Infectious Diseases

Ranked among the top 10 children's hospitals in the nation and #1 in New York by U.S.News & World Report

Anne E. Gershon, MD

Director, Division of Infectious Diseases

The infectious diseases programs at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital specialize in the management of infants, children and adolescents with acute or chronic bacterial, viral or fungal infections. Our dedicated physicians provide diagnostic and treatment consultation to clinical services throughout the hospitals and community, including neonatology, oncology, transplantation, medicine and pulmonology. In addition, the infectious diseases specialists are involved in numerous clinical research projects that include the development of new antimicrobial therapies and vaccines for children.

The Division of Infectious Diseases combines clinical care with research, public health and epidemiology with expertise in a wide spectrum of infectious diseases in children.

The Division's infectious diseases specialists diagnose and treat viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic pathogens. Our team is internationally renowned as leaders in the use of antiviral therapy and the management of varicella-zoster virus, herpes simplex, and respiratory syncytial virus infections. The physicians bring a depth of experience to treating:

HIV/AIDS
infections in immunocomprised children, with cancer and organ transplants
endocarditis
tuberculosis
osteomyelitis
pneumonia, and
congenital or neonatal viral infections

In addition, they are skilled in treating patients with multi-drug resistant organisms.

Our infectious diseases specialists serve as consultants for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drugs Administration, and the National Institutes of Health. National organizations such as the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, as well as pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, also seek their expertise.

The Division has established a Clinical Research Program to support the startup and execution of Clinical Research. A dedicated program manager, experienced investigators, and research coordinators are available to provide infrastructure clinical expertise and administrative coordination for all Clinical Research performed within the division and with investigators from other specialties participating in collaborative research. This program supports industry, government, foundation, and investigator initiated research in antimicrobial agents, vaccines, epidemiology, and ID-related technology.

The team also participates in the Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) Network, which is a collaborative effort between the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and seven clinical centers including Columbia University. The primary goals of the network are to improve the scientific understanding of vaccine safety issues through research and to serve as a source of clinical expertise in evaluation of adverse events following immunization.

Division members are active in infection control activities as well as teaching of students and residents. The group performs daily bedside consultations on patients with infectious disease problems and also meets weekly to conduct teaching rounds with postdoctoral fellows, residents, and students.

Division members also staff study sections and have been awarded a T32 NIH training grant for teaching and mentoring fellows interested in careers in infectious diseases. Most faculty members are involved in active research programs in virology, bacteriology, molecular pathogenesis, and HIV.