Gitanjali Pai, MD

A program implemented in Kentucky — one of the states hit hardest by the opioid epidemic — provided “proof of concept” that infectious disease providers can help treat patients with opioid use disorder, researchers reported at IDWeek.

Researchers and regulatory agencies are racing against the clock to develop a safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19. This episode outlines the path of vaccine development, the top contenders currently in phase 3 trials, as well as questions that remain unanswered.

Research and data on potential treatment modalities continue to emerge at a rapid pace. This episode explores the IDSA and NIH guidelines for the treatment and management of COVID-19, as well as available evidence on antivirals, glucocorticoids and antibodies.

As the country prepares to reopen, rapid and effective testing remains “the need of the hour.” In this episode, Dr. Pai discusses diagnostic testing for COVID-19, including which populations to prioritize for testing, available modalities and new options.

In this episode, Dr. Pai answers questions specific to HIV in the context of COVID-19, including parallels between the two pandemics, repercussions of COVID-19 on patients with HIV and guidance for handling potential changes to antiretroviral regimens.

This episode features questions regarding the use of masks, universal PPE, antibody testing, convalescent plasma, COVID-19 in pets, whether hydroxychloroquine has any effect on the cytokine storm and meetings in this pandemic setting.

This episode focuses on diabetes and COVID-19. Questions are answered regarding the risk for COVID-19 among patients with diabetes, medication concerns in those who test positive for the virus, and the importance of self-monitoring of glucose levels among patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

As the enormity of the COVID-19 pandemic sinks in and as we feel its impact across the globe, join us as we discuss mitigation, solutions and new discoveries and approaches to help you better prepare to serve your patients across all specialties. In this episode, we focus on immunocompromised patients.

As a young medical student, I learned how tiny organisms could wreak great havoc in this world — which exposed me to the world of ID early in my medical career. I attended medical school with the goal of understanding and conquering them. During my ID rotation, I cared for a patient who had fever, vague symptoms and a rash that was biopsied. They called us, the ID service, hoping that we could offer answers. This role of a detective, collaborator, thinker and doctor is what still appeals to me the most about the practice of ID. I was in awe of the ID specialists who ascertained the etiology as secondary syphilis and treated this patient with penicillin — and I hoped someday to emulate them. Intriguing cases like this sparked my interest in this field, which only grew stronger in the years to come.