Ronaldo B. Supena, MD: Infectious Disease Specialist and Clinic Director for HIV Care in Detroit

For more than five decades, Ronaldo B. Supena, MD, has built a distinguished medical career around the treatment of infectious diseases and the care of patients facing some of the most complex challenges in modern medicine. His work has encompassed HIV, sexually transmitted infections, COVID-19 and other infectious conditions, combining clinical expertise with a longstanding commitment to underserved communities.

As clinic director for HIV infections at Detroit Community Health Connection Inc., Dr. Supena oversees specialized care for patients living with HIV and related illnesses. Since joining the organization in 2008, he has managed a substantial patient population while helping individuals achieve improved health outcomes through consistent treatment, education and long-term disease management.

The emergence of COVID-19 broadened the scope of his work considerably. As patients sought guidance from experienced infectious disease specialists, Dr. Supena drew upon decades of clinical knowledge to address the medical uncertainties created by the pandemic while continuing to provide essential care to individuals with HIV and other chronic infections.

His professional affiliations have included admitting privileges at Detroit Medical Center, Harper University Hospital, the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center and Detroit Receiving Hospital. These appointments have allowed him to serve patients across multiple health care environments while collaborating with physicians and clinical teams throughout the Detroit metropolitan area.

Education has also played an important role in Dr. Supena’s career. He served for 15 years as a faculty member at the University of Michigan Medical School and later contributed to the academic community at Wayne State University School of Medicine. Through these positions, he helped educate medical students and developing physicians while sharing the practical knowledge gained through years of treating infectious diseases.

Dr. Supena earned his medical degree from the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in Manila, Philippines, in 1965. After relocating to the United States, he completed his internship, residency and fellowship in infectious diseases at Westland Medical Center in Michigan, formerly known as Wayne County General Hospital, a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Michigan Medical School. He subsequently earned board certification in internal medicine from the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Throughout his career, Dr. Supena has remained committed to continuing education and advances in medical science. As a member of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, he follows emerging research, evolving treatment protocols and new developments affecting the diagnosis and management of infectious conditions.

His dedication to lifelong learning extends beyond the clinical setting. An avid reader of medical literature, Dr. Supena regularly consults leading publications, including The New England Journal of Medicine, Clinical Infectious Diseases, Annals of Internal Medicine and The Lancet HIV. This commitment has helped him remain informed in a field defined by rapid scientific progress and continually changing public-health challenges.

Dr. Supena credits Robert F. Fekety, MD, as an important influence on his professional journey and has dedicated recognition of his accomplishments to him. His career reflects the qualities that have defined effective infectious disease medicine for generations: scientific rigor, adaptability, compassion and an enduring commitment to patient care.

Through more than half a century of clinical practice, teaching and community service, Dr. Supena has established a legacy centered on improving lives. His work stands as a testament to the impact one physician can make by pairing specialized medical knowledge with sustained dedication to the people and communities he serves.