Infectious Disease Fellows Graduation

On Thursday of this week, the Division of Infectious Diseases hosted a small farewell for its graduating fellows, Matt Smith, MD, and Joseph Tholany, MD. Faculty, staff, and their fellow trainees gathered to congratulate the pair and to thank them for their contributions during a challenging couple years. Both graduates will continue their training at […]

Infectious Disease Fellowship Graduation, 2021

The Division of Infectious Diseases said congratulations and farewell to their graduating fellows in two formats. First, in familiar and pandemic-safe style, guests were invited to attend a virtual celebration. Afterward, those who wanted could also attend an in-person event with refreshments, some gift-giving to the graduates, and a few group photos. At each of […]

Kobayashi receives SHEA award, reflecting remarkable scholarly work

Takaaki Kobayashi, MD, a third-year Infectious Disease (ID) fellow, received a Jonathan Freeman Scholarship from the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA). The Jonathan Freeman Scholarship nationally recognizes eight ID fellows who demonstrate a passion for hospital epidemiology and health care improvement. After publishing more than 30 epidemiologic research articles and case studies, Kobayashi […]

Kobayashi finds, treats extremely rare fungal infection

Fungal periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) are essentially unheard of, contributing to only 1% of PJIs. Because they are so rare, fungal PJIs can be hard to identify and treat, leaving physicians without answers for their patients. However, fungal PJI is associated with significant cost and morbidity, especially among immunocompromised patients. Takaaki Kobayashi, MD, third-year fellow in […]

Water leads ID fellows toward publication

Sammantha Kouba, DO, recent Infectious Disease fellowship graduate, and Takaaki Kobayashi, MD, current F3 ID fellow, published a leptospirosis case study in BMJ Case Reports, with patient consent. The publication, with contributions from faculty members Robert Blount, MD, and Loreen Herwaldt, MD, addressed the rare cardiovascular impacts of leptospirosis.  Kouba and Kobayashi’s report details a 50-year-old man […]

Infectious Diseases T32 grant renewed for 6th time

A mark of a strong research institution is not just the discoveries it produces. It must also make investments into the sustainability of science across decades. In part this is accomplished through mentored, protected time for our subspecialty fellows through federal training grants. The Department of Internal Medicine is home to six different NIH-funded T32 […]