infectious diseases – Source of the Week

Kartik Cherabuddi

July 16, 2020August 31, 2020by NPR Source of the Week

Dr. Kartik Cherabuddi is a clinical associate professor of infectious diseases at the University of Florida and the hospital epidemiologist and director of antimicrobial stewardship at UF Health.

As an expert on infectious diseases, Cherabuddi can provide insight into the current coronavirus situation in Florida and how things will develop over the coming weeks.

At UF Health, Cherabuddi provides specialist care to patients with complex infectious diseases, HIV and antibiotic resistant infections. Outside of COVID-19, Cherabuddi’s research includes antibiotic resistance and genetic sequencing, and he collaborates with the university’s Emerging Pathogens Institute on emerging viral diseases like the Zika, Chikungunya and Keystone viruses.

Location: Gainesville, FL

Expertise: Infectious diseases and coronavirus in Florida

Contact information:

Email (preferred): cherabuddi@ufl.edu

Phone (office): 352-294-5481

Twitter: @kartc

Listen to Kartik Cherabuddi on WUSF:

Source of the Week · Kartik Cherabuddi — WUSF

Last updated July 16, 2020

Health, Medicine, Native American issues

Dean Seneca

May 17, 2020August 31, 2020by NPR Source of the Week

Dean Seneca is CEO of Seneca Scientific Solutions, a consulting agency that provides tribal nations and other clients with assistance in economic and community development. The agency’s services include strategic planning, epidemiology and health research.

Seneca has been interviewed by Indian Country Today and Democracy Now!, among other news outlets, about how COVID-19 is impacting Indian Country.

With over 20 years of experience with infectious disease outbreaks, Seneca has worked to combat Anthrax, H1N1, Ebola, Zika and COVID-19. Seneca was previously a senior health scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Center for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support, where he was responsible for building the CDC’s ability to support health departments across the country.

Prior to his time at the CDC, Seneca was the tribal planning director for the Seneca Nation of Indians, which is based in western New York.

Location: Cattaraugus, N.Y.

Expertise: Chronic and infectious diseases, emergency preparedness and response, environmental health, toxicology and maternal/child health, American Indian/Alaska Native health

Contact info:

Phone number: (678) 524-5177

Email: thundereagle1042@gmail.com

Listen to Dean Seneca on Democracy Now!:

Last updated: May 17, 2020

Health, Medicine

Krutika Kuppalli

March 9, 2020October 27, 2020by NPR Source of the Week

Dr. Krutika Kuppalli is an infectious diseases physician who has focused on the care of vulnerable patients in the U.S. and abroad. She is an Emerging Leader in Biosecurity Fellow at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security. As the vice chair of the Global Health Committee at the Infectious Diseases Society of America, she is spearheading efforts to prepare and train physicians to handle infectious diseases.

Kuppalli has recently focused on ways to control the COVID-19 outbreak. In an op-ed, Kuppalli and the chair of the Global Health Committee highlight the need for increased funding to government health agencies to strengthen global pandemic responses.

I have been asked what places are at risk for developing clusters of #COVID19 other than nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities. Places with close contact
1. Prisons
2. Dialysis Centers
3. Daycares
4. Dorms/Military Barracks

– Important to maintain good infection control
— Dr.Krutika Kuppalli (@KrutikaKuppalli) March 4, 2020

Kuppalli has worked in Ethiopia, India, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Haiti and elsewhere. During the West Africa Ebola outbreak in 2014, she supervised treatment at an Ebola treatment unit in Sierra Leone. She has experience caring for patients with HIV/AIDS, leading preparations for pandemic responses in resource-limited situations, and in the development of therapeutics for emerging pathogens.

Expertise: Emerging infections, outbreak preparedness and response, biosecurity

Location: Palo Alto, Calif.

Contact information:

Email: krutika.kuppalli@gmail.com

Phone: 843-876-0585 (work)

Twitter: @KrutikaKuppalli

Listen to Krutika Kuppalli on the IDSA COVID-19 podcast:

Updated October 27, 2020

Science

Paloma Vargas

March 7, 2017August 31, 2020by NPR Source of the Week

Paloma Vargas is an Assistant Professor of Biology and the Hispanic-Serving Institute Coordinator at California Lutheran University. As an expert in the study of microbiology and host-parasite relationships, her research interests include infectious diseases and cell culture.

Before joining California Lutheran’s faculty, Vargas taught at both the high school and community college-levels. She led a number of outreach efforts at Northeastern Illinois University’s Student Center for Science Engagement, where she was a STEM specialist. When she is not teaching, Vargas mentors and recruits underrepresented minority students, particularly those of Latino/a heritage. She is an alumna and active member of the Linton-Poodry Leadership Institute of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Latinos and Native Americans in Science.

Vargas
Assistant Professor of Biology, California Lutheran University

Areas of Expertise: Microbiology, Cell Activity, Higher Education, Diversity, STEM

Location: Thousand Oaks, CA

Contact Information:
E-mail: palomav@calutheran.edu
Phone: (805) 493-3069

Listen to Paloma Vargas here:

Health, Medicine

Georges Benjamin

March 22, 2016August 31, 2020by NPR Source of the Week

Georges Benjamin is the Executive Director of the American Public Health Association in Washington, D.C. He is an expert on infectious diseases and administrative leadership in health systems. Benjamin is a board certified doctor in internal medicine and Modern Healthcare Magazine named him of the top 25 minority executives in health care.

He’s served various leadership roles within hospitals and public health entities including the interim director of the Emergency Ambulance Bureau of the District of Columbia Fire Department. Benjamin has authored several book chapters including his own exposé The Quest for Health Reform: A Satirical History. He can be heard on this NPR Morning Edition story “Many Dislike Health Care System But Are Pleased With Their Own Care”.

Executive Director, The American Public Health Association

Areas of Expertise: Infectious Diseases and Administrative Leadership in Health Systems

Location: Washington, DC

Contact Information:

You may contact him through one of the following APHA press kit contacts

Daniel Greenberg: 202-777-3913

Mandi Yohn: 202-777-2509

David Fouse: 202-777-2501

Heard on NPR’s Morning Edition