National Academy of Sciences: Call for Nominations

The National Academy of Sciences is seeking nominations for its 2027 awards recognizing exceptional scientific achievement. Awards span a wide range of disciplines and career stages, honoring researchers whose discoveries have advanced scientific understanding and benefited society.

Dr. Scott Fabricant joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Scott Fabricant joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Assistant Professor as of August 2026. Dr. Fabricant completed his Infectious Disease training at Boston Medical Center. His clinical and research interests focus on the intersection of infectious diseases and substance use disorders, including serious injection-related infections, hepatitis C, […]

In Memoriam: Katherine Parker Ponder, MD

I am sad to report the death of Dr. Katherine Parker Ponder, a valued WashU faculty member for 24 years, first in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and then in the Department of Medicine in the Division of Hematology.  Dr. Ponder succumbed to her breast cancer after a long battle that she approached with grace […]

Dr. Thayse Brüggemann joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Thayse Brüggemann joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine as an Assistant Professor as of August 2026. Dr. Brüggemann research focuses on the mechanistic basis of lung inflammation and its resolution, with a particular emphasis on allergic lung inflammation. She integrates experimental models of disease, immunology, and […]

Dr. Andrea Davis joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Andrea Davis joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine as an Assistant Professor as of August 2026. Dr. Andrea Davis received her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Vanderbilt University, where she also served as Chief Resident. She […]

Celebrating 20 Years of the Diabetes Center (Links to an external site)

(left to right) Drs. Jeremiah Stitham, Kelley Williams, and Amy Riek

For 20 years, the WashU Medicine Diabetes Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital has provided comprehensive, patient-centered care for people living with diabetes while advancing education and research, embracing innovation, and expanding access to specialized treatment. 

Dr. Bassam AlHamer joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Bassam AlHamer joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Lipid Research as an Instructor as of August 2026. Dr. AlHamer comes to the Division of Endocrinology with clinical interests in lipidology, cardiometabolic disease, and diabetes, and a particular focus on cardiovascular risk assessment and prevention. He is especially motivated […]

Dr. Xingbin Ai joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Xingbin Ai joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine as an Associate Professor as of August 2026. Dr. Ai is a basic scientist and Associate Professor of Medicine. Dr. Ai’s long-term research interest is pathogenesis of lung diseases that affect infants and young children. Dr. Ai’s research […]

Dr. Douglas Hall joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Douglas Hall joins the Department of Medicine in the Cardiovascular Division as an Assistant Professor as of August 2026. Dr. Hall completed his undergraduate training in Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University before earning his medical degree and completing his medical training at Washington University in St. Louis. He specializes in the care of patients […]

August 2026 Accolade Recipient – SAFE (Supporting a Fair Environment)

Congratulations to the 15 Department of Medicine (DOM) Accolade Recipients. Matuska, Tammy Hematology Hematology Staff Geyer, Alex IM VA IM Resident/Clinical Fellow McDonald, Jay IM VA IM Faculty Cheng, Steven IM, Division of Nephrology Nephrology, IM Faculty Patel, Hersh IM IM Resident/Clinical Fellow Patel, Hersh IM Internal Medicine Resident/Clinical Fellow Patel, Hersh Medicine Intern orientation […]

Wellness Program Newsletter – Issue 4 – August 2026 (Links to an external site)

National Wellness Month is a time to celebrate the habits and connections that support our health, resilience, and well-being. In medicine, caring for ourselves is an essential part of caring for our patients, our colleagues, and our communities. Throughout this month, we invite you to explore wellness resources and practical strategies, such as prioritizing quality […]

Dr. Kenji Lim joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Kenji Lim joins the Department of Medicine in the Cardiovascular Division as an Instructor as of August 2026. Dr. Lim is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, where his research focuses on understanding the roles of the immune system in cardiac homeostasis and disease. […]

Infectious Disease physician scientist views community engagement as integral for improving HIV prevention and care (Links to an external site)

Aditi Ramakrishnan, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, recognized early in her research career that community engagement would be critical. The Center for Community Health Partnership and Research talked with Aditi about her journey.

Rachel M. Presti, MD, PhD – Dr. J. William Campbell Professor of Medicine

I am honored to announce that Dr. Rachel Presti has been named the Dr. J. William Campbell Professor of Medicine at Washington University. This professorship, established by John Doerr to honor the legacy of Dr. William “Bill” Campbell, an exceptional clinical infectious disease physician, recognizes outstanding contributions to clinically impactful research, transformative leadership, and exceptional patient care […]

Dr. Giulia Furesi joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Giulia Furesi joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Oncology as an Instructor as of August 2026. Dr. Giulia Furesi completed her PhD in Cancer and Bone Biology at the Technical University of Dresden, Germany, where she investigated how solid tumors alter the bone microenvironment and demonstrated that tumor-derived factors reprogram skeletal […]

New study reveals what patients, caregivers, and neurosurgeons really think about machine learning-assisted brain cancer care (Links to an external site)

Tristan McIntosh, PhD, an assistant professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine

A new paper from the Bioethics Research Center at WashU Medicine, published in Frontiers in Neurology and led by Tristan McIntosh, PhD, an assistant professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine, offers one of the first in-depth looks at how the people most affected by glioblastoma — patients, their caregivers, and the neurosurgeons who treat them — […]

Cosco receives Dean’s Medal for Education (Links to an external site)

Dominique Cosco, MD, a professor of medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine

Dominique Cosco, MD, a professor of medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine, received the WashU Medicine 2026 Dean’s Medal for Education. The annual Dean’s Medal awards recognize extraordinary contributions to WashU Medicine and celebrate leaders whose achievements embody the institution’s interconnected missions of patient care, education and research.

Zhiyu Dai, PhD, Appointed to NIH Study Section (Links to an external site)

Zhiyu Dai, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine

The Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine congratulates Zhiyu Dai, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, on his appointment to the Pulmonary Vascular Disease and Physiology Study Section (PVP) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Scientific Review. His term will run through June 30, 2030.

New research suggests microbial partners may affect parasite biology and treatment outcomes (Links to an external site)

Makedonka Mitreva, PhD, FAAM, FASTMH

A new study from the Mitreva lab sheds light on the relationship between the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica and its bacterial endosymbiont, Neorickettsia. Researchers found that while these bacteria are widely present in fluke populations across the Americas and Europe, they show low genetic diversity and strong geographic patterning. 

Drug Development Fellowship

Manaal Iqbal (headphones), a research technician, and staff scientist Reenu Singh Tanwar pipette together in Kory Lavine’s cardiovascular research lab on September 5, 2025. Matt Miller/WashU Medicine

Bristol Myers Squibb and Washington University in St. Louis Collaboration Expression of Interest Letter Overview Bristol Myers Squibb is inviting applicants to apply for a 6- to 12-month Drug Development Fellowship focused on Neurosciences with focus on neurodegeneration. This fellowship is designed to bridge the gap between clinical practice and drug development, equipping the next […]

Research Fellowship in Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation

The Immunomonitoring Lab at the Bursky Center for Human Immunology & Immunotherapy provides the structure, instrumentation and expertise to monitor the impact of specific immunotherapies. Senior scientist Diane Bender, PhD, research specialist Roderick Lin, research technician Kristin Link, and lead tetramer scientist Larry Yang, PhD, participated on June 6, 2024. MATT MILLER/WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Bristol Myers Squibb and Washington University in St. Louis Collaboration Expression of Interest Letter Overview Bristol Myers Squibb is inviting early-career scientists (e.g. postdoctoral scholars) to apply for a 3-year Research Fellowship by proposing innovative research projects in neurodegeneration and related fields. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to pursue their scientific vision, with the […]

Ciesielski appointed Joint Commission Presidential Fellow (Links to an external site)

Thomas Ciesielski, MD, an associate professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine in the John T. Milliken Department of Medicine at WashU Medicine

Thomas Ciesielski, MD, an associate professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine in the John T. Milliken Department of Medicine at WashU Medicine, has been named the 2026–27 Presidential Fellow in Healthcare Safety and Quality by Joint Commission. The prestigious fellowship recognizes a distinguished professional who is ascending in a career dedicated to advancing […]

2025-2026 Top Scores in Ambulatory Patient Experience

Congratulations on being recognized for being at the 98% for patient experience at WashU Medicine. This is an outstanding achievement and recognizes your commitment to delivering patient centered care, acknowledges your excellent bedside manner, meticulous attention to detail, exceptional communication skills and tremendous clinical knowledge and expertise. You take care of a large number of […]

Daland Fellowships in Clinical Investigation

Doctor treating patient

Scope The American Philosophical Society awards a limited number of Daland Fellowships in Clinical Investigation for research in the several branches of clinical medicine, including internal medicine, neurology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery. The committee emphasizes patient-oriented research. Eligibility The fellowships are designed for qualified persons who have held an MD, DO, MD/PhD, or DO/PhD degree […]

William G. Powderly, MD – Larry J. Shapiro Distinguished Professor in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences

William G. Powderly, MD

It is my pleasure to announce that Dr. William G. Powderly will be named the Larry J. Shapiro Distinguished Professor in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences on August 1st. Dr. Powderly is currently the Dr. J. William Campbell Professor of Medicine and Director of the Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS), and Associate Dean for Clinical […]

2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctors®

The Department of Medicine is proud to announce that over 170 of our faculty have been selected for the 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctors® list. The Top Doctors® selection process is entirely merit-based. Doctors cannot pay to be listed. These doctors are best-in-class healthcare providers, embodying excellence in clinical care as well as interpersonal skills. […]

Stitziel to investigate genetic drivers of atherosclerosis to prevent heart attacks and strokes (Links to an external site)

Nathan O. Stitziel, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Medicine; Division of Cardiology

Nathan Stitziel, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and genetics at WashU Medicine, has received $1.9 million over five years from the Leducq Foundation as part of an international Network of Excellence award to identify genetic pathways that drive atherosclerosis and uncover new strategies to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Leadership Announcement – Gastroenterology Division Chief

Robert E. Schwartz, MD, PhD

It is my distinct pleasure to announce that Robert E. Schwartz, MD, PhD, will be the new Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology in the Department of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine (WashU Medicine), effective October 6, 2026. Dr. Schwartz is currently Professor of Medicine, Physiology, Biophysics, and Systems Biology at Weill Cornell […]

Irfan Lodhi, PhD – Edward H. Luehrmann Professorship in the Study of Degenerative Diseases

It is my pleasure to announce that Dr. Irfan Lodhi has been named the Edward H. Luehrmann Professorship in the Study of Degenerative Diseases. Dr. Lodhi earned his PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He completed postdoctoral training at Washington University, then joined the WashU Medicine faculty […]

Reducing the risk of cyclosporiasis infection (Links to an external site)

Cyclosporiasis is an infection marked by intense diarrhea. The CDC has documented thousands of cases nationwide from May through July 2026. / Image © CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working with state and federal partners to investigate several outbreaks of cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal disease caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. In a health alert published July 14, the CDC reported 1,645 known cases of cyclosporiasis nationwide May to July of 2026.

Sanjay Jain, MD, PhD – Mabel Dorn Reeder Distinguished Professor

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Sanjay Jain has been named the Mabel Dorn Reeder Distinguished Professor in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Jain earned a Bachelor of Arts in Genetics from the University of California, Berkeley, and combined MD and PhD degrees from Northwestern University School of Medicine. Following residency training in Anatomic Pathology and […]

Dr. Qiaonan Zhong joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Qiaonan Zhong joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine as an Assistant Professor as of July 2026. Dr. Zhong completed her medical degree at Washington University and her residency in Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic. She returned to Washington University in St. Louis to complete her Pulmonary […]

Dr. Douglas Kepko joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Douglas Kepko joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Assistant Professor as of July 2026. Dr. Kepko earned his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine before completing residency at Summa Health. During residency, he focused on educating medical students and interns prior to starting fellowship […]

Dr. Adam Schafer joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Adam Schafer joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Assistant Professor as of July 2026. Dr. Schafer, is an Infectious Diseases clinician with an interest in general infectious diseases. His research focuses on the management of complicated intra-abdominal infections, optimization of antimicrobial therapy, and clinical outcomes. He has […]

Dr. Terrence Wong joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Terrence Wong joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Oncology as an Assistant Professor as of July 2026. Terrence Wong, MD, PhD, received his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at The University of Chicago. In the laboratory of Dr. Tao Pan, he investigated how long non-coding RNAs fold into their native […]

Elvin H. Geng, MD, MPH – Virginia Minnich Distinguished Professor of Medicine

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Dr. Elvin Geng has been appointed as the Virginia Minnich Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Washington University.  Dr. Geng exemplifies the qualities this endowed professorship recognizes, including outstanding clinically impactful research and transformative leadership in education and mentoring. He received his MD and MPH in Epidemiology from Columbia […]

Dr. Erica L. Scheller Receives Prestigious 2026 Fuller Albright Award (Links to an external site)

Erica Scheller, DDS, PhD

The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) released the 2026 Esteemed Awardees and has named Erica L. Scheller, DDS, PhD, as the recipient of the prestigious 2026 Fuller Albright Award. Named after Dr. Fuller Albright, a pioneer in parathyroid and osteoporosis research, this award recognizes scientific achievement by an investigator relatively early in […]

Stephen Oh, MD – Samuel B. Grant Professor of Medicine

Colleagues, I am thrilled to announce that Dr. Stephen Oh has been named the Samuel B. Grant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Oh earned his undergraduate degree in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard University and his MD and PhD in Cancer Biology through the Medical Scientist Training Program at Northwestern University. After […]

Dr. Ananya Gupta joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Ananya Gupta joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine as an Instructor as of July 2026. Ananya Gupta, PhD, is a microbial immunology enthusiast with over a decade of cutting-edge research experience specializing in pulmonary infections and underlying immune responses. Driven by a mission to map the […]

Dr. Abigail Vanderheiden joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Abigail Vanderheiden joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Instructor as of July 2026. Dr. Vanderheiden obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 2016. Her graduate studies focused on investigating innate immune signaling pathways during West Nile Virus and SARS-CoV-2 infection in […]

The Washington Manual Gastroenterology Subspecialty Consult, Fifth Edition (Links to an external site)

Concise, portable, and user-friendly, The Washington Manual® Gastroenterology Subspecialty Consult, Fifth Edition, edited by Dr. C. Prakash Gyawali, provides easy access to succinct, precise recommendations on the evaluation and management of common inpatient and outpatient gastrointestinal symptoms and disorders. Ideal for students, residents, fellows, and practicing physicians who need quick access to current scientific and clinical […]

Dr. Benjamin Clement joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Benjamin Clement joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology as an Assistant Professor as of July 2026. Dr. Clement earned his medical degree from Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan followed by internal medicine residency at the University of Wisconsin in Medicine. He was selected to be […]

Wellness Program Newsletter – Issue 3 – July 2026 (Links to an external site)

Summer has officially arrived! We hope you are staying cool and taking time to relax and recharge while enjoying activities you love. Be sure to visit the Culture and Community hub on the WashU HR site to learn more about WashU Signature events, designed to help colleagues connect and engage with WashU culture and community activities. We warmly welcome new faculty […]

Leadership Announcement – Associate Clerkship Director of the Internal Medicine Clerkship

Erin Dyer, MD

We are pleased to to announce Erin Dyer, MD, Instructor in Medicine, has been appointed Associate Clerkship Director of the Internal Medicine Clerkship.  Dr. Dyer earned her medical degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where she graduated cum laude and was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. She completed […]