Doctor's Bio
Dr. Russell R. Kempker is a board-certified infectious disease specialist who cares for patients at Grady. He has extensive experience diagnosing, treating, and helping prevent a wide range of infectious diseases, with a special focus on tuberculosis, including drug-resistant forms of the disease.
Dr. Kempker completed his medical degree at the University of Miami and went on to complete his residency and fellowship training in infectious diseases at Emory University. He has been part of the Emory faculty for many years and works closely with Grady’s clinical teams to provide expert, compassionate care.
In addition to caring for patients, Dr. Kempker is active in research aimed at improving treatments for tuberculosis. His work includes studying new TB medications and understanding how genetic changes can lead to drug resistance. He collaborates with partners locally and internationally to advance this important work.
Board Certifications
American Board of Internal Medicine
Affiliations
Emory
Education & Training
- Medical School: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
- Residency: Emory University Hospital
Fellowships
Emory University Hospital
Locations and Directions
Ponce De Leon Center
Phone: (404) 616-2440
Location:
341 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
Publications
- Weight gain during tuberculosis treatment increases the risk of post-tuberculosis metabolic syndrome.
Salindri AD, Avaliani T, Gujabidze M, Goginashvili L, Vashakidze S, Avaliani Z, Auld SC, Collins JM, Andrews JR, Kempker RR, Kornfeld H, Kipiani M, Magee MJ
medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences. 2025;
PMID: 41358284 - Targeting Tryptophan Metabolism for Tuberculosis Biomarkers and Host Directed Therapy.
Collins JM, Tukvadze N, Kempker RR
The Journal of infectious diseases. 2025;
PMID: 41037490 - A metabolic syndrome: Understanding host factors that drive mortality in tuberculosis meningitis.
Collins JM, Kempker RR
Med (New York, N.Y.). 2025;6(9):100705.
PMID: 40945505 - ACTG A5409 (RAD-TB): Study protocol for a phase 2 randomized, adaptive, dose-ranging, open-label trial of novel regimens for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Harrison LJ, Velásquez GE, Kempker RR, Imperial MZ, Nuermberger E, Dorman SE, Ignatius E, Granche J, Phillips PPJ, Furin J, Yang E, Foley C, Chiambah S, Rogers R, Van Grack A, Roa J, Shenje J, Nerette S, Kanyama C, Kyeyune RB, Mendoza-Ticona A, Murtaugh W, Foraida S, Goth M, Vernon A, Dooley KE, Savic RM
Trials. 2025;26(1):291.
PMID: 40817073 - Linking genetic and phenotypic bedaquiline resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from Georgia.
Maghradze N, Loiseau C, Goig GA, Bablishvili N, Jugheli L, Borrell S, Tukvadze N, Kempker RR, Avaliani Z, Gagneux S
PloS one. 2025;20(7):e0326794.
PMID: 40663566 - Lack of weight gain and increased mortality during and after treatment among adults with drug-resistant tuberculosis: a retrospective cohort study in Georgia, 2009-2020.
Chakhaia T, Blumberg HM, Kempker RR, Luo R, Dzidzikashvili N, Chincharauli M, Tukvadze N, Avaliani Z, Stauber C, Magee MJ
ERJ open research. 2025;
PMID: 40551793 - A Plasma Metabolic Signature to Diagnose Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Monitor Treatment Response.
Collins JM, Bobosha K, Narayanan N, Gandhi NR, Day CL, Rengarajan J, Kempker RR, Lau MSY, Nellis M, Tukvadze N, Shah NS, Brust JCM, Nizam A, Ismail NA, Kauffman KD, Sakai S, Jones DP, Barber DL, Ziegler TR, Ernst JD, Blumberg HM, Wassie L,
The Journal of infectious diseases. 2025;232(3):578-587.
PMID: 40338044 - High rates of post-tuberculosis lung disease among persons successfully treated for drug-susceptible and resistant tuberculosis.
Kempker RR, Salindri AD, Avaliani T, Kornfeld H, Auld SC, Jakobia N, Day CL, Subuddhi A, Krish KN, Vashakidze S, Avaliani Z, Goginashvili L, Bryan C, Bernheim A, Kipiani M, Magee MJ
Thorax. 2025;
PMID: 40335270 - ACTG A5409 (RAD-TB): Study Protocol for a Phase 2 Randomized, Adaptive, Dose-Ranging, Open-Label Trial of Novel Regimens for the Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
Harrison L, Velasquez GE, Kempker RR, Imperial MZ, Nuermberger E, Dorman SE, Ignatius E, Granche J, Phillips PP, Furin J, Yang E, Foley C, Chiambah S, Rogers R, Van Grack A, Roa J, Shenje J, Nerette S, Kanyama C, Kyeyune RB, Mendoza-Ticona A, Murtaugh W, Foraida S, Goth M, Vernon A, Dooley KE, Savic RM
Research square. 2025;
PMID: 40195983 - Pharmacometabolomics in TB meningitis-Understanding the pharmacokinetic, metabolic, and immune factors associated with anti-TB drug concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid.
Collins JM, Kipiani M, Jin Y, Sharma AA, Tomalka JA, Avaliani T, Gujabidze M, Bakuradze T, Sabanadze S, Avaliani Z, Blumberg HM, Benkeser D, Jones DP, Peloquin C, Kempker RR
PloS one. 2025;20(3):e0315999.
PMID: 40029856
PLANNING
PREPARING FOR YOUR VISIT
Whether you’re a patient or you’re visiting one, a little planning beforehand can make your visit to Grady easier and more comfortable. Here, you’ll find everything you need to prepare for your visit, including an appointment checklist, admissions information, dining options, and much more.