Infectious Disease & International Medicine

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Fellowship Program

Alumni

Testimonials

Carlos Perez Lopez, MD, Class of 2020

"I am very proud to be a part of this program.  There are few places in the nation that can provide what USF can provide.  We have the opportunity to go to the VA Hospital, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa General Hospital, and the Department of Health HIV Clinic.  We get a lot of exposure to different patient populations and different pathologies.  They gave me the tools to succeed... I was blessed to find a job back in Puerto Rico (where I will mostly be doing transplant/BMI) - the only reason I got that job is because I trained here (at USF).  One of the strongest (assets of the program) are the people here... it's like a big family."

Vidya Sabapathy, MD, Class of 2020

Coming from Ohio, I had no strong ties to Florida and the main reason I chose USF were due to two reasons: the faculty/fellows, and the clinical experience. These past two years have shown me that I had made the correct choice. The clinical training you receive is excellent here and the faculty are passionate about teaching. I am grateful for lifelong mentors and ties to the program!"

View the video testimonial from Dr. Sabapathy.

Natan Kraitman, MD, Class of 2019

"The University of South Florida is a great place to train in Infectious Disease! You will be exposed to many different patient populations in going to the VA, TGH, and Moffitt which allows you to focus your learning and exposure to bread and butter ID, advanced surgical patients, and cutting edge cancer care (CAR-T, BMT, Immunomodulators). The faculty are knowledgeable, nice, and easy to work with. Tampa itself is an amazing city with plenty to do (for both young families and singles). If I had to choose, I would choose USF again."

Garabet Akoghlanian, MD, Class of 2018

"I got everything I was looking for in this program and then some more. Optimal service and education balance. Attendings are very nice, cooperative, and provide quality education. Rounds times are always respected. Huge support from the pharmacists on rounds, and the fact that there are four distinct facilities to work in (Moffitt Cancer Center, JAHVA, Tampa General Hospital, and The FL Health Department). All the above made choosing this program a no-brainer, would do it over again without a doubt!. Not to mention that the program coordinator is the best!. Thankful I matched in this program.”

Shuchi Pandya, MD, Class of 2017

"I thoroughly enjoyed my Infectious Disease Fellowship at USF. The attendings are readily available whether it be during rounds, through the night or on weekends. They motivate me to continually strive to be a better clinician and their support and guidance is constant. Each and every attending always has an open door (policy)… They always carry smiles and passion with them. Training at three different hospitals is such a benefit as each facility has a unique set of patients, giving you a rich experience. Conferences are one of the highlights of the program and I’m glad I was able to contribute to them. I would select USF Infectious Disease all over again as I know I will be trained by some of the best clinicians in the nation!"

Manuel Castro, MD, Class of 2017

"The University of South Florida Infectious Disease Fellowship provides the fellows with the best tools for professional success. The work-load is optimal; fellows are pushed hard to be prepared for future positions in the academic or private world but also given enough flexibility to work on research and enjoy free time outside of work. During our training, we are exposed to a great variety of patient populations and conditions. Having three important hospitals and the health department to rotate at gives us the chance to see the whole spectrum of infectious diseases.

The research opportunities are endless, as is the motivation of the faculty helping us with the projects. The administrative staff is extremely helpful and willing to go the extra mile to help the fellows. Also, Tampa is a wonderful city with great weather and amazing beaches close by. Coming to USF was the best decision - you feel at home and become part of a great family!"

Olga Klinkova, MD, Class of 2017

"Fellowship at USF Infectious Disease Division was a great experience! Three training sites provide an in-depth exposure not only in the field of general Infectious Disease, but also in infections seen in patients post-transplant, hematologic malignancies, spinal cord injury patients, and HIV/AIDS. The program was able to tailor my schedule so I could receive more experience in the area I was most interested. I am grateful I was able to work with such outstanding faculty that makes fellows’ education their highest priority!"

Alumni

GRADUATION YEAR FELLOW NAME CURRENT ACTIVITY
2026 Daniel Boan, DO  Current Fellow 
2026 Dennis Boyle, MD Current Fellow
2026 Fernando Cordero-Baez, MD Current Fellow
2026 Rajshri Joshi, MS Current Fellow
2026 David Kornblum, MD Current Fellow
2026 Sreenath Varma, DO Current Fellow 
2025 Kirtan Amin, MD Current Fellow
2025 Cilia Nazef, MD Current Fellow
2025 Rebecca Nowacki, MD Current Fellow
2025 Lauren Rybolt, DO Current Fellow
2025 John Sia, MD Current Fellow
2024 Jesus Diaz Vera, MD  Physician, Hospital based Infectious Disease Private Practice with Hyperbaric Oxygen Wound Care & General ID Clinic
2024 William Greene, DO Physician, Monument Health in Rapid City, South Dakota
2024 Jessica Kennedy, MD Physician, Infectious Disease Consultants West Florida
2024 Puja Kohli, MD Physician, Private practice in Tampa, FL
2024 Urial Spak, MD Physician, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Miami Clinic providing HIV primary care
2024 Arun Sunny Physician, Infectious Disease Associate of Tampa Bay, FL
2023 Jaraad Dattadeen, MD 
2023 Amro Elshereye, MD
2023 David Rutenberg, DO
2023 Nikhut Siddique, DO
2023 Anna Sikora, MD
2022 Thomas Burkhead, MD Physician, Infectious Diseases at The Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, OH
2022 Alberto Contreras, MD Physician, Lovelace Medical Group, Albuquerque, NM
2022 Tuhina Cornelius, MD Physician, Mid-South Infectious Disease Associates, Memphis, TN
2022  Michele Davis, MD Critical Care Medicine Fellowship, University of Tennessee, TN
2022 Christian Lopez-Padilla, MD Critical Care Fellowship, Montefiore/Einstein Division of Critical Care Medicine, NY
2022 Suhel Sabunwala, MD Physician, Mid-South Infectious Disease Associates, Memphis, TN
2021 Edward Drehs, MD Physician, Consultants in Infectious Diseases, LLC, Pinellas County, FL
2021 Jarelys Hernandez Jimenez, MD Physician, Cleveland Clinic, Stuart/Port St. Lucie, FL
2021 Cody Horn, DO Physician, Adena Regional Hospital, Chillicothe, OH
2021 Zola Nladu, MD Physician, Infectious Disease Consultants of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
2021 Hareesh Singam, MD Advanced Fellowship, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2020 Ju Hee Katzman, MD Assistant Professor, USF Infectious DiseaseAssistant Program Director, USF ID Fellowship Program, Tampa, FL
2020 Andrew Nguyen, MD Physician, Infectious Disease Associates, Boca Raton, FL
2020 Carlos Perez-Lopez, MD Physician, TCT Oncology, San Juan, PR
2020 Vidhya Sabapathy, MD Physician, Infectious Disease Services of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
2020 Sarah Shewayish, MD Physician, Infectious Disease Associates of Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL
2020 Greg Teo, MD Physician, Infectious Disease Physicians, PA: Virtua Health System South NJ Healthcare & Hospital, NJ
2019 Johonna Asquith, MD Physician, Private Practice,Wausau, WI
2019 Cristina Garcia, MD Physician, ID Team, Pinellas County, FL
2019 Natan Kraitman, MD Physician, Infectious Disease Associates, Sarasota, FL 
2019 Shylah Moore Pardo, MD Ambulatory Care Physician, HIV/ID, James A Haley VA Hospital, Tampa, FL
2019 Mindy Sampson, DO Physician, Charlotte, NC
2018 Anteneh Addisu, MD PhD Physician, Infectious Diseases Specialty Associates, Ocala, FL
2018 Garabet Akoghlanian, MD Infectious Disease and Antibiotic Stewardship Director, Lafayette, LA
2018 Muhammad Chughtai, MD Physician, Private Practice, Orlando, FL
2018 Louise Lane Gutierrez, MD Physician, ID Team, Pinellas County, FL
2018 Adam Pettigrew, MD Physician, Infectious Disease Services of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
2018 Misbahuddin Syed, MD ID Hospitalist, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
2017 Manuel Castro MD Physician, Infectious Disease Services of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
2017 Robert Castro MD Physician, Private Practice, Ft. Myers, FL
2017 Marijesmar Gonzalez MD Hospitalist, USF Internal Medicine
2017 Olga Klinkova MD Physician, Moffitt Cancer Center
2017 Shuchi Pandya MD Physician, Infectious Disease Associates of Tampa Bay
2016 Meghan Harris, MD Physician, Infectious Disease Associates of Tampa Bay
2016 Minh Ho, DO Physician, Orlando Health Medical Group Infectious Disease, Orlando, FL             
2016 Kelly Kynaston, DO Physician, Redding, CA
2016 Joseph Paruolo, MD Physician, Private Practice, FL
2016 Flor Sanchez Vargas, MD Hospitalist, Mease Countryside Hospital, Safety Harbor
2016 Kaley Tash, MD USF Assistant Professor, James A. Haley VA Attending,Medical Director, USF Physician Assistant Program
2015 Ileana Acevedo MD Physician, Private Practice, Tampa
2015 Jane Mai MD MPH Physician, Infectious Disease Associates of Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL
2015 Suganya Manivannan MD Physician, Private Practice
2015 Lysenia Mojica MD Physician, Orlando VA Medicial Center/Bellezza Aesthetics
2015 Jeniffer Torres-Velazco MD Physician, Infectious Disease Associates of Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL
2014 Joseph Halliday DO Physician, AnMed Health Medical Center, Anderson, SC
2014 Lily Jones DO Physician, West Coast Infectious Disease, Safety Harbor, FL
2014 Mitsuya Katayama MD Physician, National Hospital Organization, Tokyo Medical Center
2014 Nancy Rihana MD Physician, Eagle Telemedicine, FL
2014 Rey J. Rivera MD Physician, Physicians of Central Florida, Leesburg, FL
2014 Vivian Vega MD ID Faculty, James A. Haley Veteran’s Administration Hospital, Tampa, FL
2013 Christine Ayarza MD Physician, Private Practice, Fort Myers, FL
2013 Pamela Damisse Noel, MD Physician, Infectious Disease Associates of Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL
2013 Patrick Kenney DO Physician, Cleveland Clinic, Weston, FL
2013 Phuong Nguyen MD Physician, Florida Medical Clinic, Tampa, FL
2012 Joseph Katta DO Physician, Infectious Disease Consultants, Orlando, FL
2012 Elias Maroun MD Physician, Physicians of Central Florida, Leesburg, FL
2012 Tienchai Narach MD Physician, Private Practice, Las Vegas, NV
2012 Georgina Nasr MD Physician, Medical Director, AIDS Task Force, Cleveland, OH
2012 Luis Rosas MD Physician, South Texas Infectious Diseases Consultants PA, McAllen, TX
2012 Kevin Smith MD Physician, Private Practice, Torrance, CA
2011 Moise Carrington MD Physician, Infectious Disease Associates of Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL
2011 Elvis Castillo MD Physician, Florida Medical Clinic, Tampa, FL
2011 Ulyee Choe DO Director, Pinellas County Health Department, Associate Professor, USF Infectious Disease and International Medicine
2011 Rachel Franck Irby MD Physician & President, ID Team, Pinellas County, FL
2010 Sally Alrabaa MD Associate Professor of Medicine, USF Infectious Disease, Tampa, FL
2010 Aliyah Baluch MD Physician, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa FL, USF Courtesy Faculty
2010 Fariba Donovan MD Physician, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ
2010 Dhanashree Kelkar MD Physician, Private Practice, Polk County
2010 Tran Phung MD Physician, VA Medical Center, Orlando, FL
2010 Marela Velez Vassak MD Physician, Rockland County Department of Health, Pomona, NY
2009 Michelle Mizrachi MD Physician, Private Practice, Dallas, TX
2009 Theingi Oo MD Independent Infectious Disease Physician, CA
2009 Tri Pham MD Physician, Watson Clinic, Lakeland, FL
2008 Daniela Chiriboga MD Assistant Professor, UF Shands Hospital, Jacksonville, FL
2008 Yagneshvari Patel DO Physician, Infectious Disease Associates of Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL
2008 Chakrapol Sriaroon MD Assistant Professor, Pulmonary & Critical Care, USF, Tampa, FL
2007 Abigail Chandler MD Currently not practicing 
2007 Juan Diaz MD Physician, Infectious Disease Consultants, Altamonte Springs, FL
2007 Anibal Maldonado DO Physician, Private Practice, Apopka, FL
2007 Javier Marinez MD Physician, Hidalgo Medical Services, Lordsburg, NM
2007 Ana Paula Velez MD Associate Professor, USF Division of Infectious Disease
2006 Patricia Leon MD Physician, Acevedo Medical Group, Miami, FL
2006 Igor Melnychuk MD Physician, Asheville VA Medical Center, Asheville, NC
2006 Charles Phillips MD Physician, Private Practice, Vero Beach, FL
2005 Beata (Herman) Casanas DO FACP Professor, USF Infectious Disease; Program Director, Infectious Disease Fellowship Program, Executive Medical Director, Hillsborough County Health Department, Tampa, FL
2005 Aaron Cooks MD Physician, Private Practice, Bradenton, FL
2005 Philbert Ford MD Physician, Capital Regional Medical Center, Tallahassee, FL
2005 Sheeren Saba MD Physician, Brooksville, FL
2004 Christopher Cooper MD Physician, Infectious Disease Consultants, Altamonte Springs, FL
2004 Lucinda Elko MD Lead Medical Director, Pharmacovigilance, North America, Pharmaceutical Product Development Inc.
2004 Michael Tan MD Assistant Professor, Summa Health System, Akron, OH
2003 Nadeem Khan MD Physician, Infectious Disease Associates of Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL
2003 Brent Laartz MD Physician, West Coast Infectious Disease, Safety Harbor, FL
2003 Charurut Somboonwit MD FACP Professor, Associate Director, USF Infectious Disease; Communicable Disease Director, Hillsborough County Health Department, Tampa, FL
2003 Todd Wills MD Assistant Dean and Director, USF Physician Assistant Program,Director, USF Health Office of Continuing Professional Development,Professor, Division of Infectious Disease, Tampa, FL
2002 Nikolaos Almyroudis MD Faculty, University of Buffalo-Roswell Park Cancer Institute
2002 Wendy Carter DO US Food & Drug Administration, Silver Springs, MD
2001 Kenneth Cole MD Physician, The Baton Rouge Clinic, Baton Rouge, LA
2001 Keith Rosenbach MD Physician, Pasco Regional Medical Center, Dade City, FL
2001 Jason Sniffen DO Physician, Infectious Disease Consultant, Altamonte Springs, FL
2001 Petros Tsambiras MD Physician, Private Practice, Zephyrhills, FL
2000 Edgardo Li-Espino MD Physician, Private Practice, Pensacola, FL
2000 Mario Lopez MD Physician, Private Practice, Pembroke Pines, FL
1999 Craig Hutchinson MD Physician, Private Practice, East Lansing, MI
1999 Gregory Thomas MD Physician, Lowcountry Infectious Disease, Charleston, SC
1998 Lindell Busciglio MD Physician, Infectious Disease Associates of Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL
1998 Eva Quiroz MD Physician, Private Practice, Fremont, CA
1998 Charles Callahan MD Physician, Private Practice, Vero Beach, FL
1998 Ines Mbaga MD Physician, Private Practice, Boca Raton, FL
1998 Jose Montero MD FACP Professor, USF Division of Infectious Disease, Tampa, FL
1997 Richard Oehler MD FACP Professor & Director of Clinical Education, USF Infectious Disease; Program Chief for Academics & Training, Assistant Epidemiologist, Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee Chairman, James A. Haley Veteran’s Administration Hospital, Tampa, FL
1997 Sarah Poblete MD Physician, Tampa General Hospital Family Care Center, Tampa, FL
1996 Mark Brown MD Physician, Private Practice, Naples, FL
1996 Michelle Carney MD Physician, Private Practice, Spartanburg, SC
1996 Emilio Dominguez MD Physician, Private Practice, Zephyrhills, FL
1996 Sandra Gompf MD FACP Professor, USF Infectious Disease; Infectious Disease Chief, James A. Haley Veteran’s Administration Hospital, Tampa, FL
1996 Daniel Haight MD FACP Professor, Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, Vice President, Community Health, Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Medical Director, Physician Group, Lakeland Regional Medical Center, FL
1995 Asim Jani MD CDC Epidemiologic Intelligence Service, Orlando, FL
1995 Julie Larkin MD Physician, Infectious Disease Associates of Sarasota, Sarasota, FL
1995 Scott Ubillos MD Physician, Infectious Disease Associates of Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL
1994 Ileana Vila MD Physician, Private Practice, Pembroke Pines, FL
1994 Gary Bergen MD Physician, Private Practice, Naples, FL
1994 Thomas Rushton MD Associate Professor & Director of Infectious Disease, University of West Virginia
1993 Ledya Cobian MD Physician, Private Practice, Fort Lauderdale, FL
1993 Patricia Emmanuel MD Professor, USF; Director, USF Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Tampa, FL
1993 Vincent Spoto MD Physician, Orlando Health Medical Group Infectious Disease, Orlando, FL
1992 Cathy Farrell MD Physician, Private Practice, Winter Haven, FL
1992 Cynthia Mayer DO Physician, Infectious Disease Associates of Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL
1992 Jose Prieto MD Physician, Private Practice, Brandon, FL
1991 John Greene MD FACP Professor, USF; Chief Infectious Diseases & Tropical Medicine, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
1991 Inga Himelright MD Deceased
1991 Luis Villanueva MD
1990 Sally Houston MD Associate Professor, USF Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine
1989 Douglas Holt MD FACP Associate Director, USF Infectious Disease; Andor Szentivanyi Professor of Medicine, USF; Director, Hillsborough County Health Department, Tampa, FL
1989 Michael Milam MD Physician, Private Practice, Sarasota, FL
1988 Margarita Cancio MD USF Trustee; President, Infectious Disease Associates of Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL
1987 James Cullison MD Deceased
1986 Clinton Holder MD Physician, Palmetto, FL
1986 John Toney MD FACP Director of Healthcare Epidemiology, Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program, James A. Haley VA Hospital, Professor, USF Infectious Disease, Tampa, FL
1985 Doreece Norris MD
1984 James McClelland MD Physician, Private Practice, Orlando, FL
1983 John Sinnott MD FACP Chairman, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, USF, Cullison Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, USF, Tampa, FL
1982 Juan Martinez MD Physician, Private Practice, Tampa, FL
1980 Bienvenido Yangco MD Retired