Asher Schranz

Asher Schranz, MD, MPH is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. His clinical practice focuses on infectious diseases with particular expertise in endovascular infections, viral hepatitis, and HIV, with a special interest in caring for patients with substance use disorders.

Dr. Schranz's research centers on the intersection of infectious diseases and substance use disorders, specifically examining outcomes following severe injection drug-related infections such as infective endocarditis and bone, joint, and spine infections. His work utilizes large datasets and qualitative methods to develop patient-centered approaches to disease prevention, inpatient addiction care, harm reduction, and long-term antibiotic delivery. He also investigates Hepatitis C epidemiology, HIV health services research, and clinical practice issues related to outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT).

His research portfolio demonstrates significant focus on drug use-associated infective endocarditis, viral hepatitis treatment in people who inject drugs, and the complex interactions between substance use disorders and infectious disease outcomes. Recent publications highlight his work on long-term infection risks, mortality patterns, surgical decision-making, and innovative treatment coordination approaches for this vulnerable patient population.

Dr. Schranz has received recognition for his contributions to understanding the connections between prescription opioids and infectious diseases, as well as his work addressing the rural opioid epidemic's impact on HIV and Hepatitis C transmission.

He collaborates extensively with public health professionals, cardiac surgeons, addiction medicine specialists, epidemiologists, and health behavior researchers to advance care for patients with substance use disorders and infectious complications. His educational background includes an MD from the University of Pennsylvania, residency at New York University/Bellevue Hospital, fellowship at UNC Chapel Hill, and an MPH from UNC's Gillings School of Global Public Health.