Tamar F. Barlam

Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Barlam is the Chief of the Section of Infectious Diseases and the Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship for the Boston Medical Center. She has close to 30 years’ experience directing antimicrobial stewardship programs. Her research is focused on understanding factors that influence antimicrobial prescribing, and the implementation and impact of stewardship interventions. She has also led public policy initiatives to reduce inappropriate use of antimicrobials in food animals and served on a national task force to improve antimicrobial use in companion animals. She is the chair of a national committee on antimicrobial stewardship education and implementation.

Publications

  • Published 6/27/2025

    Rudel RK, Powers E, Austad K, Burrowes SAB, Couloute Z, Smith AEC, Prifti C, Freiman JM, Wigmore R, Walkey A, Hicks JM, Barlam TF, Drainoni ML. Using learner verification and transcreation to develop multicultural patient education materials for acute respiratory tract infections to decrease inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. PEC Innov. 2025 Dec; 7:100415. PMID: 40686553.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/20/2025

    Butler JM, Childs E, Barlam T, Drainoni ML, Reardon C, Zhang Y, Damschroder L, Taber P, Madaras-Kelly K, Goetz M, Burrowes S, Stenehjem E, Shen J, Zhang C, Presson A, Samore MH. Assessing hospital antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) implementation: validation of an implementation science-informed survey. Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol. 2025; 5(1):e133. PMID: 40567394.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 7/3/2023

    Nelson AL, Steiner J, Hanley D, Barlam TF, Drainoni ML, Burrowes SAB, Pierre CM. Revitalizing the infection prevention workforce with a fellowship program for underrepresented groups. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2023 Dec; 44(12):2050-2051. PMID: 37395044.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/29/2023

    Tjilos M, Drainoni ML, Burrowes SAB, Butler JM, Damschroder LJ, Bidwell Goetz M, Madaras-Kelly K, Reardon CM, Samore MH, Shen J, Stenehjem EA, Zhang Y, Barlam TF. A qualitative evaluation of frontline clinician perspectives toward antibiotic stewardship programs. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2023 Dec; 44(12):1995-2001. PMID: 36987859.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 9/14/2022

    Barlam TF, Al Mohajer M, Al-Tawfiq JA, Auguste AJ, Cunha CB, Forrest GN, Gross AE, Lee RA, Seo SK, Suh KN, Volk S, Schaffzin JK. SHEA statement on antibiotic stewardship in hospitals during public health emergencies. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2022 Nov; 43(11):1541-1552. PMID: 36102000.

    Read at: PubMed

Other Positions

  • Section Chief, Medicine
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Education

  • University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, MD
  • City College of New York, BS