Joshua Rhein, MD

Dr. Rhein has a broad background in global health and infectious diseases, with specific focus on fungal infections and central nervous system infections in resource-limited areas. His primary expertise is on cryptococcal meningitis and other AIDS-related opportunistic infections, as well as HIV immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). His current research is focused on improving the clinical outcomes of HIV-infected persons with cryptococcal meningitis, a globally neglected disease which is the second most common AIDS-defining opportunistic infection in Sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Rhein has been an investigator on several large, guideline-informing clinical trials on HIV-associated meningitis. Current primary investigations are centered on determining the long-term effects of antiretroviral therapy on outcomes in cryptococcal meningitis. Dr. Rhein currently splits his time between the University of Minnesota and the Infectious Disease Institute in Kampala, Uganda. He has been actively engaged in research in Uganda since 2005 as a medical student. Providing on-the-ground leadership for both the study team and international trainees, Dr. Rhein enjoys and has a demonstrated commitment to mentoring Ugandan and American medical students, residents, and infectious disease fellows. As the Director of Training and Research for the University of Minnesota Health Sciences Uganda Hub since 2017, Dr. Rhein provides direct supervision and mentorship for UMN-affiliated trainees in Uganda. Dr. Rhein also serves as co-director of the new East African Clinical Tropical Medicine Course, a joint effort between the University of Minnesota, the Infectious Diseases Institute, and Makerere University