Infectious diseases are caused by organisms (like bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses). While many organisms live in and on our bodies are harmless, others can cause disease. Humans catch these diseases either from another person who has it already, insect or animal bites, or exposure to the disease in the environment. When a person has an infectious disease, it is important he or she is cared for by a physician specialist who can help manage or cure the disease.
Boston Medical Center is home to infectious disease pediatric specialists who work with patients with all kinds of diagnoses and provide management of at-risk children and families with HIV infection. Acquired and congenital conditions they treat include:
- Chronic infections
- Recurrent infections
- Diagnostic puzzles
- Unusual bacterial, fungal or viral infections
- Lyme disease
- Chronic, recurrent or unexplained fevers
- HIV
- Pneumonia
- Recurrent skin and soft tissue infections
- Hepatitis B and C diagnosis and treatment
- Congenital Infections such as Herpes Simplex, Toxoplasmosis,
- Cytomegalovirus
Contact Us
6th Floor
Crosstown Center 617.414.7428
Monday, Wednesday Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:30PM Tuesday, Thursday 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Programs and Services
Pediatrics - Travel and International Health
Treatments & Services
Our Team
Pediatric Infectious Disease Doctors
Elizabeth D. Barnett, MD
Rachel L Epstein, MD, MScE
Marisol Figueira, MD
Katherine K. Hsu, MD, MPH
Elijah E. Paintsil, MD
Vishakha Sabharwal, MD
Pediatric AIDS Program
Ellen R. Cooper, MD
Stephen I. Pelton, MD
Molly Cuvellier, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Pediatric Infectious Disease
Phone: (857) 393-1680
Pager: 8190
Patient Resources
Pediatric AIDS Program
The Pediatric AIDS Program works closely with the departments of Obstetrics and Adult Clinical AIDS to provide access to the most pioneering therapies and preventative strategies for good general maternal-child health care.
Curriculum for HIV Infected Youth
Pediatrics - Travel and International Health
Department News
Elijah Paintsil Appointed Chief of Pediatrics at Boston Medical Center and Chair of Pediatrics at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
BOSTON – Elijah Paintsil, MD, has been named the new Chief of Pediatrics at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Chair of Pediatrics at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. …
Research Overview
Pediatrics HIV and HCV Research
Funded Programs for HIV and HCV Research
The Pediatric Infectious Disease group has a well-established collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics, and we have a number of programs involving the health of mothers and babies. Active research studies regarding treatment of pregnant HIV infected women and the prevention of vertical transmission are ongoing.
In addition we have recently developed a research agenda regarding Hepatitis C infected women and the potential risk to their newborns from this maternal exposure. Our first epidemiological studies are up and running. Now that therapeutic options have expanded, we now plan on looking at the advantage and possibility of early diagnosis in the infants.
Targeting HIV Infection:
Boston Medical Center is currently the only institution in. New England who is part of the IMPAACT Network, a group of domestic and international academic sites conducting clinical trials important to the care of HIV infected infants, children, adolescents, and pregnant women. Considered a Center of Excellence, we have been part of this important research network for over 25 years._. We have participated in cutting edge research including the first studies to show interruption of the vertical transmission of HIV from mother to baby, and we continue to have uninterrupted access to the latest state of the art therapeutics and diagnostics. We are currently conducting research of investigational drugs and vaccines for both primary HIV therapy and the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections and the long term complications of HIV infection.
In addition to the NIH funded clinical trials we have several ongoing industry-sponsored trials, targeting the special population of children and adolescents with resistant HIV infection
Residency and Fellowship Information
Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program
Fellows in Pediatric Infectious Diseases participate in a 3-year program that provides training to prepare them for successful careers in Pediatric Infectious Diseases and to assure their qualification for the American Board of Pediatrics certifying examination in Pediatric Infectious Diseases. The three-year training experience includes submersion in the clinical experience in the first year followed by two years of concentrated mentored research time.