David Peaper, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Laboratory MedicineCards
About
Titles
Associate Professor of Laboratory Medicine
Director, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, YNHH; Director, Virology Reference Laboratory, VACT; Director, Medical Microbiology Fellowship Program
Biography
I completed my MD and PhD training at Yale School of Medicine in 2008 and 2007, respectively. My PhD work was performed in the laboratory of Peter Cresswell in Immunobiology studying the biochemistry of MHC class I peptide loading. After graduating from Yale, I completed a residency in Clinical Pathology and Fellowship in Medical Microbiology at Yale-New Haven Hospital. I joined the faculty in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at Yale School of Medicine in 2011.
I currently serve as the Director of the Medical Microbiology Laboratory at Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Director of the Virology Reference Laboratory at the West Haven Veteran's Administration Hospital. These laboratories perform complex and comprehensive testing for bacteria, mycobacteria, yeast, molds, parasites, and viruses for patients and veterans in Connecticut and New England.
I am interested in the interaction between basic and clinical sciences and using the tools and resources of these communities to further our understanding of the mechanisms of organism pathogenesis and improving diagnostics available for the more rapid and/or accurate identification of infectious diseases.
Appointments
Laboratory Medicine
Associate Professor on TermPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Fellowship
- Yale-New Haven Hospital (2011)
- Residency
- Yale-New Haven Hospital (2010)
- Residency, Chief
- Yale-New Haven Hospital (2010)
- MD
- Yale School of Medicine (2008)
- PhD
- Yale University School of Medicine (2007)
- BA
- Depauw University (1999)
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Clinical Care
Overview
David R. Peaper, MD, PhD, director of Yale New Haven Hospital’s Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, is a medical microbiologist who oversees lab diagnostic testing for patients. In this role Dr. Peaper advises Yale Medicine physicians about the pathogens—whether from bacteria, viruses, or fungus—detected in patient blood and urine samples.
In the field of infectious diseases, which range from well-known conditions such as pneumonia to meningitis to obscure illnesses that are rarely seen, technology has advanced at an astounding rate. “Today’s diagnostic tests can search for 20 viruses rather than just one in a patient’s sample,” Dr. Peaper says. That advantage is accompanied by a challenge: Avoid ordering too many diagnostic tests, which can be expensive for the patient and the lab. “It’s my job to work with clinical providers to identify ways the lab can improve care for their patients,” Dr. Peaper says. “Sometimes that means additional testing, but it can also mean saying no if the test is not appropriate.”
While Dr. Peaper does not see patients in a clinical setting, he chose the field because he believes of his desire to help many people. He explains that his interest in laboratory diagnostic testing grew when he realized that he could impact patient care on a large scale by improving disease detection.
“Every urine culture done for patients at Yale New Haven Hospital goes through our lab—we see about 80,000 cultures a year,” Dr. Peaper says. “We constantly find ways to improve our workflow, so that physicians can treat their patients faster.”
As an assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Peaper has a strong research interest in rapid respiratory virus testing. He is also focused on avoiding antibiotic overuse, along with other topics related to lab tests and patient care.
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Meningitis
Learn More on Yale MedicineMRSA and Drug-Resistant Microbes
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Board Certifications
Medical Microbiology
- Certification Organization
- American Board of Medical Microbiology
- Original Certification Date
- 2016
Clinical Pathology
- Certification Organization
- AB of Pathology
- Original Certification Date
- 2012