
Let's Talk ID
Let's Talk ID is a podcast by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, featuring discussions with experts on a range of topics related to infectious diseases including antimicrobial resistance, ID diagnostics and outbreaks such as COVID-19, Ebola and measles. Episodes on IDSA’s guidelines are also available.*The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Latest episodes

May 27, 2023 • 25min
It takes two to make a thing go right: maximizing the mentor/mentee relationship
Twenty years ago, Buddy Creech, MD, MPH, FPIDS became a pediatric infectious diseases fellow under mega-mentor Kathryn Edwards, MD, FIDSA, FPIDS. In this episode, Dr. Creech is joined by his former mentor to discuss their story, the dynamics of a successful mentee and mentor relationship, and how to mentor trainees in the best way possible.

May 11, 2023 • 30min
Advocacy, Equity and Beyond: The End of the COVID-19 Emergency Order
The lifting of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) at the federal level will have significant impact on clinical, public health and research in infectious diseases beyond. In this episode, director of health for the city of St. Louis Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH is joined by Allison Agwu, MD, ScM, FIDSA and Maximo Brito, MD, MPH, FIDSA to discuss the urgency for prioritizing health equity beyond the COVID-19 Emergency Order Conclusion.

May 2, 2023 • 21min
President's Podcast: Lifting the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
IDSA President Carlos del Rio MD, FIDSA, discusses the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) with White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Ashish Jha, MD, MPH.

Apr 22, 2023 • 39min
Communicating science and addressing misinformation
Buddy Creech, MD, MPH, FPIDS, sits down with guests William Schaffner, MD, FIDSA, and NBC News medical correspondent Erika Edwards to discuss how ID practitioners can be better communicators.

Apr 8, 2023 • 25min
A travel history to beat all travel histories
The next time you take a careful travel history, think what it would be like to ask comedy writer Mike Reiss — he and his wife have been to more than a hundred countries, many of them far from the usual tourist routes. Paul Sax, MD, FIDSA, sits down with Reiss to discuss the good, the bad and the ugly.

Mar 28, 2023 • 24min
Joining IDSA’s Board of Directors: Is it really only for senior career professionals?
“If you have something to contribute, that contribution is going to be valued.” In 2019, Jasmine Marcelin, MD, FIDSA, became the youngest person to be elected to the IDSA Board of Directors. In this episode, Dr. Marcelin shares her journey, from experiencing “imposter syndrome,” balancing board work with a career and young children, and why age shouldn’t deter you from applying.

Mar 25, 2023 • 25min
Three effective treatments for COVID-19 not (yet) in guidelines
Paul Sax, MD, FIDSA and clinical trialist extraordinaire David Boulware, MD, MPH, FIDSA discuss promising studies of interferon lambda, metformin, and ensitrelvir for COVID-19 -- and why none of them is currently in treatment guidelines.*This episode was recorded before the Paxlovid EPIC-SR results were released in an FDA briefing.

Mar 21, 2023 • 19min
Joining IDSA’s Board of Directors: A Clinician’s Perspective
IDSA President-Elect Steven K. Schmitt, MD, FIDSA and IDSA Immediate Past President Daniel P. McQuillen, MD, FIDSA discuss their experience as clinicians serving on the IDSA Board of Directors.

Mar 11, 2023 • 26min
President's Podcast: ID/EIS Joint Fellowship
The ID/EIS joint fellowship streamlines a career path for applicants interested in both the ID fellowship and EIS program. In this episode, IDSA President Carlos del Rio, MD, FIDSA speaks with Molly Paras, MD, Program Director of Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital Infectious Diseases Fellowship and Eric Pevzner, MD Chief of the Epidemiology and Laboratory Workforce Branch in the Division of Workforce Development at CDC about the new opportunity and the value it will bring to public health. To learn more, visit idsociety.org/ideisfellowship.

Feb 28, 2023 • 15min
President’s Podcast: Bio-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program
The Bio-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Project was included in the BIO Preparedness Workforce Act that was passed by Congress at the end of 2022. In this episode, IDSA President Carlos del Rio, MD, FIDSA speaks with Paul Pottinger, MD, DTMH, FACP, FIDSA of the University of Washington and Emily Spivak, MD, MHS, FIDSA of the University of Utah about the program and how it will address ID workforce needs. Learn more about the Bio-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Project.