Rupak Datta, MD, PhD, MPH

Rupak Datta, MD, PhD, is an infectious diseases specialist who focuses on antibiotic-resistant infections and preventing infections people receive while receiving healthcare.

As an assistant professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Datta studies how antibiotics are used, whether they are used correctly, and how to improve the way they are given. His research also focuses on measuring and preventing infections that happen because of medical care.

“I was drawn to infectious diseases by a deep interest in patient safety—the idea that, despite our best intentions, patients can sometimes leave the hospital worse off than when they arrived, or complete outpatient treatment and be worse off than when they began, due to preventable harms such as healthcare-associated infections,” he said. “These concepts have shaped my commitment to improving systems of care and reducing avoidable risks through infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship.”

He added, “I am also deeply interested in antimicrobial resistance—how bacteria evolve in response to our treatments—which requires continuous learning, adaptability, and familiarity with emerging diseases. Together, these interests drive my focus on delivering care that is not only effective, but also safer for patients.”

Dr. Datta received his medical and doctoral degrees from the University of California Irvine School of Medicine, followed by a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in infectious diseases at Yale School of Medicine.