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Three WashU Nephrology Investigators – Matsui, Sharma, and Mahjoub – Receive 2026 KidneyCure Awards (Links to an external site)

Shivani Sharma, PhD, Moe R. Mahjoub, PhD, Kenji Matsui, MD, PhD

WashU Nephrology is proud to celebrate three researchers who have been selected for the 2026 KidneyCure Awards.  KidneyCure, a foundation established by the American Society of Nephrology, supports researchers across all career stages to foster innovation and breakthroughs in kidney disease treatment.  It is the largest private foundation dedicated exclusively to kidney research in the […]

WashU Nephrologist Dr. Mabel Purkerson Receives MUSC Distinguished Alumni Award (Links to an external site)

Mabel L. Purkerson, MD, Professor Emerita of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine

Mabel L. Purkerson, MD, Professor Emerita of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, was honored by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) as a 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.  Established in 1969, the Alumni Awards celebrate graduates of all six MUSC colleges who have demonstrated significant professional accomplishments and leadership.

Dr. Reuben Adatorwovor joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Reuben Adatorwovor joins the Department of Medicine as a Assistant Professor as of July 2026. Dr. Adatorwovor is an Assistant Professor of Biostatistics at WashU Medicine, with joint appointments in the Institute for Informatics, Data Science and Biostatistics and the Department of Emergency Medicine. His research focuses on developing and applying statistical and computational […]

Todd A. Fehniger, MD, PhD – Samuel B. Grant Professor of Medicine

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Todd Fehniger, Professor of Medicine and Pathology and Immunology, has been named the Samuel B. Grant Professor of Medicine at WashU Medicine. Dr. Fehniger earned his BSc degree in Biological Sciences with High Distinction from the University at Buffalo. He received his PhD in Immunology and MD from The Ohio State […]

Dr. Intelly Lee joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Intelly S. Lee joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology as a instructor as of July 2026. Dr. Lee is a clinical rheumatologist and postdoctoral research fellow studying cytokine-mediated feedback loops that mediate stromal-immune cell tissue circuits in chronic inflammatory and fibrotic skin disease. Clinically, he evaluates and manages general rheumatology […]

Promising target identified against chronic blood cancer (Links to an external site)

Stephen Oh, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine

Researchers at WashU Medicine have identified a possible route to tame inflammation in myeloproliferative neoplasms — a group of chronic blood cancers — that could serve as a novel approach to treatment. The study is led by Stephen Oh, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine who treats these patients at Siteman Cancer Center, based at […]

DOLF reaches final stage of onchocerciasis clinical trial in Liberia (Links to an external site)

The full surgical team at Bong Mines Hospital, Bong Mines, Liberia (May 2026)

A WashU Medicine-led research team is nearing a major milestone in a clinical trial in Liberia aimed at improving treatment for onchocerciasis, or river blindness. The study, Safety and Efficacy of Novel Combination Regimens for Treatment of Onchocerciasis, has reached its final stage, with participants undergoing final examinations and surgical nodule removal procedures 24 months after […]

From ashes and adversity to a new career path (Links to an external site)

Image credit: Sara Moser / WashU Medicine

Farahnaz Tooryalai’s career journey began 7,228 miles away.  “I came from a country where war disrupted every part of life, where women and girls were denied basic rights and their voices and dreams were often silenced,” Tooryalai said. “When I left my home country, I packed an entire life in my suitcase: a suitcase of dreams, hopes and ambitions.” 

Dr. Daniel Aldea joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Daniel Aldea joins the Department of Medicine in the Cardiovascular Division as an Assistant Professor as of September 2026. Dr. Aldea completed his undergraduate study in Mathematics and English Literature at Washington University in St. Louis before attending medical school at Boston University School of Medicine. He went on to do internal medicine training […]

How I Became a Global Oncology Leader (Links to an external site)

Thomas Odeny, MD, PhD

Thomas A. Odeny, MD, MPH, PhD, is a medical oncologist and implementation scientist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where he also leads the Global Oncology Initiative. His clinical focus is lymphoma and virus-as­sociated malignancies such as Kaposi sarcoma, and his research focuses on improving cancer care and clinical trial access in […]

Dr. Kristin Mondy joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Kristin Mondy joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as a professor as of September 2026. Dr. Mondy has served as the inaugural Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Texas Dell Medical School in Austin, Texas from 2017 until this past spring of 2026. She […]

Emily F. Cole, MD, MPH, FAAD – John Cochran VA Medical Center Chief of Dermatology

I am pleased to announce that Emily F. Cole, MD, MPH, FAAD, has been selected as the new Chief of Dermatology at the John Cochran VA Medical Center. Dr. Cole is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Dermatology at WashU Medicine. She specializes in complex medical dermatology, with particular clinical and research interests in […]

ISPE names Butler as Fellow (Links to an external site)

Anne Butler Mobley, PhD

Anne Mobley Butler, PhD, MS, an Associate Professor of Medicine at WashU Medicine, and secondary faculty in the Bursky School of Public Health and the School of Medicine Division of Public Health Sciences, has been named a Fellow of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE).

Huffman, Mahmoud and Vijay Publish Circulation Perspective on CKM Syndrome Guideline (Links to an external site)

Mark Huffman, MD, MPH and Zainab Mahmoud, MD, MSc, along with cardiology fellow Aishwarya Vijay, MD

WashU Medicine Cardiovascular Division faculty members Mark Huffman, MD, MPH and Zainab Mahmoud, MD, MSc, along with cardiology fellow Aishwarya Vijay, MD, have published a perspective in Circulation addressing implementation of the newly released 2026 AHA/ACC/ADA/ASN Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome.

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 […]

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, […]