He also holds an appointment in the Emergency Department Service at the Durham VA Health Care System. He earned his M.D. and Ph.D. from Columbia University followed by residency and fellowship training at Duke University. He also obtained a Masters in Health Services with a focus on Clinical Research. Through the Duke Center for Applied Genomics & Precision Medicine, Dr. Tsalik leads multiple translational research programs focused on understanding the dynamic between host and pathogen so as to discover and develop host-response markers that can diagnose and predict health and disease. This new and evolving approach to diagnosing illness has the potential to significantly impact individual as well as public health considering the rise of antibiotic resistance.