Let's Talk ID

In this vibrant discussion, Sarah Dong, a renowned host passionate about infectious diseases and workforce development, shares insights from ID Week 2024. They delve into the resurgence of in-person engagement and its significance for networking. The importance of mentorship and support for trainees is emphasized, along with the challenges of compensation within the field. Reflecting on educational opportunities, they discuss how fostering connections can propel careers, all while celebrating the advancements in infectious diseases since the pandemic.

2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the West African Ebola epidemic that took the lives of 11,000 people. In this episode, IDSA President Steven K. Schmitt, MD, FIDSA speaks with Arjun Srinivasan, MD, Deputy Director for Program Improvement in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion at the CDC, and Angela Hewlett, MD, MS, FIDSA, Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Nebraska and the George W. Orr MD and Linda Orr Chair in Health Security, about their experiences on the frontline.

HIV specialist and former punk rock musician, Eamonn Vitt, MD, joins Paul Sax MD, FIDSA, to discuss running a small private practice in NYC and his efforts to seek lower drug costs for his patients.

More than 200,000 cases of syphilis were reported in the U.S. in 2022, the highest number of cases since the 1950s. In this episode, pediatric ID physician Buddy Creech, MD, MPH, FPIDS, speaks to Laura Bachmann, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer in the Division of STD prevention at the CDC, about attributing factors and what providers can do to address this rising epidemic.

John Fangman, MD discusses opportunities for Medicaid program to cover health-related social needs, such as housing, nutrition and transportation with Katie Garfield, JD, Director of the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School’s Whole Person Care initiative and Michelle Collins-Ogle, MD, Director Montefiore Adolescent & Youth Sexual-health Clinic and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.See the companion Reimagining Medicaid, How Medicaid Can Help Address Social Determinants of Health Fact Sheet.

Anna Person, MD, FIDSA discusses opportunities to work with Medicaid managed care plans to optimize HIV care with Jenny Babcock, Senior Vice President for Medicaid Policy and Director of Strategic Operations at Association for Community Affiliated Plans and, Doug Wirth, President and CEO of Amida Care.Engaging Medicaid Managed Care Plans on HIV Access Helping Medicaid Patients Access Their HIV Medications Fact Sheet. 

John Fangman, MD discusses how providers can engage with their state Medicaid programs to reduce barriers to HIV medications with Kate McManus, MD, MSc, FIDSA, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Virginia in the Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health and Ryan Westergaard, MD, PhD, MPH, Professor with the Division of Infectious Disease at the University of Wisconsin and Chief Medical Officer and State Epidemiologist for Communicable Diseases for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. See the companion Helping Medicaid Patients Access Their HIV Medications Fact Sheet. 

Anna Person, MD, FIDSA discusses Medicaid basics and how the program helps people with HIV with Lindsey Dawson, MPP, Associate Director of HIV Policy and Director of LGBTQT Health at KFF, and Wendy Armstrong, MD FIDSA, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and the Vice Chair of Education and Integration at the Emory University School of Medicine. See the companion fact sheet Understanding Why Medicaid Matters for People with HIV.

IDSA Board member Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH, FIDSA, discusses the importance of advocacy, including how IDSA and HIVMA members can get involved, with chair and vice chair of IDSA’s advocacy captain subcommittee, Rachel Bender Ignacio, MD, MPH, FIDSA, and Kinna Thakarar, DO, MPH, FIDSA, as well as IDSA senior vice president of public policy and government relations, Amanda Jezek, and HIVMA executive director, Andrea Weddle. 

As IDSA increases its involvement with state and regional ID societies, IDSA President Steven Schmitt, MD, FIDSA, discusses their value with Immediate Past President Daniel P. McQuillen, MD, FIDSA, President of the Michigan Infectious Diseases Society Anu Malani, MD, FIDSA, and Former President of the Texas ID Society Brad Cutrell, MD, FIDSA.