Overview
Jennifer Pisano, MD
Chief, Section of Infectious Diseases and Global Health
University of Chicago Department of Medicine
Section Chief's Welcome
Welcome to the University of Chicago Section of Infectious Diseases and Global Health! I am honored to lead a Section with a longstanding tradition of excellence in clinical care, research and education. Our recent recruitment efforts have focused on enhancing clinical programs and subspecialty training, alongside advancing clinical, translational, and laboratory research, medical education, and global health initiatives across all areas of the Infectious Diseases discipline. We are dedicated to being at the forefront of preventing and treating common infectious diseases, as well as addressing infections that pose significant threats to public health in our community and worldwide.
About the Section
The Section of Infectious Diseases and Global Health comprises 21 full-time faculty members with extensive expertise in managing a wide range of infections, from common conditions to rare and complex life-threatening diseases. Our faculty members specialize in various areas, including:
- Microbiome Science
- Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Control
- Infections in Immunocompromised Hosts
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment
- Implementation Science
- Hepatitis C and Opioid Use
- Antimicrobial Therapy, Resistance, and Stewardship
- ID Clinical Trials
- Travel Medicine
Research
Research activities within the Section of Infectious Diseases and Global Health are diverse, encompassing public health, hospital epidemiology, clinical trials, implementation science, and both translational and basic laboratory studies. The Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, lead by Dr. John Schneider, integrates research and service activities through programs at The Village, facilitating a seamless transition between research, public health initiatives, community interventions, and clinical practice. Key focus areas include addressing socio-structural barriers to HIV prevention and care and the promotion of harm reduction strategies for individuals using opioids.
Ongoing studies aim to enhance healthcare quality and patient safety through the application of artificial intelligence in infection control practices and the evaluation of antimicrobial stewardship interventions for both inpatient and outpatient care. Clinical studies leverage implementation science to inform the use of DoxyPEP and long-acting antiretroviral therapy (LA-ART) in ambulatory care, improve PrEP uptake and retention, and enhance screening for behavioral health and substance abuse interventions. The Duchossois Family Institute, lead by Dr. Eric Pamer, is dedicated to exploring microbiome science and its health impacts on both immune-competent and immunocompromised populations.
The Section also boasts an active clinical trials program focused on novel therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of infections in immunocompromised hosts, including PLHIV, and vaccines studies. Collaborative opportunities abound for investigators in microbiology, immunology, and bioengineering at the University of Chicago, fostering the development of translational science skills and research, alongside ongoing basic science investigations.
Several faculty members are leading operational research efforts in global health programs across China, France, India, Greece, and Africa. The Section is committed to advancing all areas of infectious disease research, with the University providing robust support for early-mid career faculty and fellows to develop their research portfolios through resources offered by the Department of Medicine, the Biological Sciences Division, and the Institute for Translational Medicine.
Education and Training
The faculty members of the Section of Infectious Diseases are deeply involved in medical education and are recognized as outstanding educators both regionally and nationally. They provide infectious diseases education to students and trainees at all levels, including those in the Pritzker School of Medicine and in residency and fellowship training at the University of Chicago Medicine.
The Section's Fellowship Program recruits three adult fellows annually and has recently expanded to include a dedicated combined ID Medicine/Pediatrics position. This fellowship program is part of a multi-institutional virtual ID core curriculum series, allowing fellows to connect with local experts and build collaborative research opportunities. Many fellows have been accepted into T32 positions to further their academic careers as independent physician-scientists during a third year of fellowship. Additionally, Section faculty lead regional education in HIV/STI prevention and treatment through the Midwest AIDS Training + Education Center (MATEC) and engage in international medical education, including a longstanding partnership with Wuhan University in China to reform medical education with an emphasis on infectious diseases and public health training, which includes opportunities for faculty, fellow, and student exchanges.
Clinical Activities
The Infectious Diseases ambulatory and inpatient consultation services continue to expand, supporting general infectious diseases care for our community and a growing number of cutting-edge clinical programs at the University of Chicago Medicine. This includes a robust oncology and cellular therapy program, solid organ transplantation, trauma care, and several specialty surgery programs. Inpatient consultative care is provided through three services: the General Infectious Diseases Service (our primary teaching service), the Immunocompromised Host Infectious Diseases Service, and an Advanced Practice Infectious Diseases Service.
The Section has developed a comprehensive Adult HIV Care Program, which integrates clinical care and research with the goal of expanding outpatient access for all individuals living with HIV, particularly focusing on Chicago’s South Side community. This adult program is integrated with the Pediatric AIDS/HIV Care Treatment Program and the Women’s Program, allowing for comprehensive primary and tertiary care for families affected by HIV. Multiple providers offer clinical care at local Federally Qualified Health Centers and through a local Howard Brown Health clinic, ensuring that patients can receive HIV care from our faculty members regardless of insurance status. The Sexual Wellness Clinic provides comprehensive sexual health services, including HIV prevention (PrEP), testing services, STI screening, prevention (DoxyPEP), and treatment.
In addition to comprehensive care for patients living with HIV, our providers offer consultative care and second opinions for various chronic and acute infections requiring management after hospital discharge, including those on outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT). Faculty focus areas include orthopedic infections, endocarditis, tuberculosis, non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), live biotherapeutics for Clostridioides difficile infections, Hepatitis C treatment, infections in immunocompromised hosts, infectious disease evaluations prior to immunosuppression and/or transplantation, and primary and acquired immunodeficiencies, among others. The Travel Medicine Clinic offers comprehensive travel care, including consultations, immunizations, preventative medicine, and post-travel care in the event of illness.
The faculty and providers of the Section of Infectious Diseases and Global Health are committed to supporting the University of Chicago Medicine and are closely aligned with institutional programs in patient safety and clinical quality. ID faculty lead the UCM Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, recognized as an Infectious Diseases Society of America Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence since 2018, as well as the UCM Medication and Laboratory Stewardship Programs and the UCM Infection Control and Prevention Program. Since 2002, faculty members have participated in global infectious disease clinical programs in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America.