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Chatrchai Watanakunakorn, M.D., Lectureship in Medicine

For the 2023 Chatrchai Watanakunakorn, M.D., Lectureship in Medicine, Michael Tan, M.D., (’99), FACP, FIDSA will present “Evolution of Treatment of C. difficile Infection” from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 5 in Watanakunakorn Auditorium and via Zoom.

Dr. Tan is professor of internal medicine at NEOMED, where he is co-course director of the Infection and Immunity Course and vice-chair of the Infectious Disease Section of the Principles of Medicine Course.

Dr. Tan is lead physician for Summa Health Medical Group-Infectious Disease, assistant medical director at SummaCare and chair of Summa Health’s Institutional Review Board.

Dr. Tan is board certified in infectious diseases and internal medicine. He earned a B.S. in cell and developmental biology from the University of Rochester and a medical degree from NEOMED. He completed his residency training at Summa Health System. He then completed a fellowship in infectious diseases and tropical medicine at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

He is a practicing infectious disease specialist and a frequent lecturer on various infectious disease topics. In addition to clinical practice, he is co-director of the antimicrobial stewardship programs at Summa Health’s hospitals and is elective director for M3 and M4 students as well as preceptor for advanced practice nursing students and physician assistants. He has significant involvement in resident education and has received teaching awards from internal medicine and family medicine residents.

Dr. Tan is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (ACP) and Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. He is regent for the American College of Physicians and immediate past-Governor for the Ohio Chapter of the ACP. In addition, he is chair of the Mastership Committee and member of the Health and Public Policy Committee. He was a member of the IM2019 Scientific Program Committee, Credentials Committee 2019-2021, Chapters Subcommittee 2015-2019, and Chair of the Chapters Subcommittee 2017-2019, and Awards committee 2020-2021. While Governor, he was on the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors 2017-2019.

Dr. Tan’s primary research interests include participation in multi-centered controlled trials of new and novel treatments for Clostridium difficile infection, skin and soft tissue infection, and pneumonia. He is principal investigator for a registry of COVID-19 patients at Summa Health. He is co-editor of Tan JS, File TM Jr., Salata RA, Tan MJ (eds.) Expert Guide to Infectious Diseases, 2nd edition (2008, ACP Press) and Rosenthal KS and Tan MJ (eds.) Rapid Review Microbiology and Immunology 3rd edition (2010, Mosby). Dr. Tan is listed in Best Doctors in America (2010 to present).


About Chatrchai Watanakunakorn, M.D.

On March 5, 2004, the family of the late Dr. Watanakunakorn, of Youngstown, Ohio, presented NEOMED with the then-largest charitable gift in the College’s 30-year history. Totaling more than $3 million, the gift is used to advance medical education in Northeast Ohio, create an endowed chair in microbiology and immunology in Dr. Watanakunakorn’s name and provide this lectureshipseries for health care professionals throughout the region. From 1979 to 2001, Watanakunakorn, served as a professor of internal medicine at the University.

At the time of his death in July 2001, Dr. Watanakunakorn was hospital epidemiologist and chief of infectious diseases at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown. He received several awards from professional organizations, including the Ohio Chapter of the American College of Physicians Master Teacher Award, The American College of International Physicians Distinguished Physician Award, and the Infectious Disease Society of America 2000 Clinician Award. He also was a master of the American College of Physicians.


Contact

For more information, please email Aeriole Conner at aconner@neomed.edu.

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Secure your seat

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