Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. January marks Blood Donor Awareness Month, a time to recognize the life-saving impact of blood donors and raise awareness about the constant need for blood and platelet donations. Donating blood is one of the simplest yet most impactful ways to help those in need. Whether […]
Category: News
December 2024 Accolade Recipients – SAFE (Supporting a Fair Environment)
Congratulations to the 11 Department of Medicine (DOM) Accolade Recipients Lonigro Lori Gastroenterology Staff Heather Beal and Jillian Schuette Heather Beal and Jillian Schuette Dermatology – COH Mohs – (Heather Beal and Jillian Schuette) Staff Mann Caroline Dermatology Faculty Rosman Ilana Dermatology Faculty Cheema Sana Med Firm Resident/Clinical Fellow Jin Julie Med Firm Resident/Clinical Fellow […]
Happy Lunar New Year 2025 (Links to an external site)
Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is the most important traditional festival in China. It marks the beginning of the new year on the traditional lunar calendar and usually falls between January 21 and February 20. The history of Chinese New Year dates back over 4,000 years, rooted […]
Programming and Events for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration (Links to an external site)
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 20, 2025) serves as a reminder to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr by engaging in acts of service and promoting inclusivity within our communities. It is an opportunity for individuals and organizations to come together, reflect on the progress made, and strive for a more […]
Lanza named fellow of National Academy of Inventors (Links to an external site)
Joins this year’s class of 170 honorees for his innovations in imaging, diagnostics and drug delivery using nanoparticles
2024 Diabetes Day Symposium Recap (Links to an external site)
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)
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 […]
First Annual Hospital Medicine Awards Ceremony is a Success (Links to an external site)
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)
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 […]
Physician Leadership Development Program
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, 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)
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)
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)
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
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 […]
New drug tested to reduce side effect of ‘half-matched’ stem cell transplants (Links to an external site)
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)
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 […]
Siteman Cancer Center share how colorectal cancer is affecting young people too (Links to an external site)
Dr. Jean Wang with Siteman Cancer Center shares why they started the young onset program.
Department of Medicine 2025 Fellowship Matches
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 […]
Siteman Cancer Center’s new outpatient building named in honor of Gary C. Werths (Links to an external site)
Generous gift to WashU Medicine supports cancer research, medical student scholarships
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)
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)
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.
WashU faculty, alumni lead effort to repair harms caused by systemic racism in St. Louis (Links to an external site)
The St. Louis Reparations Commission released its final report last month, outlining St. Louis’ deep history of slavery and systemic discrimination and the continued impact on Black residents. The report also offered recommendations for city officials to repair the harm caused by racial injustice.
Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week
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)
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)
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)
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
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)
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 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 […]
King-Morris’ Maternal Fetal Medicine Nephrology Program to Expand (Links to an external site)
Pregnant women with kidney problems face high risks for complications affecting both themselves and their unborn child. In 2022, Kelli King-Morris, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, founded the Maternal Fetal Medicine Nephrology Clinic at WashU Nephrology to optimize the care of these patients.
Stay Updated with the 2024 Fall Nephrology Alumni Newsletter (Links to an external site)
Please check out our 2024 Fall Nephrology Alumni Newsletter for the latest news and updates at WashU Nephrology.
Leadership Announcement – Senior Director of Business Operations
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 […]
WashU Medicine, BJC Health System launch Center for Health AI (Links to an external site)
Joint center harnesses AI technologies to make health care more personalized, effective, efficient
Nickole Forget, MD, FACP awarded the Laureate Award from the American College of Physicians (Links to an external site)
Congratulations to our Division of General Medicine & Geriatrics colleague, Dr. Nickole Forget, for receiving the Laureate Award from the Missouri chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP).
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
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 […]
DOM Insider Volume 22 (Links to an external site)
In this Issue: Message from the Chair, Grants, High Impact Research Publications, Spotlight, Clinical Programs, Awards/Fellowships/Honors/Accolades, Leadership/Appointments, Office of Faculty Development (OFD), Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Allyship & Social Justice (IDEAS) at DOM, Vice Chair for the Advancement of Women’s Careers, Vice Chair of Education, Vice Chairs of Safety, Quality, and Operations, Faculty Presentations, Welcome to […]
Leadership Announcement – Interventional Cardiology
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)
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 […]
August 2024 Kudos and Awards
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)
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 […]
October 2024 Accolade Recipients – SAFE (Supporting a Fair Environment)
Congratulations to the 25 Department of Medicine (DOM) Accolade Recipients McLaughlin, Amy Gastroenterology Gastroenterology Staff Bosso, Scott Gastroenterology Gastroenterology Staff Zerjav, Sharon Gastroenterology Gastroenterology Staff Ali, Yawar Department of Medicine Med Firm Resident/Clinical Fellow Coleman, Jaspur Department of Medicine Med Firm Faculty Huang, Alice Internal Medicine Cardiology Blue team (9200) Resident/Clinical Fellow Cheema, Sana Internal […]
National Diabetes Month
Raising Awareness and Supporting Health November marks National Diabetes Month, a time to bring attention to diabetes and the impact it has on millions worldwide. This month is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of diabetes, its risks, and ways to manage and prevent it. With more than 37 million Americas living with diabetes […]