Haven Health SystemIU/HCV co-infected patientsVirologic response 12 weeksCo-infected patientsHCV treatment regimenMono-infected patientsSimilar viral loadsCompletion of therapyHCV genotype 1HIV viral loadSame treatment regimenSofosbuvir/ledipasvirStudy eligibility criteriaAntiretroviral therapyHCV infection
2014
673Comparative Effectiveness of Vancomycin vs Early Daptomycin for MRSA Bacteremia with Vancomycin MIC >1 mg/L: A Multicenter Evaluation
Moise P, Culshaw D, Wong-Beringer A, Bensman J, Lamp K, Smith W, Bauer K, Goff D, Adamson R, Leuthner K, Virata M, Mckinnell J, Chaudhry S, Eskandarian R, Lodise T, Reyes K, Zervos M. 673Comparative Effectiveness of Vancomycin vs Early Daptomycin for MRSA Bacteremia with Vancomycin MIC >1 mg/L: A Multicenter Evaluation. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2014, 1: s190-s190. PMCID: PMC5781468, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofu052.381.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
Clinical Care
Overview
Michael Virata, MD, is an infectious disease specialist who has focused his career to caring for people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). He is the medical director of HIV clinical services at Yale New Haven Hospital-Saint Raphael Campus, and has worked with Yale New Haven Health and the state of Connecticut to end HIV infections—a goal he hopes to achieve in his lifetime.
Since Dr. Virata decided to specialize in HIV and AIDS in the early ‘90s, prospects for patients have changed tremendously. “It’s moved from being a terminal illness where we didn't have much in the way of treatment to really being in the chronic disease realm,” he says. “For someone young who gets infected right now, their life expectancy is close to being normal as long as they are getting care and follow the general recommendations.” Treatments can bring the virus down to undetectable levels, so people who have HIV can have sexual relationships without fear of transmission, he says. Ending the HIV epidemic is a national goal.
The next steps in eradicating the disease starts with the new “95-95-95” goal, which means making sure 95% of people are aware of their HIV status, having 95% of those with HIV on antiretroviral therapy, (ART), and bringing 95% of those on antiretroviral therapy to the point of being virologically suppressed to undetectable levels.
Dr. Virata says the patients with HIV that he cares for do extremely well. “I have patients that I have followed for many, many years. It's very rewarding to see them carrying on with their normal lives. I've had several patients start families,” he says. “I know their life stories. It's really very fulfilling work.”
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
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Board Certifications
HIV Specialist
- Certification Organization
- American Academy of HIV Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 2014
Yale Medicine News
Links & Media
News
- May 27, 2024
Unhealthy Alcohol Use Among Men who have Sex with Men Taking PrEP for HIV Prevention
- January 30, 2024
Fostering Equity and Inclusion in Infectious Diseases at Yale
- June 13, 2022
Happy Pride! Some News & Activities for Pride Month
- November 30, 2020Source: Yale Medicine
How HIV Became the Virus We Can Treat