Faculty (click on a faculty members name for additional information) Benjamin J. Luft, M.D. Susan V. Donelan, M.D. Jack Fuhrer, M.D. Pierce Gardner, M.D. William H. Greene, M.D. Victor E. Jimenez, M.D. Zeena Lobo, M.D. Roy T. Steigbigel, M.D. David C. Tompkins, M.D.

Part-Time Faculty (click on a faculty members name for additional information) Arthur Klein, M.D. Jonathan Krohn, M.D. Christopher Matkovic, M.D., Ph.D. Click here for other Faculty Members at Stony Brook Who Collaborate with Our Division Click here to view Recent ID Fellows’ Publications

Benjamin J. Luft, M.D.
Edmund D. Pellegrino Professor
Chairman, Department of Medicine
Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases

M.D. Albert Einstein College of Medicine 1976
B.A. SUNY Stony Brook 1973

Dr. Luft received his infectious disease training at Stanford University School of Medicine and the Palo Alto Medical Research Foundation under the preceptorship of Jack S. Remington. He has been a member of faculty at SUNY Stony Brook since 1984 and in 1996 he became Chairman of the Department of Medicine. Dr. Luft is a nationally and internationally renowned expert in the diagnosis and treatment of both toxoplasmosis and Lyme disease. His research into the molecular biological structure of antigens of Borrelia species (known to cause Lyme disease throughout the world) is for the purpose of developing sensitive and specific diagnostic tests, as well as the development of possible vaccine candidates. With regard to toxoplasmosis, Dr. Luft's laboratory has been testing new antibiotics in vitro and in vivo against Toxoplasma gondii, as well as studying the structure, function and relationship of Toxoplasma ribosomes. Dr. Luft's research is currently funded through the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control.

Best Doctors in America (Woodward and White) 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999.

Best Doctors in America-Northeast Region (Woodward and White) 1996.

Susan V. Donelan, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Hospital Epidemiologist
Director, Department of Healthcare Epidemiology

M.D. New York Medical College 1986
B.S. SUNY Stony Brook 1982

Dr. Donelan received her Internal Medicine training at SUNY Stony Brook and completed a three-year Fellowship in Infectious Diseases here, as well, before joining the faculty in 1992. She has particular interest in clinical trials of new antimicrobial agents, hospital epidemology and quality management issues. She has worked extensively in the areas of outbreak control and investigation, utilizing molecular epidemiologic methodology, serves as the ID liaison to the Bone Marrow Transplant Program and coordinates the fellows’ educational seminars and ID Outpatient Clinic.

Jack Fuhrer, M.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine
Clinical Director, AIDS Treatment Center, University Medical Center
Associate Dean of Admissions, School of Medicine

M.D. Rush Medical College 1980
B.A. SUNY Stony Brook 1973

Dr. Fuhrer received his internal medicine and infectious diseases training at Rush Presbyterian-St. Lukes Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. He has had extensive experience in clinical trials of new investigative antibiotics. His present research interests include clinical studies in AIDS patients, wasting phenomena in AIDS patients, and CMV disease in AIDS patients.

Pierce Gardner, M.D.
Professor of Medicine
Formerly Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Medicine
Senior Advisor, Fogarty International Center, NIH

M.D. Harvard University 1961
B.A. Amherst College 1957

Dr. Gardner received his infectious disease training at the Massachusetts General Hospital and at the Centers for Disease Control. He represents the American College of Physicians on the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, Centers for Disease Control. In 2001, he joined the NIH Fogarty International Center as Senior Advisor for Clinical Research and Training. He is an internationally known expert on topics related to immunization, health issues related to international travel, and clinical epidemiology.

William H. Greene, M.D.
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Associate Medical Director for Health Care Epidemiology and Quality Management

M.D. SUNY Downstate 1968
B.A. Yale University 1964

Dr. Greene was a clinical associate and received fellowship training in infectious diseases and medical oncology at the Baltimore Cancer Research Center of the National Cancer Institute and subsequent training in infectious diseases and immunology at Yale. He was subsequently on the faculty at Yale before coming to Stony Brook to direct the Hospital Epidemiology Department. In 1995, he became Associate Medical Director for Quality Management and, in this capacity, directs the Hospital’s performance improvement program, involving health services research and outcomes assessment. He presently serves on the Infection Control Advisory Committee of the New York State Department of Health, and the Financial Advisory Committee of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA).

Victor E. Jimenez, M.D., M.S.C (CTM), D.T.M & H. (London)
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Chief, Northport VAMC Infectious Diseases Service
Program Director, Infectious Diseases Fellowship

MSTM London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine 1982
M.D., San Marcos University, Lima 1973
B.S., San Marcos University, Lima 1967

Dr. Jimenez received his clinical training in Infectious Diseases at the Henry Ford Hospital and research training at the National Institutes of Health. He is interested in the molecular basis of microbial pathogenesis. Specifically, he is analyzing the role of specific antigens on the surface of Gram negative bacteria in protection against serum killing and phagocytosis. Antigens of particular interest are O-antigen, Vi-antigen of Salmonella. In addition, he is studying the role of specific host cell glycosphingolipids in microbial adhesion. His clinical research interests include tropical and travel medicine.

Zeena Lobo , M.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine

M.D. Rasturba Medical College 1991

Dr. Lobo received her Infectious Diseases Training at the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. She is a Staff Physician at the Northport VA Medical Center, where she is in charge of the Women's Health program. She has extensive experience in clinical trials and management of HIV infection.

Roy T. Steigbigel, M.D.
Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Pathology, and Pharmacological Sciences
Director, Comprehensive AIDS Center
Chief, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory

M.D. University of Rochester 1966
B.A. Carleton College 1962

Dr. Steigbigel received his infectious disease training at Stanford University School of Medicine and the Palo Alto Medical Research Foundation, and subsequently was on the faculty of the University of Rochester before founding the Division of Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook. His studies are in the area of host defense mechanisms with emphasis on mechanisms of immune dysfunction induced by HIV infection and study of the pathways by which HIV enters human cells. He directs the HIV Treatment Development Center which studies new therapies for people with HIV infection with analysis of restoration of immune system by these therapies.

David C. Tompkins, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine

M.D. SUNY Stony Brook 1982
B.A. Hofstra University 1976

Dr. Tompkins' research interest is in the interaction of microorganism with vascular endothelium. He joined the faculty at Stony Brook after clinical and research training in infectious diseases at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in New York. Current laboratory efforts are focused on the angioproliferative activity and adherence characteristics of Bartonella.

Part-Time Faculty

M.D. SUNY Downstate 1982
B.A. Boston University 1976

Jonathan Krohn, M.D.
Clinical Instructor in Medicine

M.D. Mount Sinai Medical Center 1984
B.S. City College of New York 1982

Christopher Matkovic, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Microbiology

M.D. College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University 1974
Ph.D. Harvard University 1972
B.A. Rutgers College 1965

Other Faculty Members at Stony Brook
Who Collaborate with Our Division

Faculty	Areas of Interest
David Baker, MD Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology	Herpes Viruses OB/GYN Infections
Jorge Benach, Ph.D. Professor of Pathology, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Director, Infectious Disease Institute Center for Molecular Medicine	Lyme Disease Babesiosis Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Microbial Pathogenesis
Carol Carter, Ph.D. Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology	Retroviral Vital assembly
Berhane Ghebrehiwet, DVM, Ph.D. Professor of Medicine Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy	Complement Function
Divina Nikolic - Djokic, MD Assistant Professor Department of Pediatrics	Pediatrics Infectious Diseases
Sharon Nachman, MD Associate Professor Department of Pediatrics	Pediatrics HIV infection
Erich Mackow, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Research Medicine Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology	Hantavirus Rotavirus
Sidonie Morrison, D. Phil. Associate Professor of Medicine Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology	Effect of HIV on Coagulation and Platelets
Lucy Portrelli, MD Assistant Professor Department of Pediatrics	Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Eric Spitzer, MD, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Pathology Department of Pathology Associate Director of Clinical Pathology (Microbiology) University Hospital	Clinical Microbiology Cryptococcus
George Tortora, Ph.D. Professor of Health Sciences (Medical Technology) School of Health Technology and Management	Clinical Microbiology
Eckard Wimmer, Ph.D. Professor and Chair Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology	Molecular Virology Enteroviruses

Located on a 400-acre site, the DVA Medical Center has major recreational facilities available to house staff, including a golf course, tennis courts, a swimming pool and a gymnasium.

Recent ID Fellows’ Publications

Shocket, M., Greene W.:  Clinical experience with Achromobacter xylosoxidans at a university hospital, 3rd Annual SHEA Scientific Meeting, Chicago, IL. 1993.

Sabio, N.A., Greene W.H.:  Oral vancomycin utilization:  Effects of passive and active intervention.  34th ICAAC, Orlando, Fl., 1994.

Dunn, J.J., Buchstein,S., Butler, L.L., Fisenne, S., Polin, D.S., Lade, B.N., Luft, B.J.:  Complete nucleotide sequence of a circular plqsmid from the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi.  J. Bacteriol 176(6):  2706-2717, 1994.

Iqbal, N., Luft, B.J., Tompkins, D.C.:  Bartonella henselae upregulates expression of adhesion molecules on vascular endothelium in vitro.  96th General Meeting of ASM, New Orleans, La, 1996.

Iqbal, N., Luft, B.J., Tompkins, D.C.:  Endothelial cell cytokine production in response to Bartonella henselae infection.  96th General Meeting of ASM, New Orleans, La., 1996.

Tompkins, D.C., Luft, B.J., Iqbal, N.:  Role of interleukin-8 in Bartonella henselae-mediated angiogenesis.  36th ICAAC, New Orleans, La., 1996.

Tsang, P., Fallon, F., Jimenez, V.:  An outbreak of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci in a suburban VA Medical Center:  A case control study.  Clinical Infectious Diseases 21:731 (Abstract 66), 1995.

Weiser, B., Burger, H., Campbell, P., Donelan, S., Mladenovic,J.  HIV-1 RNA
Expression in bone marrows of patients with a spectrum of disease.  AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, Vol. 12 (16):1551-1557, 1996.

Tsang, P., Hopkins, T., Jimenez, V.:  Deep dermatophytosis due to Trichophyton rubrum in the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.  J Am Acad Dermatol 34:1090-1091, 1996.

Srinivasan, S., Ramsey, K., Jimenez, V.:  ICU demographics as a risk factor for nosocomial acquisition of MRSA.  Clin Infect Dis 23:869 (Abstract 57), 1996.  (Winner, 2nd Place, Long Island Infectious Diseases Society Research Conference).

Moorjani, H., Craddock, B.P., Morrison, S.A., Steigbigel, R.:  Impairment of phagosome-lysosome fusion in HIV-1 infected macrophages.  J AIDS and Human Retrovirology 13:18-22, 1996.

Moorjani, H., Gardner, P.:  International Travel Advice for Adults.  Current Practice of Medicine, Vol. 2, VIII: 23.1-23.13.  R. C. Bone, ed. Churchill Livingston, Inc., 1996.

Gardner,P., Tiru, C.O.:  Adult immunizations.  Comprehensive Therapy 22(7): 440-448, 1996.

Cohen, A.J., Steigbigel,R.T.:  Eosinophilia in HIV infected patients.  J infectious Diseases 174:615-618, 1996.

Srinivasan,S., Singh, F., Wojnar, M., McPeck, M., Greene, W.:  In line tracheal suction catheters (SC) – effect of decreased frequency of changes in merchanically ventilated patients.  Resp Care 42:1081, 1997.

Antique, J., Fallon, F., Jimenez,V.:  Impact of antibiotic restriction on incidence of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci.  1998 Annual IDSA Meeting, Denver, Colorado (Abstract 685).  (Winner, 2nd Place, Long Island Infectious Diseases Society Research Conference).

Lin, D., Wada, S., Jimenez, V.:  Enterococcus faecalis endocarditis presenting as meningitis.  Infection 26:304-305, 1998.

Hatcher, J.C., Greenberg, P., Nimmagadda, P., Jimenez, V.:  Severe Babesia microti infection requiring hospitalization:  A case control Study.  (Abstract 9.2:  International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, Ga., 1998.

Peeva, E., Alam, S., Jimenez, V.:  Pleural perforation of an aspergilloma cavity occurring in a patient with interstitial lung disease.  Scand J Infect Dis 30(6): 617-618, 1998.

Chua, A., Morrison, S., Irwin, E., Steigbigel, R.:  Comparison of immune reconstitution in peripheral blood and lymph nodes after HAART.  2000 Annual IDSA Meeting, New Orleans, La.

Luft, B.J., Chua, A.:  Central nervous system toxoplasmosis in HIV:  pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy.  Current Infectious Disease Reports 2:358-62, 2000.

Younus, F., Morrison, S., Steigbigel, R.:  Effect of HAART on HIV associated hypergammaglobulinema.  2000 Annual IDSA Meeting, New Orleans, La.

Kumar, K., Steigbigel, R.:  Rhinoscleroma.  Mdvista, J., Med., September, 2000 (www.mdvista.cem).

Antique, J., Berroya, M., Luft, B.:  Toxoplasmosis 2001.  In:  Current Therapy in Infectious Diseases.  D. Schlossberg, ed. Mosby Year Book, Inc.

Kumar, K., Jimenez, V.:  Pulmonary nocardiosis after bone marrow transplantation successfully treated with doxycycline.  International J Infect Dis 5:222-4, 2001.

Wang, W., Younus, F., Ramsey, R., Jimenez, V..:  Efficacy of Vancomycin restriction policy:  Does high prevalence of MRSA make it a less valuable tool?  2001 Annual IDSA Meeting, San Francisco.

Younus, F, Jimenez, V:  Spinal epidural abscess due to Streptococcus pneumoniae in an HIV-infected adult.  Infection 29(4):  234-6, 2001.

Younus, F., Luft, B.:  Vaccines for Lyme disease:  Current clinical topics in Infectious diseases 21:349-65, 2001.

Hatcher, J.C., Greenberg, P.D., Antique, J. and Jimenez, V.:  Severe babesiosis on Long Island, review of 34 cases and their complications.  Clin Infect Dis 32.1117-25, 2001.

Amlani M, Wang W, Younus F, Sym D, Spitzer E, Jimenez V. Treatment of Life Threatening Infections Due to Multidrug Resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter with Ampicillin-Sulbactam (Amp-Sb). Report of Four Cases and Review of Literature. Clin Infect Dis 2001;33:1114

Aryeetey RA, Previti ML, Qui D, Campbell J, Song J, Munoz P, Spitzer E, Luft BJ. In Vitro Activity of MK-0826 against 17 Isolates of the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Clin Infect Dis 2001;33:1166.

Younus, F., Chua, A., Tortora, G., Jimenez, V. :  Lemierre disease caused by coinfection of A. hemolyticum and F. necrophorum.  J Infect 45 (2): 114-1171, 2002.

Areetey, R., Jimenez, V. :  Babesiosis. Current treatment Options Infectious Diseases 4 (4):  319-26, 2002.

Alam, M., Jimenez, V.:  Eating armadillo:  can it be a mode of transmission of M. leprae? (266). 2002 Annual IDSA Meeting. Chicago, IL.

Sivadas, R., Morrison, S., Steigbigel, R.:  Abnormal immune reaction persists years after control of HIV infection with HAART (496).  2002 Annual IDSA Meeting. Chicago, IL.

Amlani, M., Yasmin, T., Ramsey, R., Jimenez, V.:  Should all patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy be screened for chronic hepatitis B? (786). 2002 Annual IDSA Meeting, Chicago, IL.

Amlani, M., V. Jimenez: 2002 Partners Infectious Diseases; Images:  www.idimages.org.

Yasmin, T., Jimenez, V., Ramsey, K., Allmer, J., Breitfeller, J.:  Risk factors and outcome associated with HCV infection at a VA Medical Center, 13th Annual SHEA Scientific Meeting, Arlington, 2003.

Alam, M., Nortey, C., Jimenez, V., Huda, N., Ma, S.:  Comparison of duration of
bacteremia and mortality between MRSA vs. MSSA (265).  2003 Annual IDSA Meeting, San Diego.

Chirch, L., Ahmad, K., Donelan, S., Jimenez, V.:  Tuberculous Otitis media, a review of local cases.  52nd Annual Meeting of the ASTMH, Philadelphia, 2003.

Younus, F. Steigbigel, R.:  Nodular Clostridium difficile colitis.  New England Journal of Medicine, 350 (10):  e9,2004.

Pabbatireddy, S., Jimenez, V., Spitzer, E.:  Awareness of the D-Test among Infectious Diseases Consultants and Prevalence of Inducible Clindamicyn Resistance in Staphylococci (522). 2004 Annual IDSA Meeting, Boston, Ma.

Zuniga, I., Chen, J., Lane, D., Allmer, J., Jimenez, V.:  Risk factors for Hepatitis C infection among Veterans:  A 2 year retrospective study of a targeted screening program (958).  2004 Annual IDSA Meeting, Boston, Ma.

Chirch, L., Pabbatireddy, S., Komaroff, E., Steigbigel, R.:  Role of viral suppression, immune reconstitution and medications in HIV related lipodistrophy (913).  2004 Annual IDSA Meeting, Boston, Ma. 

Popa, R., Jimenez, V.:  Hepatitis C Treatment: to do or not to do an initial liver biopsy? (961). 2004 Annual IDSA Meeting, Boston, Ma.

Gardner, P., Pabbatireddy, S.:  Vaccines for women age 50 and older.  Emerging Infectious Diseases 10(11):  1990-5, Nov 2004.

Lin, D., Jimenez, V., Breitfeller, J.:  Outbreak of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea in a VA Hospital:  the role of various control measures.  2005 Annual IDSA Meeting, San Francisco, Ca

Lin D, Tompkins D, Spitzer E, Jimenez V. Relapsing Fever in a Returning Traveler -- a case of malarial coinfection leading to relapse one year after infection (Abstract #227). Abstracts of the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Dec 11-15, 2005, Washington, DC.

Go, R., Chirch, L., Steigbigel, R.:  Effects of smoking on lipodystrophy and Immune Function (765). 2005 Annual IDSA Meeting, San Francisco

Chirch, L., Jimenez, V.:  Lepromatous leprosy reversal reaction.  The Lancet Infectious Diseases 5 (1): 64, 2005.

Chirch, L.M., Ahmad, K., Spinner, W., Jimenez, V.E., Donelan, S.V., Smouha, E.:  Tuberculous otitis media:  report on 2 cases on Long Island, N.Y., and a review of all cases reported in the United States from 1990 through 2003.   Ear, Nose & Throat Journal 84(8):  488, 490, 492 passim, Aug 2005.

Go, R., Chirch, L., Feiner, J, Gelato, M., Steigbigel, R. Relationships between HIV, Bone Mineral Density, and Tumor necrosis factor (991). 2006 Annual IDSA Meeting, Toronto.

Chirch, L., Feiner, J., Go, R., Mynarcik, D., McNurlan, M., Gelato, M, Steigbigel, R. Osteopenia in patients with HIV infection is not associated with elevated sTNFR2 levels. Clin Infect Dis 43(8):1084-5, 2006 Oct 15.

Nguyen A., Jimenez, V., Ramsey,K., Breitfeller,J., Allmer,J. Alcohol-based handrub solution is an effective measure for sustained control of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission in an intensive care unit with high MRSA prevalence (397). 2006 Annual IDSA Meeting, Toronto.

Popa,R. and Jimenez, V. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome presenting as multiple subcutaneous cryptococcal abscesses in an organ transplanted patient. Infectious Disease in Clinical Practice 15(6):398-9, 2007.

Latifi A, H.Lopez, V.Jimenez, J.Allmer. Risk of C.difficile associated diarrhea with Piperacillin and Tazobactam: combination and length of antibiotic use (817). 2007 Annual IDSA Meeting, San Diego.

Nakhla S, V.Jimenez, K.Ramsey, J.Breitfeller, J.Allmer. Risk of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nares, perineum, and pharynx colonization at hospital admission and its effect  on subsequent MRSA infection (291). 2007 Annual IDSA Meeting, San Diego.