Former KL2 Scholar Awarded NIA Funding for Alzheimer’s Caregiver Research (Links to an external site)

Jacquelyn Benson, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine in the WashU Division of Palliative Medicine, has recently been awarded funding from the National Institute on Aging to conduct a randomized controlled trial to test a 1:1, paraprofessional peer-delivered multicomponent support intervention for family caregivers of persons living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Reno Awarded Bursky School of Public Health Community Engagement Award (Links to an external site)

Hilary E.L. Reno, MD, PhD Professor

Hilary E. L. Reno, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine the Infectious Diseases Division at Washington University School of Medicine, secondary faculty with the WashU Bursky School of Public Health, and Medical Director of the St. Louis STI/HIV Prevention Training Center (STL PTC) has been awarded the 2026 WashU Bursky School of Public Health Community Engagement Award in […]

Rajan Sah, MD, PhD – Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Endowed Professor of Cardiology

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Rajan Sah has been appointed the Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Endowed Professor of Cardiology at WashU Medicine. He exemplifies the qualities this endowed professorship recognizes, including outstanding translational research, clinical excellence, and transformative leadership in innovation and scientific discovery. Dr. Sah completed his MD and PhD […]

ICTS/WashU Investigator and Former KL2 Scholar Awarded Funding from NIA to Support Family Caregivers of Patients Living with Alzheimer’s Disease (Links to an external site)

Jacquelyn Benson, PhD

Jacquelyn Benson, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine in the WashU Division of Palliative Medicine, has recently been awarded funding from the National Institute on Aging to conduct a randomized controlled trial to test a 1:1, paraprofessional peer-delivered multicomponent support intervention for family caregivers of persons living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). 

Dr. Melida Castelblanco joins the Department of Medicine

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

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

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 […]

IDSA renews Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence designation of BJH program (Links to an external site)

Sena Sayood, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, leads the BJH-ASP Team as medical director. ID division faculty members Kevin Hsueh, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Mike Durkin, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, also serve on the BJH-ASP team

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.

Cristina Vazquez Guillamet, MD, Awarded NIH R01 Grant to Improve Early Detection of Hospital-Onset Sepsis (Links to an external site)

M. Cristina Vazquez Guillamet, MD Associate Professor of Medicine

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 […]

Steven Cheng Teacher of the Year in Nephrology (Links to an external site)

Steven Cheng, MD

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.

American Cancer Society Supports Researchers Advancing Bold Ideas Toward Patient Impact (Links to an external site)

Jessica SiIva-Fisher, PhD

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 […]

BJC HealthCare Announces New Name for Palliative and Supportive Care Institute, Investing in the Future of Serious Illness and End-of-Life Care (Links to an external site)

RICHARD J. LIEKWEG President and CEO, BJC HealthCare

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

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 […]

Speeding progress toward ending HIV epidemic is aim of global conference (Links to an external site)

A woman in Togo walks past a painted sign about the dangers of HIV. Public health researchers and practitioners from around the world will meet in South Africa in September to discuss how to accelerate progress toward ending HIV as a public health threat, at a conference co-chaired by WashU faculty. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

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 […]

Mitreva receives award for parasite research (Links to an external site)

Makedonka Mitreva, PhD, received the 2026 Henry Baldwin Ward Medal from the American Society of Parasitologists at their annual meeting July 29 in Orlando, Fla.

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.

Ley elected to the American Philosophical Society (Links to an external site)

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

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.” 

DOLF Project and partners publish two new manuscripts on zoophilic filarial species in Indonesia (Links to an external site)

Members of the filed team from University of Indonesia process blood sample laboratory in a hotel room.

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

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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. […]

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.

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 […]

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. […]