The COVID-19 pandemic brought Wayne State University School of Medicine Infectious Diseases expert Teena Chopra, M.D., M.P.H. ’11, into the public eye because of her role as corporate medical director of Hospital Epidemiology, Infection Prevention and Antibiotic Stewardship at WSU and the Detroit Medical Center. As a professor of Medicine in the WSU Division of Infectious Diseases who teaches students, residents and fellows about the specialty, she is now leveraging that attention into one of her most ardent career efforts – medical education.

“I am very passionate about teaching and helping prepare the next generation of infectious diseases experts. We need more infectious diseases experts and even more epidemiologists,” she said.

In response to the pandemic, Dr. Chopra designed a curriculum for the School of Medicine on public health and pandemic preparedness.

“I believe in hands-on training when it comes to my students, residents and fellows,” she said.

Dr. Chopra is faculty advisor for the School of Medicine’s Infectious Diseases Interest Group. She helped to establish the Center for Emerging and Infectious Diseases at Wayne State University, announced in August to enhance training, research, engagement and public health infrastructure to address the development of methods to prepare for, prevent and treat emerging and re-emerging infectious and non-communicable diseases.

“In academics, education, teaching and clinical service are inextricably interwoven and cannot exist without each other. It is very important to give time to each and to not forget to give back to your community at the same time,” she said.

The Infectious Diseases Society of America recognized Dr. Chopra’s efforts as a medical educator in September, when she was interviewed by the national organization as a featured educator. Read the interview here.