Infectious Disease

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Division is comprised of seven attending physicians with expertise in a wide spectrum of infectious problems in children and with a wide variety of research interests. The faculty is experts in the use of antibiotics, routine and special uses of active and passive immunization, healthcare-acquired infections, HIV infection, and management of bacterial, viral, fungal, and mycobacterial infections in immunocompromised patients.

Drs. Anne Gershon and Philip LaRussa are internationally recognized researchers in the varicella vaccine and antiviral therapy. The Women and Children's Care Center at Children's Hospital, led by Drs. Anne Gershon and Marc Foca provides evaluation and therapy for women and children with HIV. The Center has cared for more than 200 HIV-infected children and their families with a dedicated staff of pediatric nurse practitioners, developmental specialists, and support staff.

Dr. Alice Prince studies the pathogenesis of bacterial infections of the lung. Her laboratory focuses on the complex interactions between bacteria and airway epithelial cell signaling cascades (see lab web site: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/hs/princelab/ and http://asp.cpmc.columbia.edu/facdb/profile_list.asp?uni=asp7&DepAffil=Pharmacology).

Dr. Lisa Saiman is an expert in the microbiology of cystic fibrosis and mycobacteria. Drs. Saiman and Philip Graham have developed a robust infection control program for pediatrics with the Departments of Epidemiology and the clinical Microbiology Laboratory that includes surveillance, an antimicrobial control program, and molecular epidemiology, and education for staff.

Dr. Natalie Neu is the director of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Section and participates in numerous clinical trials. She also provides infectious diseases expertise for St. Barnabas and Nyack Hospitals.