Arlene Seña

Dr. Arlene Seña is Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and Adjunct Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Gillings School of Global Public Health. She provides clinical care in general infectious diseases and transplant ID clinics while leading NIH-funded syphilis vaccine research.

Her educational background includes:

• Undergraduate: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1988-1992)
• Residency: University of Florida, Gainesville (Internal Medicine, 1992-1995)
• Fellowship: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Infectious Diseases, 1995-1998)
• MPH: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Epidemiology, 1996-1998)

Dr. Seña's research centers on syphilis vaccine development and sexually transmitted infections, with significant work in transplant infectious diseases and immunocompromised host management. Her expertise extends to public health interventions for STI/HIV/hepatitis C co-infections and bacterial STIs like trichomonas vaginalis, informed by her 19-year tenure as Medical Director at Durham County Department of Public Health.

She has mentored numerous trainees in STI research and public health careers while serving as Co-Project Director for an NIH STI Cooperative Research Center grant involving UNC Project Malawi and UNC Project China. Dr. Seña holds leadership roles as Treasurer of the American STD Association and consultant for CDC STD Treatment Guidelines, with prior service on the NIH STI-Clinical Trials Group Scientific Review Committee (2007-2021).