Infectious Disease
Welcome
The Section of Infectious Disease comprises three physicians who are all Subspecialty Board Certified in Pediatric Infectious Disease by the American Board of Pediatrics. They are the only pediatric infectious disease specialists in the twenty-two counties of northeast New York.
The scope of their clinical activities involves inpatient consultations for children with serious infectious problems including:
- Meningitis
- Pneumonia
- Infections of bones and joints, blood, and skin.
- They also evaluate children with cancer and those who have had transplants (two groups of children at high risk for infection with bacteria and viruses).
Some infections are contagious for the community. The infectious disease specialists work closely with community physicians, epidemiologists, as well as community health agencies for infection control. Through the public relations department, they are a called upon as experts by the media to comment on issues relating to influenza, meningitis, Lyme disease, and other infections of children, and receive on average ten calls per day from community physicians for phone consultations. Some children require a more comprehensive evaluation and are seen in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Clinic.
The Material Child Coordinated Care Program is a Center of Excellence under New York State AIDS Institute. The pediatric HIV/AIDS program is funded in part by a grant from the NYS AIDS Institute and receives funding from both the NYS and federal governments. This funding provides not only for the medical needs of the child, but also for the social, psychological and educational needs as well. A Child Life Specialist, Child Psychiatrist, Neurologist and case manager are on staff to help the patient and their family with these issues. Seventy-five pediatric AIDS patients are served by the Section of Infectious Diseases in addition to the screening of approximately thirty infants per year.
The Section conducts clinical research as a principal investigator for vaccine and passive antibiotics drug trials. Dr. Aracelis Dulce Fernandez is conducting basic science research assessing vaccine responses in the Albany Medical College Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease.
The Section also participates in the Albany Medical Center's mission of education by teaching pediatric and medicine/pediatric residents as part of their overall training, as well as third and fourth year medical students. Additionally, the staff speaks for many local groups on a variety of topics, including HIV/AIDS and Lyme Disease. For more information about any of the above topics, please contact (518) 262-5332.
Location
A-2
Albany Medical Center (Main Campus)
43 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, NY
Contact Us
Phone: 518-262-5332
Fax: 518-262-8163
Office Hours
8:30am - 4:30pm
