New Physician Brings Additional Infectious Disease Expertise to Community

Our Newest Provider: Dr. Villanueva

“I find my work with infectious diseases fascinating because it allows me to deal with the entire human body, not just one specific organ system,” says Benedict Villanueva, MD. A board-certified infectious disease specialist, in January he joined the Washington Township Medical Foundation (WTMF) Internal Medicine & Infectious Disease Program and the Washington Hospital medical staff. The clinic is located at 2557 Mowry Ave., across the street from the Hospital.

Dr. Villanueva earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology as well as his medical degree at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, in his native Philippines. He then moved to the United States, where he discovered a passion for pursuing a career in infectious diseases when he was enrolled in his internal medicine internship and residency programs at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey at Hackensack University Medical Center.

“The physicians supervising my residency were both infectious disease specialists, and they inspired me,” he explains. “I also enjoyed learning more about microbiology while I was there – all the various types of organisms that can cause infections, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.”

After his residency in New Jersey, Dr. Villanueva decided to pursue a fellowship in infectious diseases at hospitals associated with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) – the VA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “The infectious disease doctor at the UCLA program was well known in that field of medicine and also very good,” he notes. “He furthered my fascination with the numerous types of infections and their effects on the body’s various systems.”

During his fellowship years, Dr. Villanueva also worked as an urgent care physician for Kaiser Permanente’s Southern California Division in Los Angeles and as an independent medical examiner in Kern County, California. He later served as an associate professor at University of Nevada Hospitals in Las Vegas.

Along the way, Dr. Villanueva met his wife, who happened to be a native of Fremont. “We met through our sisters, who are longtime friends,” he recalls. “This year we will celebrate our 25^th wedding anniversary. In fact, we got married at Mission San Jose Church right here in Fremont.”

The couple’s family ties were one reason they decided to migrate to northern California. Dr. Villanueva worked for many years as a consultant for the Infectious Disease Medical Group at the San Ramon Region Medical Center, serving several years concurrently as the center’s Medical Director of the Antibiotic Stewardship Program.

In addition to his duties in San Ramon, Dr. Villanueva served concurrently for several years as the Medical Director of the Infection Control Committee Department of the Sutter Solano Medical Center in Vallejo. In 2021, he took on new duties as the Infection Control Physician for the UC Davis Student Health and Counseling Services Clinic.

“When I heard about the opportunities for practicing infectious disease medicine at Washington Hospital and WTMF in Fremont, I was excited about possibly moving to my wife’s hometown,” he recalls. “We wanted to stay in California, and I wanted to be part of a stable, well-respected organization. We also wanted to be close to our two sons’ schools. The older son is completing graduate courses that will enable him to apply to medical schools. Our younger son is a senior at De La Salle High School in Concord.”

Dr. Villanueva notes that patients at the WTMF clinic can be affected by a variety of conditions, including infections caused by unusual bacterial pathogens, joint infections and diabetic infections that require intravenous antibiotics. He also sees patients with bloodstream and urinary tract infections.

For patients in Washington Hospital, he handles serious infection referrals from the Emergency Department and Critical Care. Even a simple flu can develop serious complications that require an infectious disease specialist. In some cases, he sees patients with sepsis, an overwhelming and sometimes life-threatening infection that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death.

As for pursuits outside of work, Dr. Villanueva says he and his wife both enjoy traveling. “Now that we might be facing an ‘empty nest,’ there may be more travels on our agenda,” he admits.

To learn more about Dr. Villanueva, visit: https://www.mywtmf.com/find-a-doctor/benedict-villanueva-md/ 

To learn about our Infectious Disease specialty, visit: https://www.mywtmf.com/services/infectious-disease/