Jacob Leon, MD, MPH, will be joining Infectious Disease Specialists of Athens, the practice of Dr. Mark Visitacion, on Aug. 31. At the same time, the practice is relocating to a larger suite in the Research Medical Office Park, 1500 Oglethorpe Ave., Building 300B, Athens.

As an infectious disease specialist, Dr. Leon treats patients and consults with other physicians about diseases such as meningitis, staph infections, Lyme disease, MRSA, sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and other serious illnesses. Services of the practice include treatment of non-healing wounds, infectious disease consultation, infusion therapy, travel medicine and FDA-approved research protocols.

New patients are now being accepted by calling 706.559.4773. Please note that a referral from a primary care physician is required in most cases.

Dr. Leon earned his bachelor's degree in medical anthropology from the University of California-Los Angeles. He went on to earn his master's degree in international public health from Tulane University in New Orleans, with research interests in global health disparities, social determinants of health, and population movements and disease transmission.

After working as an epidemiologist at the Neighborhood Health Care Network in St. Paul, Minn., Dr. Leon entered medical school and received his medical degree from St. George's University of Medicine, Grenada, Wis., completed his internal medicine residency at Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, and Augusta University Medical Center, Augusta, Ga. He then completed his infectious disease fellowship at Augusta University.

His research experience is extensive, including malaria control with the International Center for Medical Research and Training, syphilis and HIV co-infection rates with the Louisiana Department of Public Health, Latino health in California with the UCLA Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture, and diabetes within the Spanish immigrant community, also at UCLA.