Pitt Public Health is one of the few graduate schools of public health with a department dedicated to the study of infectious diseases, which are at the root of some of the world’s most pressing health issues.

The Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (IDM) is committed to training the next generation of scientists and public health professionals to enhance the control of infectious diseases in the human population. Our integrated microbiology graduate programs are devoted to the education and training of graduate students in various molecular, immunologic, epidemiologic, and biologic aspects of microbial pathogenesis, as well as infectious disease control, prevention and education.

Pitt Public Health has made major contributions in defining, preventing, and treating some of the most devastating diseases of the past 60 years. Among the pioneering scientific breakthroughs made by IDM researchers are...

  • Prevention of poliovirus with gamma globulin, which helped in the development of the Salk polio vaccine
  • Identification of dengue viruses and the hemorrhagic fever caused by them
  • Discovery of adeno-associated virus
  • Linking the transmission of cytomegalovirus to infected organs in transplantation
  • Evidence showing HIV load in the blood is a strong predictor of disease progression
  • Establishing the Pitt Men's Study, a part of the ongoing, greater than 30 year nationwide Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study on the natural history of HIV infection
  • Establishing The Mid Atlantic AIDS Education and Training Center (MAETC) which has provided HIV/AIDS education, consultation, technical assistance and resource materials to health care professionals for over 30 years

Degrees

The IDM Department is committed to high-quality graduate education that is consistent with our cutting-edge research and behavioral and community education programs. Drawing on the disciplines of molecular biology, immunology, epidemiology, medicine, health education, and community intervention, our graduate programs encourage students to engage in cross-disciplinary research of multiple aspects of infectious diseases.

Doctoral and master level degree programs offered include...

Within the MPH program two concentrations are available:

 

What the Allegheny County Health Department is doing to address health disparities. An open letter to the community.

NEXT PITTSBURGH - Allegheny C...
What the Allegheny County Health Department is doing to address health disparities. An open letter to the community.

NEXT PITTSBURGH - Allegheny County, like Minneapolis, has substantial racial disparities that impact all of us. Our communities are starkly divided along racial and ethnic lines. With these lines come distinct differences in access to housing, education, transportation and employment. These differe... (07/09/2020)

My gym is reopening. Reed isn't sure it’s safe to work out there.

NPR - If you want to exercise...
My gym is reopening. Reed isn't sure it’s safe to work out there.

NPR - If you want to exercise indoors, it’s safer to do it at home, says IDM’s Doug Reed, an immunologist and aerobiologist. If you do go to the gym and you’re breathing heavily, it would be better to double your regular physical distance to 12 feet, because we don’t know exactly how far virus part... (07/05/2020)

Clark retires after 49 years, other recent retirements

After 49 years and three mont...
Clark retires after 49 years, other recent retirements

After 49 years and three months, Lynette Clark retired on March 31. As a life member of the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, Lynette has worked extensively with the African American Alumni Council (AAAC) and other campus and community organizations. Read more about Lynette and our other recent reti... (06/19/2020)

Rappocciolo responds to possibility that cholesterol could be the culprit in COVID-19 deaths

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE – The...
Rappocciolo responds to possibility that cholesterol could be the culprit in COVID-19 deaths

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE – The study is plausible, says IDM’s Giovanna Rappocciolo, but “rough around the edges”— a situation that could be remedied through the peer-review process. "If the research is verified, then COVID-19 potentially could be treated by manipulating cholesterol levels, with d... (06/07/2020)

Chancellor Gallagher shares his outrage, grief, and solidarity

In a letter to the community,...
Chancellor Gallagher shares his outrage, grief, and solidarity

In a letter to the community, Chancellor Gallagher shares his outrage, grief, and anger. He challenges us all to demonstrate solidarity by standing with Pitt’s African American students, faculty, staff, and alumni in a shared commitment to realizing meaningful change. "How many times must we witnes... (06/02/2020)

 

Wed
7/15 MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center Webinar/Online Event
Accessing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): Billing and CodingAccessing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): Billing and Coding MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center Webinar/Online Event
Accessing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): Billing and Coding
Wed 7/15 12:00PM - 1:00PM
** Online/Virtual Event **

The purpose of this webinar is to describe the process of coding for PrEP in WV and PA, discuss the implementation of billing for PrEP, and compare the different options for paying for PrEP.
Mon
7/20 MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center Webinar/Online Event
Virtual HIV in West Virginia: Tackle the Epidemic, Not the OpioidsVirtual HIV in West Virginia: Tackle the Epidemic, Not the Opioids MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center Webinar/Online Event
Virtual HIV in West Virginia: Tackle the Epidemic, Not the Opioids
Mon 7/20 11:00AM - 12:00PM
** Online/Virtual Event **

This webinar will focus on the question of why there is a raging epidemic of addiction. The current opioid epidemic is a symptom of the fraying of the socio-economic fabric of rural United States. We will also look at the reasons why funding should be targeted to substance misuse, not to the drug of the moment.
Tue
7/21 MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center Webinar/Online Event
Special Populations in Ending the HIV Epidemic: Routine HIV Testing in AdolescentsSpecial Populations in Ending the HIV Epidemic: Routine HIV Testing in Adolescents MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center Webinar/Online Event
Special Populations in Ending the HIV Epidemic: Routine HIV Testing in Adolescents
Tue 7/21 9:00AM - 10:00AM
** Online/Virtual Event **

At the end of the webinar, participants will be able to describe current guidelines and epidemiology for HIV testing among adolescents, identify key steps in educating health professionals on routine HIV testing for adolescents, and discuss lessons learned and how to implement these lessons learned across EHE regions.
Thu
7/23 MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center Webinar/Online Event
Telehealth and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) during COVID-19Telehealth and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) during COVID-19 MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center Webinar/Online Event
Telehealth and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) during COVID-19
Thu 7/23 2:00PM - 3:00PM
** Online/Virtual Event **

This session will describe PrEP and the importance of adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic, barriers to PrEP that have been brought on by COVID-19, strategies to overcome barriers and promote adherence, and how telehealth can be used to promote PrEP.
Thu
7/30 MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center Webinar/Online Event
Roadmap for COVID-19 Vaccine DevelopmentRoadmap for COVID-19 Vaccine Development MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center Webinar/Online Event
Roadmap for COVID-19 Vaccine Development
Thu 7/30 2:00PM - 3:00PM
** Online/Virtual Event **

This webinar will describe the process of vaccine development during COVID-19 and discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with vaccine development.
More IDM Events
More Pitt Public Health Events