Syphilis expert available to discuss new CDC report on maternal syphilis rates in the U.S.

Irene Stafford, MD, associate professor and maternal-fetal medicine physician with UTHealth Houston is availble to discuss the new CDC report on maternal syphlis rates in the US, which have tripled since 2016. 

Dr. Stafford's clinical interests include syphilis trends and testing. She has interviewed with multiple national and local news outlets to discuss the ongoing rise of syphilis in Houston, Texas and across the United States. In 2022, Dr. Stafford received a $3.3M grant to develop a molecular diagnostic test for congenital syphilis. Dr. Stafford is the PI for the multicenter study, which includes Baylor College of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, the University of California, the University of Southern California, and The Ohio State University, will also focus on neurodevelopment testing of babies born with syphilis.

Dr. Stafford also leads a perinatal syphilis program at UT Physicians, the clinical practice of McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, where she has dedicated a clinic day for patients with syphilis.