2024 Diabetes Day Symposium Recap (Links to an external site)

2024 Diabetes Day Symposium

In honor of World Diabetes Day, the Diabetes Research Center of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research sponsored the 2024 Diabetes Day Symposium. The event took place on Thursday, November 7 at the Washington University School of Medicine’s Eric P. Newman Education Center, with programming aimed at bringing together scientists and trainees to showcase their work, […]

Multiple Hospitalists Contribute to Insightful Article about Substance Use Disorder (Links to an external site)

Dennis Chang, MD, Anthony Dao, MD, Carol Faulk, MD, and Kieran Patel, MD

The Society of Hospital Medicine has a monthly publication entitled, ‘The Hospitalist’ in which they share helpful information about a variety of topics that are relevant to hospital medicine. The October 2024 issue featured an article about substance use disorder in physicians written by Dennis Chang, MD, Tony Dao, MD, Carol Faulk, MD, and Kieran […]

Message from the Vice Chairs of Safety, Quality, and Operations

Thomas Ciesielski, MD and Maya Jerath, MD, PhD

Please help spread the word that the DOM E-consult pilot is live in Epic for the Division of Allergy/Immunology E-consult is a provider-to-provider consulting service and can be a way to get a quick response to your Allergy/Immunology question. It is similar to a “curbside” consultation. Order it by entering an order to “Econsult Allergy” in […]

First Annual Hospital Medicine Awards Ceremony is a Success (Links to an external site)

First Annual Hospital Medicine Awards Ceremony

Division Chief Mark Williams, MD, along with the Social and Wellness Committee, spearheaded the inaugural Division of Hospital Medicine Awards Ceremony as an opportunity to recognize the hard work and efforts of our providers and staff. They worked together to create 12 award categories and sent out surveys for the division to nominate their colleagues and […]

DOLF Leadership Visits Clinical Trial Sites in Liberia and Ivory Coast (Links to an external site)

DOLF PI Dr. Peter Fischer (3rd from left), associate director Laura Peer (center) and trial project manager, Cooper Sannah (right) met with NPHIL Director General Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan (4th from left) and his leadership team

The DOLF Project PI, Dr. Peter Fischer, and associate director Laura Peer traveled to Liberia in October for a mid-trial visit the site of DOLF’s clinical trial of treatment for the neglected tropical disease (NTD) onchocerciasis (also known as “river blindness”). The clinical trial is located at Bong Mines Hospital about 70 miles from the […]

Call for Applications: 2025 PCEN Summer Research Scholars Program (Links to an external site)

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Deadline to apply is February 21, 2025. The Washington University Pediatric Center of Excellence in Nephrology is currently accepting applications for the 2025 Summer Research Scholar Program. This program aims to inspire future leaders in pediatric kidney disease research by engaging students in meaningful research and clinical experiences in kidney development, biology, cutting-edge technologies, preclinical […]

Physician Leadership Development Program

WashU Medicine secured $683 million in research funding from the NIH in 2024, a record high for the school and an affirmation of its leadership in shaping the future of medicine.

Fundamentals of Performance Improvement and Change Management Summary The Physician Leadership Development Program will equip physicians in the Department of Medicine with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in leadership roles. The program is tailored to address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by leaders in medicine in today’s healthcare system. This course offering […]

Andreas Herrlich on Editorial Board of New Comprehensive Physiology Journal (Links to an external site)

Andreas Herrlich, MD, PhD

Andreas Herrlich, MD, PhD, Director of Translational Medicine at WashU Nephrology, has been recruited for the editorial board of the new journal, Comprehensive Physiology, a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by John Wiley & Sons on behalf of the American Physiological Society that will focus on interorgan communication.

Innovation by collaboration (Links to an external site)

Milan G. Chheda, MD, and colleagues at the Siteman Brain Tumor Center use their unique clinical expertise to target radiation therapy for glioblastoma. Siteman is the only cancer center offering this high level of treatment in the region.

The brightest minds solving brain cancer’s toughest challenges. Brain tumors are among the most challenging cancers to effectively treat. Depending on the tumor’s location, surgery can interfere with cognitive function, movement or language, and surgery often is not the solution because the tumor cells are invasive and intertwined with normal brain cells. Additionally, the brain’s […]

WashU Medicine reaches all-time high in NIH funding (Links to an external site)

WashU Medicine secured $683 million in research funding from the NIH in 2024, a record high for the school and an affirmation of its leadership in shaping the future of medicine.

NIH grants recognize the quality and significance of WashU Medicine research in enabling life-changing advances in medicine In a testament to the quality and national competitiveness of biomedical research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the school secured $683 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in federal […]

Baggstrom presented a poster at the annual AAMC Learn Serve Lead GWIMS

In November 2024, Dr. Maria Baggstrom, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Oncology, presented a poster at the annual Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Learn Serve Lead Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS) Poster Session that she co-authored with Dr. Rakhee Bhayani, Vice Chair of Advancing Women’s Careers and Professor of […]

WashU research funding exceeds $1 billion for first time (Links to an external site)

David DeNardo Lab

For the first time, annual research funding to Washington University in St. Louis has surpassed $1 billion. External funding supports WashU investigators tackling big challenges from Alzheimer’s disease to air pollution to childhood depression. Research funding also ripples across the economy, sparking job growth, new construction and local spending, said Chancellor Andrew D. Martin.

WashU Medicine Division of Pulmonary and Infectious Diseases Selected as Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center

Shail Mehta, MD

Bronchiectasis and NTM 360, a division of the COPD Foundation, has accepted WashU Medicine – Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, into its Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center Network (CCN), recognizing the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Division’s dedication to providing high-quality medical care, resources and education for those with bronchiectasis and nontuberculous mycobacterial […]

Dr. Vishwanath Jha joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Vishwanath Jha joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Hematology as an instructor in December 2024. He is an accomplished postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Jaehyung Cho’s laboratory at Washington University School of Medicine, specializing in hematology, focusing on thrombosis and platelet activation. His innovative research has led to a groundbreaking discovery: intracellular ERO1α […]

Message from the Vice Chair of Clinical Research

Nancy K. Sweitzer, MD, PhD

The office of the Vice-Chair for Clinical Research was created to facilitate increased activity and leadership in the Department of Medicine (DOM) in the world of clinical trials and investigator-initiated patient centered research. Clinical research is a rewarding adjunctive activity for faculty focused on delivery of clinical care, allowing our patient population access to new […]

New drug tested to reduce side effect of ‘half-matched’ stem cell transplants (Links to an external site)

Stem cell transplantation, using devices like the one shown here, is used to treat several types of blood cancers, but carries the risk of a life-threatening side effect called graft-versus-host disease. Results from a clinical trial conducted by researchers at WashU Medicine showed adding the investigational drug itacitinib to standard care for "half-matched" stem cell transplantation may reduce rates of the disease, in which the donor’s stem cells attack the patient’s healthy tissues.

Clinical trial indicates safety, fewer cases of life-threatening graft-versus-host disease than expected Adding a new drug to standard care for stem cell transplant recipients may reduce a life-threatening side effect, according to an early-stage clinical trial conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The trial showed that patients being treated for various […]

World leaders in ending blood cancer (Links to an external site)

A device transforms a patient’s white blood cells into a CAR T-cell therapy in several days in the Siteman Cancer Center Biologic Therapy Core Facility. This supports translational medicine efforts — from bench to bedside — in the fields of cellular therapy and gene therapy for treating blood cancers.

The Siteman Blood Cancer Center delivers tomorrow’s treatments today. The Siteman Blood Cancer Center, recognized internationally as a leader in innovative care, draws patients from across the U.S. and overseas. The center brings together the multidisciplinary expertise of WashU Medicine physicians who have a singular focus on treating blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic […]

Department of Medicine 2025 Fellowship Matches

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The Department of Medicine is proud to announce that we have 69 matched fellows. Please view the list below for more information about each. Fellowships Allergy & Immunology Fellowship Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Fellowship Gastroenterology Fellowship Cardiology Fellowship Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship […]

Dr. Dmitri Kotov joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Dmitri Kotov joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Assistant Professor in December 2024.  He earned his PhD in the lab of Dr. Marc Jenkins at the University of Minnesota, where he studied how T cell receptor signaling impacts CD4+ T cell fate commitment. Pivoting from researching fundamental […]

Congratulations to Colonel James G. “Doc” Avery on His Promotion! (Links to an external site)

James G. Avery, MD

We are delighted to celebrate Dr. James G. “Doc” Avery’s well-earned promotion to Colonel in the United States Air Force. As the Chief of Aerospace Medicine at the 126th Medical Group, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Colonel Avery oversees the health and medical readiness of the unit’s personnel and leads key aerospace medicine initiatives.

Leadership Announcement – Director of CTSA TWD and CRTC (Links to an external site)

Sweitzer

Nancy Sweitzer, MD, PhD, Named as Director of Clinical and Translational Science Award Translational Workforce Development (CTSA TWD) and Clinical Research Training Center (CRTC) at WashU Medicine. As Director of the Clinical Research Training Center, Dr. Sweitzer will oversee the training and education core of WashU’s CTSA. 

Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week

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Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week takes place from December 1-7 each year, spotlighting the nearly 3 million Americans living with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These chronic, lifelong conditions cause inflammation in the digestive tract, leading to symptoms that can significantly impact quality of life, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, […]

Las Posadas (Links to an external site)

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Las Posadas is a traditional Mexican celebration that takes place from December 16th to December 24th, marking the nine days before Christmas. This event holds significant cultural and religious importance in Mexico and other Latin American countries, as well as among Latino communities in the United States.

Happy Hanukkah (Links to an external site)

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Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival. The central theme of Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century B.C. and the miracle of the oil. Hanukkah holds great cultural and religious significance for Jewish communities around the world, and the celebration of this festival is a time for reflection, […]

Happy Kwanzaa (Links to an external site)

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Kwanzaa is a secular festival observed from December 26th through January 1st as part of a celebration of African American cultural heritage and traditional values. The word Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase, “matunda ya kwanza” or first fruits, referring to First fruits or Harvest festivals that are found throughout Africa. Kwanzaa was created in […]

Merry Christmas

Christmas scene with trees, snow, candy canes, and reindeer - Merry Christmas

December 25th is celebrated as both a religious holiday and a global cultural and commercial event. People around the world celebrate this holiday through a variety of religious and secular traditions. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their […]

Discovery of Culprit Behind Scars in Heart Failure Points to Possible Treatment Target (Links to an external site)

Kory Lavine, MD, PhD

More than 6 million adults in the U.S. have heart failure, a condition that develops when the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the demands of the body. While lifestyle changes and treatment can slow heart failure, there’s no cure. One reason is that heart failure and other heart conditions including heart attacks lead heart […]

Vaccine Shows Promise Against Aggressive Breast Cancer (Links to an external site)

A small clinical trial conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis shows promising results for patients.

A small clinical trial shows promising results for patients with triple-negative breast cancer who received an investigational vaccine designed to prevent recurrence of tumors. Conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis with a therapy designed by Washington University researchers, the trial is the first to report results for this type of vaccine — known […]

Leadership Announcement – Senior Director of Business Operations

Jim Robison

I am pleased to announce that Jim Robison has joined the Department of Medicine as Senior Director of Business Operations. He has taken over the role Mark Womer previously held and will supervise the finances of the department; approximately $1 billion in revenue and expenses, which include patient services, endowments, grants, clinical trials, and over 780 […]

2024 Academy of Educators Annual Education Day

Department of Medicine Faculty Honored Sponsored by the Academy of Educators, the annual Education Day was held on Tuesday, October 15th, 2024, to celebrate educational excellence across the School of Medicine. This year’s theme was The Future of Healthcare Education. The event featured a variety of educational workshops and roundtables, a keynote address from Adam Rodman, […]

Dr. Nongnooch Poowanawittayakom joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Nongnooch Poowanawittayakom joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Assistant Professor in November 2024.  After she earned her medical degree from one of the most prestigious institutions in Thailand, Mahidol University, Siriraj Hospital, she came to the United States to continue her training in Internal Medicine and Infectious […]

Polypill proposed to change the heart failure treatment paradigm

image of pills

A polypill is suggested containing all 4 classes of guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure Justin Chen, MD, First Year Cardiology Fellow, First Author along with Anubha Agarwal, MD, MSc, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Co-Director, Program in Global Cardiovascular Health, WashU Medicine Cardiovascular Division, Senior Author, have published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. The […]

Leadership Announcement – Interventional Cardiology

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I am pleased to announce that Dr. Marc Sintek, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Interventional Cardiology Fellowship, has been appointed as the next Director of the BJH Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. Dr. Sintek has served as Associate Director of the Cath Lab since 2023 and will take the reins from Dr. Jas Singh, […]

Dr. Claudia Villatoro Santos joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Claudia Villatoro Santos joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Lipid Research as an Instructor in October 2024. She earned her medical degree from Francisco Marroquin University School of Medicine in Guatemala City, Guatemala in 2014. She then earned a postgraduate Master of Science (“MSc”) in Epidemiology at the University of […]

Complexity of tumors revealed in 3D (Links to an external site)

3d breast tumor image

A new analysis led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has revealed detailed 3D maps of the internal structures of multiple tumor types. These cancer atlases reveal how different tumor cells — and the cells of a tumor’s surrounding environment — are organized, in 3D, and how that organization changes […]

Dr. Ishmael Aziati joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Ishmael Aziati joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Instructor in November 2024. He has been involved in collaborative research for the past decade studying emerging and reemerging infectious viral diseases. After graduating with a BSc. (Hons) in Biochemistry in 2010 from the University of Ghana. He joined the WHO […]

Optimized Approach for Interfolio Training and Communication (Links to an external site)

WashU Shield

The Interfolio Project Team has learned from your feedback and recalibrated its approach to help you complete your annual review, appointment, promotion, and tenure process in the Review, Promotion, and Tenure (RPT) module in Interfolio. The WUIT team is busy creating short, simplified training materials and improved communication to help you quickly complete your RPT […]

August 2024 Kudos and Awards

Kudos and Awards graphic

Thank you, residents and interns, for all you do for one another and for your patients. Though often under-appreciated, your work does not go unnoticed.  Help us highlight the kindness, clinical judgement, resourcefulness, and work ethic.​​​​​​​Nominate a resident/intern for Housestaff of the month or just share something good. Inpatient Intern of the MonthDr. Karoliina Yang Dr. Yang’s […]

New Midwest Developmental Center for AIDS Research launches with focus on Implementation Science (Links to an external site)

launch of the Midwest D-CFAR

The Center for Dissemination and Implementation announces the launch of a new Midwest Developmental Center for AIDS Research (D-CFAR) in Missouri, which brings together researchers from across the translational spectrum to address the HIV epidemic. This D-CFAR is part of a national network of 20 NIH-funded centers, and it is the first of its kind […]

AAMC Mid-Career Women Faculty Development Seminar

(L-R) Drs. Gewin, Java, Quader

We’re proud to announce that three distinguished faculty members in the Department of Medicine have been selected to receive funding to attend the prestigious AAMC Mid-Career Women Faculty Leadership Development Seminar in December 2024: This highly competitive program is designed to foster leadership development among women in academic medicine and to support their continued progression […]