Category: The DOM Insider

All the subheading categories

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. […]

Leadership Announcement – Gastroenterology Division Chief

Robert E. Schwartz, MD, PhD

It is my distinct pleasure to announce that Robert E. Schwartz, MD, PhD, will be the new Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology in the Department of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine (WashU Medicine), effective October 6, 2026. Dr. Schwartz is currently Professor of Medicine, Physiology, Biophysics, and Systems Biology at Weill Cornell […]

Irfan Lodhi, PhD – Edward H. Luehrmann Professorship in the Study of Degenerative Diseases

It is my pleasure to announce that Dr. Irfan Lodhi has been named the Edward H. Luehrmann Professorship in the Study of Degenerative Diseases. Dr. Lodhi earned his PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He completed postdoctoral training at Washington University, then joined the WashU Medicine faculty […]

Reducing the risk of cyclosporiasis infection (Links to an external site)

Cyclosporiasis is an infection marked by intense diarrhea. The CDC has documented thousands of cases nationwide from May through July 2026. / Image © CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working with state and federal partners to investigate several outbreaks of cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal disease caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. In a health alert published July 14, the CDC reported 1,645 known cases of cyclosporiasis nationwide May to July of 2026.

Sanjay Jain, MD, PhD – Mabel Dorn Reeder Distinguished Professor

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Sanjay Jain has been named the Mabel Dorn Reeder Distinguished Professor in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Jain earned a Bachelor of Arts in Genetics from the University of California, Berkeley, and combined MD and PhD degrees from Northwestern University School of Medicine. Following residency training in Anatomic Pathology and […]

Dr. Qiaonan Zhong joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Qiaonan Zhong joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine as an Assistant Professor as of July 2026. Dr. Zhong completed her medical degree at Washington University and her residency in Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic. She returned to Washington University in St. Louis to complete her Pulmonary […]

Dr. Adam Schafer joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Adam Schafer joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Assistant Professor as of July 2026. Dr. Schafer, is an Infectious Diseases clinician with an interest in general infectious diseases. His research focuses on the management of complicated intra-abdominal infections, optimization of antimicrobial therapy, and clinical outcomes. He has […]

Dr. Douglas Kepko joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Douglas Kepko joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Assistant Professor as of July 2026. Dr. Kepko earned his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine before completing residency at Summa Health. During residency, he focused on educating medical students and interns prior to starting fellowship […]

Dr. Terrence Wong joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Terrence Wong joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Oncology as an Assistant Professor as of July 2026. Terrence Wong, MD, PhD, received his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at The University of Chicago. In the laboratory of Dr. Tao Pan, he investigated how long non-coding RNAs fold into their native […]

Elvin H. Geng, MD, MPH – Virginia Minnich Distinguished Professor of Medicine

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Dr. Elvin Geng has been appointed as the Virginia Minnich Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Washington University.  Dr. Geng exemplifies the qualities this endowed professorship recognizes, including outstanding clinically impactful research and transformative leadership in education and mentoring. He received his MD and MPH in Epidemiology from Columbia […]

Dr. Erica L. Scheller Receives Prestigious 2026 Fuller Albright Award (Links to an external site)

Erica Scheller, DDS, PhD

The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) released the 2026 Esteemed Awardees and has named Erica L. Scheller, DDS, PhD, as the recipient of the prestigious 2026 Fuller Albright Award. Named after Dr. Fuller Albright, a pioneer in parathyroid and osteoporosis research, this award recognizes scientific achievement by an investigator relatively early in […]

Stephen Oh, MD, PhD – Samuel B. Grant Professor of Medicine

Stephen Oh, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine

Colleagues, I am thrilled to announce that Dr. Stephen Oh has been named the Samuel B. Grant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Oh earned his undergraduate degree in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard University and his MD and PhD in Cancer Biology through the Medical Scientist Training Program at Northwestern University. After […]

Dr. Ananya Gupta joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Ananya Gupta joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine as an Instructor as of July 2026. Ananya Gupta, PhD, is a microbial immunology enthusiast with over a decade of cutting-edge research experience specializing in pulmonary infections and underlying immune responses. Driven by a mission to map the […]