Febrile #116: StAR: Ocular Infections

Summary

This StAR episode features the CID State-of-the-Art Review on Ocular Infections.

Credits

Host: Sara Dong

Guests: Miriam Barshak, Akash Gupta

Content is based on the CID article featured in this episode although with additional writing by Sara Dong

Edited and Produced by Sara Dong with support from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)

Our Guests

Miriam Barshak, MD

Dr. Miriam Barshak completed Medical internship and residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, then ID fellowship in the combined MGH/BWH fellowship program. She then devoted 10 years to basic research in streptococcal pathogenesis before transitioning to a primarily clinical role at Mass General/Mass Eye and Ear, including serving as the primary ID consultant for Mass Eye and Ear. The learning curve was initially very steep, starting with learning the language of our ENT and ophthalmology colleagues. She is profoundly grateful for the mentorship and support of Dr. Marlene Durand, whose decades of experience and generous guidance continue to allow us to give the best care to patients with even the most challenging clinical eye and ear infection situations. She is also grateful for the ophthalmologists, including co-author Dr. Papaliodis, whose teaching and collaborative spirit have allowed us to provide an effective multidisciplinary approach to patients with these infections. She is Associate Professor of Medicine at HMS.

Akash Gupta, MD

Akash Gupta was Miriam Barshak’s ID clinic fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital, and she taught him everything he knows about ocular infections – he still calls her all the time for clinical advice. Prior to fellowship, he was a Medicine/Pediatrics resident at Mass General. After fellowship, Akash practiced ID in northern Massachusetts. Since August 2024, he joined University of Pittsburgh Medical Center where he is a Clinical Assistant Professor.