Professional Titles and Roles
Dr. Cheston B. Cunha serves as the Medical Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at both Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital, which are key components of the Lifespan health system. He has been in this leadership position since July 2014, marking over 11 years of continuous tenure. Concurrently, Dr. Cunha holds the academic rank of Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
Dr. Cunha is also the Program Director for the Infectious Disease Fellowship at Brown University and acts as the Co-Course Leader for the Medical Student Infectious Disease Course. These educational responsibilities underscore his active role in teaching and clinical training within the academic medical community aligned with Lifespan.
Expertise and Clinical Focus
Dr. Cunha’s clinical expertise concentrates extensively on infectious diseases, with a particular focus on antimicrobial therapy and stewardship. His role as Medical Director involves oversight, development, and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship strategies aimed at optimizing antibiotic use, improving patient outcomes, and reducing antimicrobial resistance within the Lifespan network.
His research and professional interests include:
- General infectious diseases
- Antimicrobial therapy optimization
- Antimicrobial stewardship principles and practices
- Impact of rapid diagnostic tools on stewardship effectiveness
Academic and Research Contributions
Dr. Cunha is a prolific contributor to medical literature, with over 50 peer-reviewed articles and more than 75 book chapters. He has authored or co-edited 7 specialized medical texts focusing on infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship, including notable works such as Antibiotic Essentials and Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Stewardship in Critical Care Medicine (4th Edition).
His editorial roles and authorship highlight his recognized expertise within the professional and academic infectious disease community. Dr. Cunha is acknowledged as a Master of the American College of Physicians, a distinction highlighting his lifetime achievement as a clinician and educator.
Education and Credentials
- Medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine
- Completed internal medicine residency and served as Chief Resident at Drexel
- Fellowship training in infectious diseases
- Board certifications and fellowship status in Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine
- Holds professional fellowships including FACP (Fellow of the American College of Physicians) and FIDSA (Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America)
Awards and Recognitions
- Recipient of the Raymon Riley Teaching Award from Lifespan CVI in 2015
- Awarded the Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 2020 at Brown University
- Recognized nationally for contributions to infectious disease education and stewardship practice
Institutional Context – Lifespan Health System
Lifespan is Rhode Island's premier academic health system integrating multiple hospitals and healthcare entities including Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital. Lifespan is closely affiliated with Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School, fostering an environment that merges patient care, education, and research.
The antimicrobial stewardship program led by Dr. Cunha is a critical component at Lifespan, aimed at ensuring appropriate antibiotic utilization amidst a complex healthcare network serving the Rhode Island region. The stewardship program supports clinical decision-making and policy development to enhance care quality and patient safety in infectious disease management.
This profile presents Dr. Cunha as a highly experienced and well-published infectious disease leader deeply integrated within Lifespan’s clinical and academic missions, emphasizing antimicrobial stewardship as a core strategic focus. His extensive teaching and research activities, combined with recognized leadership within the Lifespan network, make him a pivotal figure in infectious disease management at Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital.
