Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease

LocationLiu Research Center
1124 W Carson Street
RB-3, 2nd Floor
Torrance, CA 90502

Contact Paola Gomez
(424) 571-7769

EmailPaola Gomez
pgomez@dhs.lacounty.gov

Our Division aims to provide outstanding patient care, contribute to our specialty by training the next generation of pediatric infectious disease specialists and leaders, contribute useful research, and participate in regional and national service activities.

The goal of our three-year Fellowship program is to train competent ID specialists through a broad-based experience in research, teaching and clinical infectious diseases. The particulars of these activities are tailored to the Fellow’s individual interests and expectations for success beyond Fellowship.

Harbor-UCLA is a level I trauma center within the Los Angles County Department of Health Services system and has a long and distinguished history of serving the underserved. Our southern California location provides tremendous exposure to a variety of immigrant and through-traveler populations enabling diverse infectious disease clinical and research opportunities.

Leadership

Kenneth Zangwill, MD Professor of Pediatrics David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Chief, Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease Director, Infection Prevention and Control Director, Pediatric ID Fellowship Program Harbor-UCLA Medical Center The Lundquist Institute Profile
National Library of Medicine Profile

Bio

Research

My research areas have varied over the years. I attempt to focus on issues of timely interest to the ID community and/or are related to developing pediatric infectious disease policy and practice at the national level. For >20 years, I was PI or co-PI on scores of phase II-IV vaccine studies. I continue some vaccine-related work, but more recently my research has focused on 1) clinical epidemiology and management of resistant urinary tract infection in children, 2) clinical and cost effectiveness of interventions for antibiotic overuse, use of whole genome sequencing for mycobacterial disease; diagnostic methods for Clostridium difficile infection in adults, and management strategies for neonates at risk for sepsis, 3) testing of innovative approaches to improve antimicrobial stewardship in the Emergency Department and in surgical practice; 4) assessment of physician diagnosis of congenital infection, 5) evaluation of various interventions to prevent healthcare-associated, and 6) and development of an optical rapid diagnostic test for bacteremia.

Clinical/Administrative

I serve as Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Harbor and am active on the inpatient general pediatrics and infectious disease services.

Contributions to our Specialty

Currently, I am Chair of the AAP Section on Infectious Diseases and member of the Advisory Committee on Infectious Disease (Red Book). I have served our Pediatric Infectious Disease Society on several committees and am a member of the Pediatric Leadership Council at SHEA involved on its writing committee for NICU infection prevention. I also recently completely a three year stint as an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Study Section member and have and/or continue to participate as a member of numerous Special Emphasis and other Review Panels for CDC, NIH, and internationally.

Background

I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for which I often (and perhaps annoyingly) claim sports team superiority. I received a B.A. in Biochemistry from the University of Pennsylvania, M.D. from Pennsylvania State University, completed residency at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, and served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer for two years at the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control followed by ID fellowship at Harbor.

Faculty & Administration

Brad Ackerson, MD Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Clinical Instructor Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Infectious Disease Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Harbor City

Felice Adler-Shohet, MD Professor of Pediatrics David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Director, Pediatric Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

Jag Batra, MD Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics University of California, IrvineClinical Instructor Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Director, Pediatric Infectious Disease and HIV Center Miller Children’s Hospital, Long Beach

Michael Bolaris, MD Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Clinical Instructor Harbor-UCLA Medical Center National Library of Medicine Profile

Shom Dasgupta, MD Clinical Instructor Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Senior Physician and Medical Director, Tuberculosis Control ProgramLA County Department of Public Health

Chrisanna Mink, MD Professor of Pediatrics David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Clinical Instructor Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

Victor K. Wong, MD Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Clinical Instructor Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Infectious Disease Specialist Kaiser Permanente Downey

Sylvia Yeh, MD Professor of PediatricsDavid Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Director, Pediatric Residency Program Harbor-UCLA Medical Center The Lundquist Institute Profile National Library of Medicine Profile