Dr. Rhonda Fleming specializes in the treatment of infectious diseases, caring for patients with a broad spectrum of conditions and diseases, from chronic infections like HIV or hepatitis C to acute viral infections, acupuncture, post-operative infections or cellulitis.
“So it’s very broad, as opposed to the other disciplines…the human body could be infected in any system—the skin, the hair, the center nervous system, the gastrointestinal tract, the cardiovascular system, the musculoskeletal [system]—so that’s why our specialty is very broad and complex,” Fleming said.
Fleming said that since patients may not be as familiar with the wide variety of infections that can occur in the body, she tries to help them understand their condition and explain how she is going to treat the condition.
“And luckily, I have a very good interaction with my patients, so little by little [I] break the ice…I sometimes spend time [with them] and I will draw, or I will explain. I will bring literature, so they really understand….I get pictures of whatever organ is affected and tell them exactly what is going on, but in very colloquial terms,” Fleming said.
She explained that since infectious diseases are very dynamic, the evolution of new emerging infections goes fast, and requires new treatment modalities, new diagnostic methods or techniques, and physicians and hospital staff have to keep up with the latest developments.
“So it’s not something that remains [static], it is very fast…I will say it is exciting, but sometimes I get overwhelmed, because you need to keep up with these changes,” she said.
Fleming said that she always knew she wanted to work in the medical field and can not imagine doing anything else as a career.
“I always wanted to be in the medical arena since I was a kid. I always wanted to treat my dolls, my animals, and I always was attracted to science and biology, and so I always knew that I wanted to go into medicine,” Fleming said. “I don’t know that I could do something different than being a doctor.”
Stay updated with the latest UMC news! Download our new UMC Cares app, available for both Android and Apple devices.
