Shelli Farhadian, MD, PhD

Shelli Farhadian, MD, PhD, is an infectious diseases specialist who cares for people with a range of infections, including HIV, Lyme disease, and syphilis. She has additional expertise in the management of neurological infections.

As an assistant professor of medicine (infectious diseases) at Yale School of Medicine and an assistant professor of epidemiology of microbial diseases at Yale School of Public Health, Dr. Farhadian studies how infections like HIV and COVID-19 affect the central nervous system. She collaborates with colleagues in neurology, geriatrics, and public health to bring a cross-disciplinary approach to her work.

Dr. Farhadian completed her medical training at Weill Cornell Medical College and a doctorate degree at the Rockefeller University in New York City. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital, followed by a fellowship in infectious diseases at Yale School of Medicine.

“I was drawn to infectious diseases because it combines detective work with deep human connection. Every patient brings a unique story, and solving medical puzzles in this field often requires both scientific curiosity and compassion,” she says. “I see each patient as a partner in their own care, and I’m committed to bringing both empathy and the best available science to every encounter.”