It's a pleasure to work with colleagues who engage in innovative patient care, research, and educational activities for a broad range of infectious diseases. In this issue, we showcase our efforts to address global health threats, including flaviviruses, and to develop vaccines that stop the vector—a tick or a mosquito—rather than the microbe itself, among other work. We also feature our exceptional faculty and staff, many of whom have won awards.
If you have news to share, I hope you will contact me at the email below. Please enjoy reading the following stories from our section.
Sincerely,
Erol Fikrig, MD
Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases), and Professor of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases), and of Microbial Pathogenesis
Section Chief, Infectious Diseases
Yale Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine
The research team from Yale School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and University of California, Riverside, looked into whether the CMPK2 protein could inhibit Zika virus replication, independent of viperin.
On Thursday, March 16, 2023, the Department of Internal Medicine’s Office of Global Health (OGH) sponsored its 12th annual Global Health Day on the theme of “Health and Humanitarian Crises.”
Adaora Okoli, MD, MPH, clinical fellow in infectious diseases, grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, where she witnessed the devastating effects of the social determinants of health.
Benjamin Goldman-Israelow, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine (infectious diseases), was selected for a 2023 American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) Council Young Physician Scientist Award.
Dengue. Zika. Lyme. Yellow fever. Chikungunya virus. Malaria. These worldwide diseases, and others, are spread by the bite from an infected arthropod, a tick or mosquito. Five faculty from Yale School of Medicine (YSM) are collaborating on a project focusing on creating vaccines against infectious diseases by targeting the vector, which could be a “game changer” for global health.
Infection prevention prevents the transmission of healthcare-associated infections in patients, staff, and visitors in the hospital setting. The Yale team, led by Medical Director Richard Martinello, MD, professor of medicine and pediatrics (infectious diseases), is frequently concerned with reducing rates of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), ventilator-associated pneumonia, and surgical site infections. Infection preventionists monitor infection rates in the hospital and compliance with precautions such as hand hygiene and equipment sterilization, in addition to undertaking research and providing consultation services for quality improvement.
The American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) has elected three Yale School of Medicine (YSM) physician-scientists as new members. ASCI is dedicated to the advancement of research that extends our understanding and improves the treatment of diseases of all people, and members are committed to mentoring future generations of physician-scientists of diverse backgrounds and biomedical disciplines.
On December 31, 2022, Louise-Marie Dembry, MD, MS, MBA, FACP, FSHEA, FIDSA, will ring in a New Year, and a new life. That’s the day she’s retiring from her long and successful career as a hospital epidemiologist.