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.
Gerald and Judith Medoff Professor of Infectious Diseases
Coming from Houston, where seasons can feel more subtle, Dr. Trautner admits that one of the unexpected joys of her move to St. Louis has been experiencing all four seasons in full force.
“The trees changed color in the fall. The snow was pretty. Then flowers came up in the spring,” she said “I’d never really experienced that before.”
That sense of curiosity and appreciation extends far beyond the weather. During her first year at WashU Medicine, Dr. Trautner has embraced the opportunity to lead, grow, and help shape the future of one of the institution’s most active divisions.
Drawn to Excellence
For Dr. Trautner, joining WashU Medicine felt like joining an elite team. She was immediately struck by the caliber of faculty, trainees, and staff she encountered.
“It’s really inspiring to work with this group of people,” she said. “They’re motivated, brilliant, mission-driven, and deeply committed to what they do.”
She believes WashU Medicine has earned its reputation as one of the nation’s top academic medical centers—and perhaps may be more modest abut its accomplishments than it needs to be. As someone passionate about education, research, and clinical care, she sees tremendous value in sharing the stories of the people doing groundbreaking work every day across the institution.
Leading Through Connection
As Co-Chief of Infectious Diseases alongside Dr. Jennifer Phillips, Dr. Trautner oversees the clinical side of a division that includes nearly 90 faculty members.
While the scope of the role is significant, her leadership priorities have remained surprisingly simple: help people feel connected, supported, and valued. Over the past year, she has worked to strengthen communication across the division, create opportunities for people to come together, and build a culture where everyone feels included. That effort has taken many forms.
“Dr. Trautner brings an incredible amount of energy to the division and a dedication to all aspects of the tripartite mission. What stands out is how much she genuinely cares about the people in the division. Every decision she makes is grounded in what is best for the people, across the entire division. Leading a division this complex takes real skill, and she does it while staying approachable and collaborative. I’m excited about where we are headed together.”
Dr. Jen Philips
There have been faculty recruitments and promotions. New clinical programs. Strategic planning. Expansion into new locations. But there have also been division-wide photos, social gatherings, team-building activities, and one accomplishment she lights up talking about: the division’s first staff awards program.
With nearly 400 staff members supporting the work of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Trautner felt it was important to make sure their contributions were recognized.
“We had no staff recognition program before,” she said. “People brought their families to our inaugural staff awards ceremony. It was really, really nice.”
The awards celebrated Unsung Heroes, Rising Stars, and Superstars across multiple areas of the division. For Dr. Trautner, those moments matter. While research growth and clinical expansion are important she believes strong organizations are built by investing in people.
A Research Career That Started by Accident
One of the more surprising parts of Dr. Trautner’s story is that she never planned to become a researcher. In fact, she originally imagined herself focusing entirely on patient care. That changed during her infectious diseases fellowship when she was required to choose a research project. At the time, she knew one thing: she loved microbiology. An opportunity to study urinary catheter-related infections eventually led her down a path that would become a nationally recognized research career.
Today, she is a leading expert in urinary tract infections, infection prevention, and antibiotic stewardship. She has helped shape national guidelines and continues to investigate some of the most common—and often frustrating—infectious disease challenges patients face.
What keeps her interested after all these years? The questions.
“There is no end to the questions we still need to answer,” she said.
From recurrent urinary tract infections to alternatives to antibiotics, she sees a field full of opportunities to improve patient care and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
Growing for the Future
Under Dr. Trautner’s leadership, the division has recruited multiple new faculty members and is expanding services across the region. One major focus is the launch of infectious diseases services at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, which will provide new opportunities for patient care, collaboration, and education.
The division is also growing its transplant infectious diseases expertise, reflecting increasing demand from transplant programs across WashU Medicine.
Much of Dr. Trautner’s energy today is dedicated to making sure the division is positioned for long-term success while continuing to meet the needs of patients and learners. It’s ambitious work— and work she clearly enjoys.
When Dr. Trautner was asked what her own personal mission statement would be, unlike most people, she didn’t need time to think about it. “I think about it almost every day,” she said. Her answer was simple:
“To support the people who practice infectious diseases – whether they are clinicians, researchers, or educators – so that they can do their absolute best work that transforms the world.”
It’s a mission that explains much of what she accomplished during her first year at WashU Medicine.
Whether she’s recruiting new faculty, supporting staff, expanding clinical programs, mentoring colleagues, conducting research, or advocating for patients, the goal remains the same: helping others succeed.