Naomi Aronson

Naomi Aronson is Professor of Medicine and Director of the Infectious Diseases Division at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). She also serves as Director of the Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program (IDCRP), demonstrating significant leadership in military medical research.

Dr. Aronson's educational background includes:

• Natural Science Bachelor's degree from University of Pennsylvania (1973-1977)
• Medicine degree from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (1977-1981)
• Internal Medicine Residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (1981-1984)
• Infectious Diseases Fellowship (1985-1988)

An expert in infectious diseases, Dr. Aronson specializes in neglected tropical diseases, particularly leishmaniasis, and tuberculosis. Her laboratory conducts translational research to understand leishmaniasis risk and improve treatments for deployed US military personnel. She studies host immune responses to Leishmania infection in both mice and humans. Her group also conducts clinical trials, including a 2000-person randomized controlled trial of BCG vaccine to prevent respiratory infections in high-risk travelers, partnering with global health programs across the United States.

Her recent publications reveal a strong research focus on vaccine development (particularly BCG), leishmaniasis treatment mechanisms, HIV reservoir analysis, and immune responses to vector-borne diseases. This work bridges military medicine, tropical diseases, and vaccine research with significant implications for deployed personnel.

Dr. Aronson has held numerous leadership positions throughout her career:

• Chief, ID Clinical Research at Walter Reed Army and National Naval Medical Centers (1997-2000)
• Chief, Infectious Diseases Clinic at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (1991-1997)
• Chief, Infectious Diseases Service at William Beaumont Army Medical Center (1988-1991)
• Chief, Medicine at 121st Evacuation Hospital (1984-1985)

Her research fingerprint shows exceptional expertise in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (100%), Leishmaniasis (89%), Military Personnel (71%), Antimony Sodium Gluconate (64%), Iraq (54%), HIV-1 (49%), Visceral Leishmaniasis (46%), and Leishmania (43%).

Dr. Aronson maintains an active research program with 95 documented research outputs and an h-index of 30 with 3938 citations, reflecting substantial impact in the field of infectious diseases.