Anubha Agarwal, MD, MSc, of the WashU Cardiovascular Division, contributed to an international expert consensus document updating the global definition of heart failure and providing a unified framework for prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Philana Liang, a physician assistant in the Division of Infectious Diseases at WashU Medicine, has been elected to serve on the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) Board of Directors.
Dr. Melida Castelblanco joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research as an Instructor as of September 2026. A biologist by training, she completed a Master’s in Applied Microbiology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona before earning her PhD in Health from the University of Lleida in Spain, where […]
Dr. Vanessa Kung joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Assistant Professor as of August 2026. Dr. Kung completed MD, PhD training at the University of Wisconsin, internal medicine residency at Emory University, and infectious disease fellowship at the University of Colorado. In 2023-2026, she was the Deputy Director […]
Dr. Abhishek Bhandari joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine as an Instructor as of August 2026. Originally from Kathmandu, Nepal, Dr. Bhandari studied at the B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) in Dharan, Nepal, completing medical school and an internal medicine residency. After his training, he worked at […]
Each year, National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 through October 15, celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Initiated as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 by President Lyndon Johnson and expanded to a month-long celebration in 1988 by […]
There is no shortage of popular diets to try, and they can generally produce weight loss if followed to the letter. But are all diet plans created equal in terms of reducing the cardiometabolic risks that come with obesity, such as Type 2 diabetes and liver disease?
The Barnes-Jewish Hospital Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (BJH-ASP) has been renewed as an Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence. This designation recognizes hospitals that consistently provide high-quality stewardship services, advance innovative stewardship practices, and demonstrate a strong commitment to improving antimicrobial use and reducing resistance.
September 11-13 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 […]
As we observe Sickle Cell Awareness Month this September, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of raising awareness and advancing research to support the millions affected by sickle cell disease (SCD). This genetic blood disorder has a significant impact worldwide, particularly within the African American community. It is essential that we deepen our collective […]
The Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine is pleased to announce that M. Cristina Vazquez Guillamet, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, has been awarded a National Institutes of Health R01 grant for her project, “Graph Neural Networks and Longitudinal Mediation Analysis for Hospital-Onset Sepsis to Improve Early Detection and Uncover Modifiable Risk Factors.” The R01 […]
Nicole Ducharme, DO, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Lipid Research at WashU Medicine, has been selected to serve on the American Board of Internal Medicine’s Item-Writing Task Force.
Congratulations to Steven Cheng, MD, Professor of Medicine, who was recognized as Teacher of the Year in Nephrology as part of the 2025-2026 Internal Medicine Residency Program Awards. These annual awards are selected directly by residents to honor outstanding teaching, mentorship, and clinical leadership across the Department of Medicine.
As part of our recently announced slate of new grants, the American Cancer Society (ACS) is proud to support a new cohort of Research Scholar Grant and Mission Boost Grant recipients. Together, these awards help ensure that innovative cancer research can move forward at critical stages, from establishing independent research programs to advancing discoveries toward testing […]
The demand for specialized serious illness and end-of-life care continues to grow as our population ages and more people live longer with complex chronic conditions. As nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population are now baby boomers, the need for high-quality palliative and hospice care has never been greater.
Dr. Thomas Westbrook joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Oncology as an Assistant Professor as of August 2026. Dr. Westbrook is also a genitourinary medical oncologist with clinical and research interests in treatment resistant advanced cancers. He received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, completed residency training […]
Researchers and clinicians at WashU Medicine are helping reshape how hepatitis C virus (HCV) is treated during pregnancy, with a new study showing that a commonly used antiviral regimen can be used safely and effectively in pregnant patients in real-world care.
In a major announcement, an experimental mRNA vaccine has been shown in global clinical trials to prevent melanoma from returning or spreading in high-risk melanoma patients when combined with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, known commercially as Keytruda, and given after surgery.
New tools for fighting HIV, including medicines and diagnostic tests, have led to higher survival rates and a reduction of new infections. But HIV remains a persistent epidemic, infecting an estimated 41 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Despite the availability of these potentially life-saving tools, studies show that many communities — particularly […]
As we prepare for the start of a new academic year, I am delighted to welcome more than 40 new faculty members, along with an outstanding group of residents and fellows, to the Department of Medicine. Their expertise, talent, and dedication strengthen our collective commitment to excellence in patient care, research, education, and service.
WashU Medicine researcher Makedonka Mitreva, PhD, received the 2026 Henry Baldwin Ward Medal. The highest honor awarded by the American Society of Parasitologists, the Ward Medal is given annually to a mid-career member of the society who has achieved a position of leadership in independent parasitological research.
Timothy J. Ley, MD, a professor of medicine and of genetics at WashU Medicine and the Lewis T. and Rosalind B. Apple Chair in Oncology at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, has been elected as a member of the American Philosophical Society. The society was founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743 to “promote useful knowledge.”
The START Strong Survivorship Clinic connects newly diagnosed patients with nutrition, physical therapy, emotional support, and resources to help them navigate treatment from the very beginning.
In July, the DOLF team and collaborators at the University of Indonesia published two new manuscripts highlighting zoonotic and zoophilic filarial species in the Belitung district of Indonesia. Long-term collaborators Drs. Peter Fischer and Taniawati Supali are leading research that will help to better understand the role of animals in the transmission and elimination of […]
Dr. Michael Root joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine as an Assistant Professor as of August 2026 and Associate Medical Director of the Interstitial Lung Disease Program. Dr. Root is a pulmonary and critical care physician whose work focuses on the care of patients with complex lung […]
When Dr. Barbara Trautner arrived at WashU Medicine a year ago to serve as Co-Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, she was ready for a challenge. What she may not have expected was just how much she’d enjoy watching the leaves change color. Coming from Houston, where seasons can feel more subtle, Dr. Trautner […]
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 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, […]
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 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 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 […]
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.
Joseph Park, MD, 2nd year Hematology/Oncology Fellow, received the 2026 Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop awards from the American Society of Clinical Oncology/American Association for Cancer Research (ASCO/AACR Vail Workshop).
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 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 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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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.
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 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 […]
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 — […]
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.
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.
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.
The inaugural WashU Cardiology Forum: Educate. Innovate. Collaborate. brought together cardiologists, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, trainees and primary care clinicians from across the region on June 6 at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac for a full day of education, discussion and professional collaboration.
WashU Nephrology is proud to announce that Naoka Murakami, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine, has been honored by the American Society of Transplantation (AST) for her outstanding contributions to the field of transplant nephrology.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]