USA Health adds Peter Oakes, M.D., to infectious disease division
His research focuses on antimicrobial stewardship, particularly optimizing perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis.
By Michelle Ryan-Day
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Peter Oakes, M.D., began his journey into medicine at the University of South Alabama’s Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine. Now, after years of additional training and research, he is returning to USA Health to care for patients as a fellowship-trained infectious disease physician.
“I always felt that infectious disease was the most interesting part of medicine, and it is one of the few fields in medicine in which patients can be cured not just managed,” he said. “It has an incredible amount of variety and is frequently intellectually challenging.
“People often describe infectious disease as a puzzle due to the many pieces of information to put together in order to make a diagnosis.”
Oakes, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, earned a bachelor’s degree in French and history from Vanderbilt University before attending the Whiddon College of Medicine. He completed an internship in general surgery at USA Health before completing an internal medicine residency at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans and an infectious disease fellowship at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
His research has focused on antimicrobial stewardship, particularly optimizing perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. During his fellowship, he conducted research under the mentorship of Amy Mathers, M.D., associate director of clinical microbiology at the University of Virginia and a long-standing leader in antimicrobial stewardship.
He also completed the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Antibiotic Stewardship Training Course and presented research on the importance of infusion duration in preoperative antimicrobial prophylaxis at the society’s annual meeting.
Oakes said his decision to pursue academic medicine was influenced by his parents, who both worked in academic medicine before retiring.
“They emphasized to me that working in a hospital system that treats all patients is highly rewarding,” he said. “Additionally, teaching future generations of doctors is highly fulfilling.”
In addition to his medical training and research, Oakes is fluent in French and received a “Très Bien” on the Diplôme de Français Professionnel (Médical B2).
He has authored or co-authored numerous publications in anatomy, neuroscience, surgery and other areas of medicine throughout his academic career.
In his dual role as a physician and assistant professor of internal medicine at the Whiddon College of Medicine, Oakes will provide infectious disease care while contributing to the academic mission of the health system through teaching and research.
Oakes is accepting new patients at the Mastin Internal Medicine Clinic located at 2451 University Hospital Drive, Suite 102 in Mobile. To schedule an appointment, call 251-470-5890.
