{"id":1356,"date":"2025-11-13T11:16:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T17:16:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lsom.uthscsa.edu\/infectious-diseases\/?page_id=1356"},"modified":"2026-01-27T14:19:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T20:19:14","slug":"ccid","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lsom.uthscsa.edu\/infectious-diseases\/research\/ccid\/","title":{"rendered":"Center for Chronic Infectious Diseases"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Who We Are<\/h2>\n

The South Texas region faces a disproportionate burden of chronic infectious diseases\u2014including HIV, tuberculosis, endemic fungal infections, and Long COVID\u2014that impact both urban and rural communities. These challenges are intensified by coexisting conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and substance use disorders.<\/p>\n

Our Center brings together UT Health San Antonio\u2019s world-class researchers and community partners to develop innovative strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. With expertise in epidemiology, diagnostics, clinical research, and implementation science, our faculty are national leaders in infectious disease research, including groundbreaking COVID-19 and HIV studies.<\/p>\n

By partnering with the communities most affected, we aim to transform care locally in South Texas while advancing solutions with national and global impact.[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_tta_accordion shape=”square” color=”white” gap=”10″ active_section=”-1″ no_fill=”true” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Our Team” tab_id=”1588789059349-e02b43b6-4e5d”][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Barbara S. Taylor, MD, MS<\/td>\nDirector<\/td>\nCenter for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hillary Johnson<\/td>\nClinical Research Project Manager & Administrative Director<\/td>\nCenter for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Thomas Patterson, MD<\/td>\nCo-director<\/td>\nCenter for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alyssa Anderson<\/td>\nResearch Coordinator<\/td>\nCenter for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cyrena Cot\u00e9<\/td>\nStaff<\/td>\nCenter for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jessica Courtright<\/td>\nClinical Research Nurse<\/td>\nDepartment of Medicine\u2013Infectious Diseases<\/p>\n

Center for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Guicelda De La Cruz<\/td>\nSenior Administrative Assistant<\/td>\nDepartment of Medicine\u2013Infectious Diseases<\/p>\n

Center for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Miranda Escobedo<\/td>\nClinical Trials Specialist<\/td>\nCenter for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cheryl Farner, FNP<\/td>\nFamily Nurse Practitioner<\/td>\nCenter for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Melinda (Mindy) Fischer<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Research Operations Manager<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Division of Infectious Diseases at UT San Antonio<\/p>\n

Center for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Claudia G\u00fcner<\/td>\nProgram Coordinator Senior<\/td>\nCenter for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Patricia (Patty) Heard<\/td>\nStaff<\/td>\nCenter for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jessica (Jessi) Hernandez<\/td>\nStaff<\/td>\nCenter for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rosie Jaramillo<\/td>\nStaff<\/td>\nCenter for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Johnnie Jones<\/td>\nStaff<\/td>\nCenter for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Laura Najvar<\/td>\nStaff<\/td>\nCenter for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marcos Olivo<\/td>\nStaff<\/td>\nCenter for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alexis Pinones<\/td>\nLaboratory Manager<\/td>\nCenter for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bridgette Soileau<\/td>\nStaff<\/td>\nCenter for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Michael Sullivan<\/td>\nStaff<\/td>\nCenter for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Anna Tarranova, MD, MS<\/td>\nVice President<\/p>\n

Health Innovation<\/td>\n

University Health System<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Our Core Faculty” tab_id=”1588789059349-e02b43b6-4e5c”][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Jason Bowling, MD<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Interim Division Chief\/Professor<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

UT Health San Antonio<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Matthew Brigmon, MD<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Alumni (Fellow)<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

UT Health San Antonio<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Jose A Cadena Zuluaga, MD<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Professor<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

UT Health San Antonio<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Claudia Castillo Paredes, MD<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Assistant Professor<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

UT Health San Antonio<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Mark Cedeno, MD<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Assistant Professor\/Clinical<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

UT Health San Antonio<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Divya Chandramohan, MD<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Assistant Professor<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

UT Health San Antonio<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Cheryl Farner, NP<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Family Nurse Practitioner<\/td>\nUT Health San Antonio<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Danielle Dixon, DO<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Assistant Professor<\/td>\nUT Health San Antonio<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Manuel Endo Carvajal, MD<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Assistant Professor\/Clinical<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

UT Health San Antonio<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Anthony Febres Aldana, MD<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Assistant Professor\/Clinical<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

UT Health San Antonio<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Heta Javeri, MD<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Program Director – Infectious Diseases Fellowship<\/p>\n

Assistant Professor\/Clinical<\/td>\n

UT Health San Antonio<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chukwuemeka Okafor, PhD, MPH<\/td>\nAssistant Professor\/Clinical<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

UT Health San Antonio<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Jan Patterson, MD, MS<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Professor of Medicine<\/p>\n

Associate Dean, Quality & Lifelong Learning<\/td>\n

UT Health San Antonio<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Thomas Patterson, MD<\/td>\nProfessor of Medicine<\/p>\n

Co-director<\/td>\n

UT Health San Antonio<\/p>\n

Center for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Ruth Serrano Pinilla, MD<\/td>\nAssistant Professor\/Clinical<\/td>\nUT Health San Antonio<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Camille Spears, MD, MPH<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Training and Education Specialist<\/td>\nUT Health San Antonio<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Barbara S. Taylor, MD, MS<\/td>\nProfessor<\/p>\n

Director<\/td>\n

UT Health San Antonio<\/p>\n

Center for Chronic Infectious Diseases<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Nathan Wiederhold, Pharm.D<\/td>\nAssociate Professor<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

UT Health San Antonio<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Our Advisory Board” tab_id=”1584553986696-26e1d460-05a7″][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Grey Casillas<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shelly Cole<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Desiray Cordero<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Delana Gonzalez<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Juan (Lou) Lewis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Medea Morris<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Willow Pate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rob Purdie<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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\n \n

<\/p>\n

Contact Us<\/h2>\n

UT Health San Antonio
\n7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MC 7881
\nSan Antonio, TX 78229<\/p>\n

Email: CenterCID@uthscsa.edu<\/a>
\nPhone: 210-450-7612<\/a>
\nFax: 210-567-4670<\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>[vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Partnerships<\/h2>\n

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<\/p>\n

Research Focus<\/h2>\n

Our research focuses on chronic infectious diseases that disproportionately impact South Texas, including HIV, tuberculosis, fungal infections, and Long COVID. We design and conduct clinical trials, vaccine studies, behavioral interventions, and community-based research to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. By addressing these challenges in the context of coexisting health conditions, we aim to deliver solutions that improve lives locally and globally.<\/p>\n

Disease areas being studied<\/strong><\/p>\n

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