Infectious Disease

2nd Year Fellows

Tiwari, Ranjit MD

Tiwari, RanjitMedical School: Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal
Residency: B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan Nepal
Hometown: Janakpur, Nepal

Academic/Clinical Interests: My primary interest is in general Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine. I am particularly interest in understanding the complex interactions between pathogens, host immune responses, and clinical presentations. I am also interested in emerging approaches in infectious disease management, including bacteriophage therapy, particularly its potential role in addressing antimicrobial resistance and treating difficult-to-manage bacterial infections. 

Why Infectious Diseases? 

Since 2017, there has hardly been a day in my clinical practice when I have not cared for a patient with an infectious condition. My experience managing a broad spectrum of infections, particularly tropical diseases such as helminthic, parasitic, and protozoal infections prevalent in the Indian subcontinent, allowed me to appreciate the remarkable diversity and complexity of Infectious Diseases. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, I worked in a COVID ICU for five months, caring for critically ill patients and witnessing the profound impact of infectious diseases on both individual patients and healthcare systems. Encounters with challenging complications, including rhino-cerebral mucormycosis, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), and acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP), further shaped my understanding of the intricate relationship between pathogens, host immune responses, and clinical outcomes. These experiences transformed my curiosity about microorganisms into a deeper commitment to pursuing Infectious Diseases and caring for patients facing complex infectious challenges. I also had the opportunity to serve as a trainer for healthcare providers in underserved areas through the Ministry of Health on multiple occasions. In this role, I contributed to strengthening healthcare workers’ knowledge and skills in the diagnosis, management, and reporting of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and visceral leishmaniasis to district public health authorities. This experience further reinforced my interest in addressing infectious diseases not only at the individual patient level but also through broader public health initiatives.

Hobbies and Activities: Outside of medicine, I enjoy dancing and listening to music, which allow me to relax and express my creativity. I have a passion for exploring new places and experiencing different cultures through travel, as I believe these experiences broaden my perspective and appreciation for diversity. I also enjoy wildlife observation and spending time in nature. Additionally, I enjoy swimming and adventure activities that challenge me and provide a sense of excitement, including bungee jumping and paragliding. Exploring underwater life through scuba diving and experiencing the thrill of skydiving are two adventures I hope to pursue in the future.


Kumar, Pawan MD

Kumar, PawanMedical School: Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot, Punjab, India
Residency: Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
Hometown: Jalandhar, Punjab, India

Academic/Clinical Interests: I am highly interested in pursuing a career in transplant Infectious Diseases because it combines the challenges of managing complex infections, optimizing antimicrobial therapy, and improving outcomes in a highly vulnerable immunocompromised patient population. My long-term goal is to join an academic medical center where I can continue to develop my clinical expertise in transplant infectious diseases while actively participating in research, medical education and antimicrobial stewardship.  

Why Infectious Diseases? My interest in Infectious Diseases began during my fifth year of medical school, when I rotated through the tuberculosis ward. It was one of my earliest experiences caring for patients with severe, life-threatening infections, and I was fascinated by how appropriate antimicrobial therapy could dramatically transform their clinical course. I realized that Infectious Diseases is one of the few specialties where thoughtful clinical reasoning, microbiology, and pharmacology come together to make an immediate and meaningful impact on patient outcomes. During my Internal Medicine residency and subsequent years of independent clinical practice, I cared for patients with a wide spectrum of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, infective endocarditis, HIV-associated infections, tropical diseases, multidrug-resistant organisms, and infections in critically ill patients. My current Infectious Diseases fellowship has reinforced this passion by providing exposure to complex inpatient consultations, antimicrobial stewardship, and the care of immunocompromised patients. Each experience has affirmed my decision to pursue a lifelong career in Infectious Diseases and has naturally led to my growing interest in Transplant Infectious Diseases.

Hobbies and Activities: Outside of medicine, I enjoy playing outdoor sports such as cricket and volleyball. In my leisure time, my wife and I like to spend time together and explore new areas and try new cuisines. I find relaxation and joy in listening to Bollywood and Punjabi music.
Besandre, Ronald MD, PhD

Besandre, RonaldMedical School: University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine
Residency: University of Texas Medical Branch Internal Medicine
Hometown: Houston, TX

Academic/Clinical Interests: Research-focused physician scientist interested in antimicrobial drug discovery for high consequence pathogens that have little in the way of effective treatments, in particular the viral hemorrhagic fevers  

Why Infectious Diseases? Antibiotics are probably one of the most important inventions to have graced humanity. Modern medicine as we know it today is supported by these important, and largely safe, medications. Surgical procedures, including the transplantation of organs, are made routine. Patients who require a degree of immunosuppression for management of autoimmune disease or who are necessarily weakened immunologically because of cancer treatment are supported by the arsenal of antimicrobial agents at our disposal. The once deadly infections of the past are now run of the mill and have done wonders to reduce infant/maternal mortality and extend the average human lifespan. However, antimicrobial resistance is a real, existential threat, as is the emergence of new infectious diseases for which there are no treatments. There will always be a need to identify these old and new infectious threats, as well as to continually develop new agents to add to our antimicrobial toolkit. It’s this ever-changing landscape in ID that draws me to it.

Hobbies and Activities: I enjoy cooking/baking when I have time, as well as trying out new restaurants as a self-professed foodie. Singing is also a fun pastime. I’ve been playing WoW for over two decades now since it initially released in 2004.

1st Year Fellows

Sullivan, Ryan MD

Medical School: University of Connecticut 
Residency: University of Massachusetts 
Hometown: Coventry, CT

Academic/Clinical Interests: I am interest in the intersection of Infectious Disease and Aerospace Medicine which presents unique challenges for infection prevention and clinical care. As a former Peace Corps volunteer, I am also interested in Global Health.

General Interests/Hobbies: I am looking forward to getting back into scuba diving now that I have moved to Galveston! Otherwise, my free time is spent playing with my dog Pyro.

Why Infectious Disease?
I love Infectious Disease because it combines science, clinical problem solving, and meaningful patient relationships into one specialty. It is a field that touches every area of medicine from the ICU to the outpatient clinic and has strong ties to Global Health
Priyadarshi, Megha MBBS

Priaydarshi, MeghaMedical School: Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India
Residency: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
Hometown: Jaipur Rajasthan, India

Academic/Clinical Interests: My primary interest are Global Health and Public Health within Infectious Diseases, with a focus on emerging infectious diseases.

Why Infectious Diseases? 

I chose Infectious Diseases because it combines complex clinical problem-solving with opportunities to improve public health. I enjoy unraveling diagnostic mysteries to identify the responsible pathogen in challenging cases, while contributing to infection prevention and the understanding of emerging infectious threats though a One Health perspective.

Hobbies and Activities: Outside of medicine, I enjoy creating charcoal artwork, practicing Indian classical vocal music, and exploring the outdoors through high-altitude trekking.

Sikdar, Sunit MBBS

Portrait of Sunit SikdarMedical School: Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital
Residency: All India Institute of medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
Hometown: Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Academic/Clinical Interests: I look at myself as a Physician Educator and balancing life, work and research and enjoying every moment.

Why Infectious Disease? 

With the history, the puzzles, the shared journey with the patients and continuous advancements, falling in love is easy.

Hobbies and Activities: I feel ecstatic behind the drums, where music becomes less a performance than a conversation-different voices coming together to create something none could alone. I also run.

Advanced Fellows