CDC’s 2023 STI Report is in, and for the first time in years, there’s good news. Tune in to our latest episode with Dr. Ina Park, a nationally recognized expert on STIs, to learn why she is cautiously optimistic about the new data trends in chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Dr. Park expertly navigates the report with our host, Tammy Kremer, explaining how the previous surge in STIs has begun to slow, while prevalence continues to be high in certain “STI microclimates.” Dr. Park stresses the importance of maintaining momentum through increased testing, focused prevention efforts for disproportionately impacted communities, and reducing stigma around STIs. Listen in to discover how disease intervention specialists are battling syphilis on Native American reservations with plenty of penicillin, a trusty car, and heroic determination. Overall, Dr. Park envisions a world where discussing infections is as routine and stigma-free as talking about the common cold.  

Resources: 

• Connect with Dr. Ina Park on her website, LinkedIn, and Instagram 

• CDC 2023 Sexually Transmitted Infections Report 

• Strange Bedfellows: Adventures in the Science, History, and Surprising Secrets of STDs 

• CAPTC Disease Intervention Trainings 

• CAPTC STI Clinical Training 

Previous Episodes with Dr. Ina Park:

• S4 E7 Dan Savage on the Magic Question “What are you into?” & Dr. Ina Park on How Providers Can Help 

• S3 E7: Breaking Down STI Stigma with Dr. Ina Park & Courtney Brame  

• S3 E3: Monkeypox, What’s The Hype? with Dr. Ina Park 

• S1 E6: Fighting STIgma With Humor & Honesty with Dr. Ina Park 

Brief Bio:

• Ina Park MD, MS, is the author of Strange Bedfellows: Adventures in the Science, History, and Surprising Secrets of STDs. She is the Principal Investigator at the California Prevention Training Center. Ina is a Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine and a Medical Consultant in the Division of STD Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She is a co-author of the 2021 CDC STD Treatment Guidelines, the country’s premier resource for diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.   

Check out the transcript of the episode.

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