Welcome to the newly redesigned website of the Department of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. I invite you to spend some time and learn more about the department and the outstanding people and programs that set us apart.
Founded in 1910, the department has maintained a proud tradition of excellence for well over a century. The tripartite mission of patient care, research, and education serves as the foundation for the activities of our faculty, staff and trainees. We seek excellence in everything we do by pursuing discovery research and new knowledge to improve medical care and foster the next generation of physician-scientists, clinicians and educators.
Research
The Department of Medicine has a long and honored history of research in basic, clinical and translational sciences. Biomedical research in the department extends from fundamental cellular and molecular biology to first in human studies, clinical trials, health services, and outcomes research. Basic research focuses on the pathophysiology, genetic and immunologic determinants of disease leading to new diagnostics, drugs, technologies, devices and vaccines. Clinical and translational research spans across broad disciplines addressing complex diseases including cancer, diabetes, pulmonary, cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal and infectious diseases in individuals and populations. Through the Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS) and the Washington University community, we consistently bring medicine from the bench to the bedside, and from the bedside to the bench.
Education
The educational mission of the Department of Medicine is to train exceptional physician-scientists, clinicians and educators who will be future leaders in all aspects of academic medicine. We have a longstanding tradition of providing the highest caliber training to medical students, graduate students, residents and fellows in the early stages of their careers. Our department is committed to the development of research-oriented physician-scientists, clinically-oriented researchers, clinicians and clinical educators.
Patient Care
The Department of Medicine takes great pride in providing unparalleled, comprehensive, and innovative patient care. The department’s clinical excellence is continually recognized by U.S. News & World Report, which ranks Washington University School of Medicine among the best in the nation.
Inclusion and Diversity
In union with the core values of the School of Medicine, the Department of Medicine is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable culture and environment in which everyone can grow and thrive. We take an active approach to recognize and dismantle structural racism in our clinical, research and training programs. Within the department, the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Allyship and Social Justice (IDEAS) promotes equity and antiracism by making structural, process, and programming changes to actively recruit, retain, support, and promote the success and career development of individuals of all backgrounds.
As we embark on a new decade in 2020, we face challenges as never before. Our world is battling a global pandemic on top of the preexisting epidemics of obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, opioid addiction, and health disparities among Blacks, Indigenous and people of color. The department is adapting to meet these challenges head-on. We are making great advances to improve patient outcomes, protect our frontline workers, and develop new diagnostics, treatments and vaccines against COVID-19. I am incredibly proud of how the entire Department of Medicine is rising to the challenge of managing the ever-changing landscape of this new normal. Our people are the lifeblood of this department. The strength, perseverance and resiliency of our faculty, staff and trainees continue to drive the successful pursuit of our mission during these unprecedented times.
Thank you for your interest and support.
Vicky Fraser, MD
Chair, Department of Medicine