Brent W. Laartz, M.D.
Dr. Laartz received his undergraduate degree and a master’s degree from Northwestern University where he was a National Merit Scholar. He graduated in the highest quartile of his medical school class at the University of Iowa in 1998. During medical school, he was one of the leaders of an educational group called the Medical Student Ambassador Program. At the University of South Florida, he completed residency in Internal Medicine in 2001 and fellowship in Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine in 2003. Always a leader, he was a member of the Housestaff Committee and was Chief Fellow for the Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine in 2002-2003.
In 2004, Dr. Laartz opened the doors of a private practice in Infectious Diseases, soon to be called West Coast Infectious Diseases. He holds a title of Affiliate Associate Clinical Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at US and also is on the faculty of Nova Southeastern College of Medicine. He also has been active as a member of Ryan White Council, Six Sigma Quality Programs, the Morton Plant Physician Leadership Training and the Northwestern University Alumni Admission Council. He currently is the Director for Infection Control at Florida Hospital North Pinellas and Baycare Alliant Hospital. He has attained the status of Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and is a member of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America as well as the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. He is also active in global health, having served on a mission to India and has provided medical care in the Caribbean. He provides corporate consultations in infection prevention in any industry where customers or employees are at risk of developing infections, such as healthcare, food service, sports teams, or corporations with overseas travel.
Todd M. Groom, Ph.D., M.D.
Dr. Groom was born and raised in central Pennsylvania, the oldest of 3 children. After High School, he spent the next several years in Philadelphia, where he obtained his B.A, M.S., and Ph.D. all from Temple University. During his time at Temple, he worked on several different clinical and basic science research projects funded by NIH, NATO, and other private organizations. He stayed in Philadelphia where he received his medical training at Jefferson Medical College. Dr. Groom then headed south to the University of Miami for his residency in Internal Medicine. He stayed on for his fellowship in Infectious Diseases before moving to the west coast of Florida to begin his Career in private practice. He joined Dr. Laartz in 2005 to start what is now known as West Coast Infectious Diseases. In his spare time, Dr. Groom enjoys traveling, music, and following the local sports teams.
Lily N. Jones, D.O.
Dr. Lily Jones earned her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Arizona State University, where she graduated summa cum laude. She obtained her medical degree from Touro University Nevada. She subsequently completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and fellowship in Infectious Diseases at the University of South Florida. Dr. Jones is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Her interests include complex skin and soft tissue infection, endocarditis, and Mycobacterial infection. Dr. Jones is a member of several professional associations including: the American Osteopathic Association, American College of Physicians, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. She joined West Coast Infectious Diseases in 2014.
Jennifer Patterson, D.O.
Dr. Patterson received a Bachelor of Science from The Pennsylvania State University, and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Mercy Suburban Hospital in Norristown, PA, where she was selected as chief intern and chief resident.
After completing her fellowship in infectious disease at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, N.J., Dr. Patterson practiced infectious disease in Pennsylvania until 2020 when she relocated to the Tampa area. Dr. Patterson has been with West Coast Infectious Disease since her move to Florida.
Mario Torres, M.D.
Dr. Mario A. Torres is a board-certified physician specializing in infectious diseases with a strong focus on complex patient care, including transplant infectious diseases and management of immunocompromised hosts. He earned his medical degree from Fundación Universitaria Sanitas in Bogotá, Colombia, where he developed a strong foundation in clinical medicine. Dr. Torres completed his Internal Medicine residency at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in New York. He then pursued his Infectious Diseases Fellowship at Dartmouth. Following fellowship, he completed advanced training in Transplant Infectious Diseases at Stanford University, focusing on infections in transplant recipients and other immunocompromised populations.
Dr. Torres is committed to evidence-based, compassionate care and is passionate about antimicrobial stewardship. Additionally, he has a strong interest in medical education, mentoring trainees, and advancing clinical knowledge through teaching and research. His clinical interests include transplant-related infections, infections in immunocompromised hosts, antimicrobial stewardship, and improving healthcare delivery through education.
Frank Sanchez, M.D., MBA
Dr. Frank Sanchez earned an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry, and a master’s degree in business administration, both from New Mexico State University. He later attended medical school in Albuquerque, New Mexico and completed residency at New York Medical College associated with Landmark Medical Center. Dr. Sanchez completed his fellowship in Infectious Diseases at the University of Massachusetts where he received specialized training in the various subspecialties of Infectious Diseases including transplant Infectious Diseases, tropical medicine, infection control/prevention, and antimicrobial stewardship. During the completion of his fellowship, he also managed his own cohort of patients at the UMASS associated, Getchell Tuberculosis clinic, and the Ryan White HIV clinic.
Dr. Sanchez has given a number of lectures to residents and faculty throughout his career in Infectious Diseases and enjoys teaching. He is an active contributor to Ferris’s Clinical Advisor where he has written articles for COVID-19, Mpox, Prostate abscess, and pouchitis.
Interests include antimicrobial stewardship, infection control/prevention, multi-system and complex care, medical education, and patient advocacy. He looks forward to caring for you and your family!