Dr. Christian Gerald Schrock

Photography by John Wagner and Steve Henke

Christian Gerald Schrock, MD

Infectious Diseases

Christian Gerald Schrock

Infectious Diseases Minneapolis, Ltd.
Medical School: University of Iowa
Residency and Fellowship: Tufts University
Family: Wife, three children, one grandchild
Home: Cottagewood
Hobbies: Skiing, wakeboarding, reading, being on Lake Minnetonka.

What specifically do you do with infectious diseases?
Infectious disease refers to diseases that are contagious and are able to be spread. It’s a very broad area. When people are in the hospital, they can have an infection occur and an infectious disease consultant is called in to help. In the clinic setting, we see the hospital outpatients or if a physician cannot figure out a certain infection they send their patient over.

What are some challenges for an infectious disease consultant?
Right now, there are three major areas. MRSA [methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus] is a disorder that requires knowledge of certain antibiotics. Second is persistent bacteria and a patient’s resistance to antibiotics. Third is when an infection becomes critical or life threatening. Also, bacteria and viruses will always be smarter than you. They’re always changing.

What are some changes?
Hardly any antibiotics used in my training are still used. Infectious diseases are always changing, so you have to be academic about it. I like that. And there are literally dozens of new infections every year, often spread from animal to human, that are seen in small pockets.

How has AIDS/HIV changed your field?
The HIV epidemic is really the worst epidemic the human race has ever been up against as far as the number of people involved. It is going to be a big struggle.

Do you cure people?
Fortunately, more often than not there is a cure. If you make the right diagnosis, you can give the right medicines and cure patients.