Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) have been hidden players in our lives for the whole of human history, affecting everything from World Wars to the gay rights movement. But despite their prominence, STIs have been thought of as curious – and often terrifying – taboos for centuries, which begs the question: why do we know so little about them?

Join us for Family and Community Medicine Grand Rounds with Ina Park, MD, MS who will talk about her new book Strange Bedfellows: Adventures in the Science, History, and Surprising Secrets of STDs. She'll share stories of real people’s sexual escapades and historical tales, along with the latest science of STI and HIV prevention, venturing beyond the bedroom to examine the role that STIs have played in our lives and society. Hailed by The New York Times as “joyful and funny” Strange Bedfellows has been praised for its use of “compassion, science and a loving playfulness” to diffuse the stigma surrounding these common infections.

INA PARK MD, MS, is an associate professor at the UCSF School of Medicine in the Departments of Family and Community Medicine and Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Services, Medical Consultant at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of STD Prevention, and Medical Director of the California Prevention Training Center. Recently, Dr. Park served as a co-author of the 2021 CDC STI Treatment Guidelines and contributor to the Department of Health and Human Services first STI National Strategic Plan. In addition to her current book, her writing has also appeared in the New York Times.