News

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. population. Currently there are no available therapies that reverse or prevent lung damage in this heterogeneous disease process. A major area of need is the identification of mediators in blood or lung fluid that can guide development of novel effective […]

The World Health Organization (WHO) added cardiovascular polypills to its 2023 Model List of Essential Medicines, and research continues to show that these medications are effective at preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACD) among various other forms of cardiovascular disease. Yet experts say obstacles remain to the adoption of these medications in high-income developed nations.

The Dean’s Scholars program supports outstanding MD-only individuals committed to a career as a physician-scientist. This program alleviates the scholar’s financial stress and provides them with mentorship, institutional support, and the protected time necessary to generate data and publications. At the end of the support period Scholars will be competitive for NIH K08 and related […]

A daughter looked to the app for help with her concerns. It proved to be a good idea, with caveats.

Anuja Java, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine and transplant nephrologist at WashU Nephrology, has been awarded a prestigious research grant from the Foundation for Women’s Health.  Her project, one of the foundation’s inaugural $1 million awards, investigates the role of complement system dysregulation in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including preeclampsia.

Diwali is one of the most significant and widely celebrated festivals in India and among Hindu communities around the world. Diwali is a festival that celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. It has deep-rooted religious and cultural significance and is celebrated with enthusiasm and joy, fostering unity […]

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is observed every October in the United States to raise awareness about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. In 2025, NDEAM will continue its mission to promote inclusive work environments and highlight the importance of ensuring equal opportunity for all […]

World Mental Health Day is celebrated on October 10th as a day to promote mental health awareness, education, and advocacy It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries. World Mental Health Day is […]

Halloween, the night of October 31st, is a holiday celebrated worldwide with costumes, trick-or-treating, and spooky decorations. But where did this tradition start from? The History of Halloween The roots of Halloween can be traced back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter. The Celts […]

WashU Nephrology is pleased to announce that Massini Merzkani, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, has been named the recipient of our 2025 Transplant Teaching Award. 

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 skills, and work ethic: submit here. Interns of the Month Dr. Ghandi Hassan: “He greatly impressed clinic support staff at the PCMC. He had a visit with […]

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a novel way brown fat — an energy-burning form of fat — can rev the body’s metabolic engine, consuming cellular fuel and producing heat in a way that improves metabolic health. The study, in mice, reveals new avenues to exploit brown fat to […]

A new preprint by Kameron Bradley of the Jeffrey Millman Lab, titled “Divergent Cell-Type Specific Hypoxia Responses in Human Stem Cell–Derived and Primary Islets,” sheds light on how different types of insulin-producing cells respond to oxygen deprivation, which is a common challenge in cell transplantation therapies for type 1 diabetes (T1D).

September 22-24 is Rosh Hashanah, or Jewish New Year. The biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah and it is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days. Rosh Hashanah is also known as the “Days of Renewed Responsibility,” and begins at sunset on day one and ends at nightfall the next. The Jewish New Year […]

Dr. Jeffrey Millman, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research at Washington University School of Medicine, has co-authored a landmark review article on the heterogeneity of type 1 diabetes (T1D), published simultaneously on July 30 in three leading journals: Diabetologia, Diabetes, and Diabetes Care. 

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association (JAMIA) showcases how modern AI methods are advancing clinical and translational research in Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Conducted by Levi Kaster, BS, Ethan Hillis, MS, Inez Y. Oh, PhD, Elizabeth C. Cordell, MD, Randi E. Foraker, PhD, MA, Albert M. Lai, PhD, Stephanie M. Morris, […]

Hepatitis C, a bloodborne virus that damages the liver, can cause cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure and death if left untreated. Despite the availability of highly effective treatments, the prevalence of hepatitis C infection remains high, particularly among women of childbearing age, who account for more than one-fifth of chronic hepatitis C infections globally. Within […]

The Department of Medicine is pleased to offer the 2025-2026 Leadership Training Course. Applications are now being accepted for the 2025-2026 Leadership Training Course.Deadline: October 3, 2025

Malnutrition is a leading cause of death in children under age 5, and nearly 150 million children globally under this age have stunted growth from lack of nutrition. Although an inadequate diet is a major contributor, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found over a decade ago that dysfunctional communities of gut […]

On August 4, The Washington Post published an article titled “She was fit and healthy. Why did she get diabetes?” featuring the expertise of Fumihiko Urano, MD, PhD. Dr. Urano is a Professor of Medicine and of Pathology and Immunology with WashU Medicine’s Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, and Director of the Wolfram Syndrome International Registry and […]

Dr. Aubriana McEvoy, a dermatologic surgeon with WashU Medicine, appeared on the Fox 2 News morning show to raise awareness about skin cancer. During the segment, Dr. McEvoy discussed key preventive measures, early detection strategies, and available treatment options for skin cancer.

Congratulations to Abby Spencer, MD, MS, FACP for being awarded the Newcomb Alumnae Association Community Service Award by her alma mater, Tulane University, through the Newcomb Alumni Association.

Dr. Syeda Ashna Fatima Kamal joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Hospital as an Instructor in September 2025. She brings a diverse and robust background in internal medicine, oncology, and palliative care to her role. She was born in Karachi, Pakistan, and spent much of her formative years in Dubai, United Arab […]

When injured, cells have well-regulated responses to promote healing. These include a long-studied self-destruction process that cleans up dead and damaged cells as well as a more recently identified phenomenon that helps older cells revert to what appears to be a younger state to help grow back healthy tissue.

In this Issue: Message from the Chair, Grants, High Impact Research Publications, Spotlight, Clinical Programs, In Memoriam: Dr. Stuart A. Kornfeld, Awards/Fellowships/Honors/Accolades, Leadership/Appointments, Office of Faculty Development, IDEAS at DOM, Vice Chair for Career Advancement, Vice Chairs of Safety, Quality, and Operations, Faculty Presentations, Welcome to WashU Medicine, Call for Applications and Events

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. These conditions, which include atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, cause one in three deaths globally and one in five in the United States. Beyond that stark reality, those living with the conditions may contend with disability, psychological distress, financial burden, and […]

Dr. Jesse Zaretsky joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Oncology as an Instructor in August of 2025. His clinical and research interests focus on understanding mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapy to guide better treatments for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and other cancers. Therapies that activate the immune system to fight cancer […]

Dr. Ashenafi Bulle joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Oncology as an Instructor in August 2025. He is a passionate and accomplished biomedical scientist whose career spans veterinary medicine, molecular biology, and translational cancer research across Africa, Europe, and North America. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) with distinction from Addis […]

Dr. Aaron Case joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine as an Assistant Professor in August 2025. He is interested in health services research, specifically understanding how to best optimize the intermediate care setting for both nursing and patient outcomes.  As more severely ill patients present to the hospital […]

Stuart A. Kornfeld, MD, the David C. and Betty Farrell Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, in St. Louis from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was 88.