Episode 90 - Strange Bedfellows – Stigma and Sexually Transmitted Diseases - Dr Ina Park (October 20, 2026)

In episode 90 of Going anti-Viral, Dr Ina Park joins host Dr Michael Saag to discuss stigma and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and her book Strange Bedfellows: Adventures in the Science, History, and Surprising Secrets of STDs. Dr Park is a Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and the Principal Investigator at the California Prevention Training Center and a Medical Consultant for the Division of STD Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr Park is co-author of the 2021 CDC STD Treatment Guidelines. Dr Saag and Dr Park discuss her book, the history and stigma surrounding STDs, and innovative approaches to prevention and treatment, including doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxyPEP) and the importance of reducing stigma through open conversations. They also address the importance of early sex education and advocacy for condom use.