Welcome to the Section of Infectious Diseases
Welcome to the Section of Infectious Diseases at Baylor College of Medicine. Whether you're a patient, trainee, or collaborator, we invite you to explore the many ways we are advancing care, education, and research in the fight against infectious diseases.
Our mission is to improve health through excellence in clinical care, teaching, and discovery. Faculty members contribute nationally through leadership roles in the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. They serve on guideline panels, NIH and AHRQ grant review committees, and FDA advisory boards.
The section is home to two major NIH-supported centers: the Vaccine Research Center, which focuses on vaccine development for diseases like COVID-19, and the Texas Developmental Center for AIDS Research (D-CFAR), committed to ending the HIV epidemic. Faculty lead projects on vaccines, emerging pathogens, HIV, tropical diseases, and women’s infectious health, with high-impact publications in journals such as JAMA and The Lancet.
Recent recognitions include the Michael E. DeBakey Excellence in Research Award to Dr. Robert Atmar, the Association for Women in Science Outstanding Women in Science Award to Dr. Indira Mysorekar, and numerous faculty named Top Scientists by Research.com and Top Doctors by Houstonia and Texas Monthly.
Education and training are a cornerstone of our research. The section offers a highly regarded fellowship program with tracks in Infection Prevention, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Quality Improvement and Leadership, Tropical Medicine, Global Health, and a new track in Systems-Based Practice. Fellows gain global experience, including the opportunity to do a tropical medicine elective outside the U.S. Faculty frequently receive teaching awards, including the 2024 Best Subspecialty Teaching Faculty and Norton Rose Fulbright Faculty Excellence Awards.
Our clinical programs continue to grow. Faculty recently opened a new Outpatient Infusion Center at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and integrated transplant-related infectious disease clinics into the hospital’s Transplant Center. The section also leads the Houston AIDS Education and Training Center and organizes the citywide Infectious Diseases Conference.
Community engagement is an essential part of our mission. Faculty regularly provide public education through media and outreach efforts. Initiatives such as the Sharing Science conference connect local HIV research with the broader community, while the Houston Health Department and the AETC partner on education for healthcare providers across Texas.
With strong collaborations across BCM departments, the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, UTHealth, MD Anderson, and national networks, our section is at the forefront of infectious disease research and care. Our work would not be possible without the commitment of faculty, fellows, staff, collaborators, and most of all, the patients who trust us with their care.
Thank you for visiting,
Thomas Giordano, M.D., M.P.H.
Chief, Section of Infectious Diseases