Patricia Litkowski, MD, and Yash Shah, MD, Present Abstract at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) (Links to an external site)

The NCCN Annual Conference in 2024 took place from Friday, April 5 to Sunday, April 7. It was hosted both at the Orlando World Center Marriott and virtually. Esteemed experts from renowned cancer centers convened to address updates to NCCN Guidelines®, advancements in various cancer types, and emerging topics in oncology. The event featured a […]

Artificial Intelligence for Cardiovascular Care

Thomas M. Maddox, MD

Thomas M. Maddox, MD, MSc, Professor of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division at WashU Medicine, and colleagues recently published two articles outlining the current opportunities for AI to impact cardiovascular care. These articles highlight how AI is poised to affect almost every aspect of cardiovascular care. ” says Maddox. “Our group hopes that this work helps prepare […]

Minority Health Month – Diversity Month (Links to an external site)

Minority Health Month

April celebrates both Diversity Month and National Minority Health Month, providing an opportunity to recognize and honor the diversity of the world around us while also addressing the disproportionate burden of premature death and illness in racial and ethnic minority groups.

ACC Updates HFrEF Decision Pathway, Reinforcing the Four Pillars of Therapy

Thomas M. Maddox, MD

The document also strengthens advice regarding which medications should be started in all patients Thomas M. Maddox, MD, MSc, Professor of Medicine in the Cardiovascular Division at WashU Medicine, and colleagues recently published an Expert Consensus Decision Pathway (ECDP) for the many decisions required in the management and treatment of patients with heart failure with […]

McNerney and Jasim discuss the long-term endocrine effects of cancer treatment  (Links to an external site)

Kyle P. McNerney, MD of the Department of Pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine and Sina Jasim, MD of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research

On October 10, 2023, Kyle P. McNerney, MD of the Department of Pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine and Sina Jasim, MD of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, had their book chapter titled “Long-Term Effects of Cancer Treatment” published in Familial Endocrine Cancer Syndromes: Navigating the Transition of Care for Pediatric and Adolescent Patients.  

ICTS Announces 2024-2025 PDSS Awardees (Links to an external site)

Congratulations to Angela L. Brown, MD, Professor of Medicine who was one of the awardees. The Center for Community Health Partnership and Research is pleased to announce seven partnerships were selected to receiving funding through the 2024-2025 Partnership Development and Sustainability Support (PDSS) program. PDSS awards provide up to $10,000 in funding for investigators and their […]

How’s Your Soul? (Links to an external site)

David Vermette, MD

Brother David, how’s your soul?” The question took me by surprise. It was time for my first advisement meeting with my residency program director. In medicine, the machine runs on competence and achievement of “milestones.” Yet, as I braced for a meeting to trudge through performance evaluations and in-training exam scores, I awoke to humanity.

Inaugural Physican Assistant Fellowship Program (Links to an external site)

Beginning on April 1, 2024, our Division of Hospital Medicine initiates a Physician Assistant (PA) Fellowship Program at BJH. The goal is to provide PAs with additional clinical training and a robust educational experience in Hospital Medicine and relevant subspecialties during the fellowship. This 12-month training program starting April 1, 2024, will be a foundation […]

Some sarcoma patients improve with T cell immunotherapy (Links to an external site)

According to a study led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, a new T cell immunotherapy — in which the patients’ own T cells are genetically modified to attack and kill cancer cells — is effective in treating some patients with two types of sarcoma, rare cancers of the body’s soft tissues. Shown is a cross section of a synovial sarcoma tumor.

Strategy effective against some rare, aggressive sarcomas with no other treatment options A clinical trial led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has shown that a T cell immunotherapy — in which the patients’ own T cells are genetically modified to attack and kill cancer cells — is effective in […]

Award of up to $31 million supports development of osteoarthritis treatment (Links to an external site)

Farshid Guilak, PhD, and Christine Pham, MD, collaborate on research together. They were photographed on March 13, 2024. MATT MILLER/WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Researchers aim to create treatment that promotes tissue regeneration, restores joints Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, limits the mobility of 32 million people nationwide, many to the point of significant disability. Affected individuals face limited options, as there are no drugs to cure or substantially lessen the disease, and invasive joint replacement is often the […]

Easter Holiday

Happy Easter

Easter is a Christian holiday that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, as described in the New Testament of the Bible. It is considered the most important and oldest festival of the Christian Church. Easter is often associated with the arrival of spring and is celebrated on the first Sunday after the […]

Lasala Receives 2024 Miami Valves Lifetime Achievement Award (Links to an external site)

John Lasala, MD

Dr. John Lasala, Professor of Medicine and Director, Structural Heart Disease in the Cardiovascular Division, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Miami Valves annual international structural cardiology conference hosted by the International Medicine Institute of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Husaini Featured During Men’s Health Segment on KSDK News (Links to an external site)

Mustafa Husaini, MD

Dr. Mustafa Husaini, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Director of Sports Cardiology in the Cardiovascular Division, was recently featured in a segment on KSDK news for Heart Month. Today in St. Louis’ Rene Knott, Paul Cook and Anthony Slaughter spoke with Dr. Husaini about the importance of exercise in heart health, and specifically in men.

Civitelli Lab Published in JCI Insight (Links to an external site)

Roberto Civitelli, MD

In a recent publication in JCI Insight, researchers from the Civitelli Lab unveil the pivotal role of connexin43 within mesenchymal lineage cells, shedding light on its influence in regulating body adiposity and energy metabolism in mice.

Scheller Lab and Colleagues Published in JCI Insight (Links to an external site)

Erica Scheller, DDS, PhD

Members of the Scheller Lab in collaboration with the Milbrandt and DiAntonio groups at WashU published a paper in JCI Insight in which they found that loss of Sarm1 could completely protect female mice against the development of bone loss and severe osteoblast suppression secondary to type 1 diabetes. 

Phase 3 Trial of Breast Cancer Published in JAMA Oncology (Links to an external site)

Cynthia X. Ma, MD

Cynthia Ma , MD, PhD, lead author and Professor of Medicine in the Division of Oncology along with her colleagues Kiran Vij, Jeremy Hoog, Mark Watson and Erika Crouch in the Department of Pathology investigated the role of neoadjuvant anastrazole, fulvestrant or the combination in a multi-institutional trial.

Living Well: Pancreatic Cancer (Links to an external site)

Channel 4 News Graphic

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) – About one in 64 people will get pancreatic cancer during their lifetime. It’s one of the more uncommon cancers, but it is one of the deadliest. In this Living Well, First Alert 4′s Taylor Holt talks with a doctor about why the disease is so deadly and what’s […]

Powers Carson and Arora discuss negative correlations between BMI and glycated albumin  (Links to an external site)

Jennifer Powers Carson, PhD

In October of 2023, Jennifer Powers Carson, PhD and colleague, Jyoti Arora, MS of the Washington University School of Medicine, Center for Biostatistics and Data Science, had their work published by Clinical Biochemistry. The article was titled, “Glycated serum proteins and albumin but not glycated albumin show negative correlation with BMI in an overweight/obese, diabetic population from the United States.” 

Holi – Hindu Festival

HOLI - Festival of Colors

Holi is a vibrant and colorful Hindu festival celebrated predominantly in India and Nepal but also observed by communities around the world. Also known as the “Festival of Colors” or “Festival of Love,” Holi typically takes place in March, marking the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. The Holi festival always […]

Center collaborator: “Connections ensure trust and sustainability” (Links to an external site)

Juliet Iwelunmor, PhD

If you hear a presentation by Professor of Medicine, Juliet Iwelunmor, PhD, from the Division of Infectious Disease at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, you immediately sense that she is passionate, well spoken, driven and committed to work that drives impact. Since joining the Department of Medicine in September 2023, Iwelunmor—or “Dr. Juliet” […]

Office of Faculty Development Leadership Announcement

Anadkat-Antes-Alhamad

It is my pleasure to announce that Milan J. Anadkat, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Dermatology at Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM) has been promoted to Vice Chair of Faculty Development and Well Being for the Department of Medicine. He has led the Office of Faculty Development since 2020 overseeing new faculty orientation, […]

In vivo ablation of NFκB cascade effectors alleviates disease burden in myeloproliferative neoplasms

Stephen T. Oh, MD, PhD

Study in Blood dissecting the role of NFκB signaling effectors in MPN disease biology Stephen T. Oh, MD, PhD, Co-Chief and Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and has been published in Blood. The WashU group of researchers previously identified hyperactivation of NFκB […]

Dr. Safaa Hammoud Awarded AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship for Chronic Kidney Injury Research (Links to an external site)

Saffa Hammoud, PhD

Congratulations to Safaa Hammoud, PhD, a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in the laboratory of Leslie Gewin, MD, for receiving a 2024 American Heart Association (AHA) Postdoctoral Fellowship.  The award provides two years of funding for her project “Blocking Tubular Cell Cycle Induces Protective Metabolic Changes in Chronic Kidney Disease.”  

Celiac Disease Program

Celiac disease, sometimes called celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye and some oats. Gluten consumption can cause celiac disease at any age. Although some people are found to have celiac disease as infants, it is common for celiac disease to be […]

Pioneers of Hematology Series (Links to an external site)

he Division of Hematology was delighted to host Dr. Joe Prchal on March 1st as the inaugural speaker for our Pioneers of Hematology seminar series, a new initiative sponsored by the Division of Hematology and Pediatric Hematology & Oncology. Dr. Prchal’s seminar described his groundbreaking research and innovative approach to studying hematologic disorders, demonstrating the […]

February 2024 Kudos and Awards

Kudos and Awards graphic

Thank you, residents and interns, for all you do for one another and for your patients. Though often under-appreciated, your work does not go unnoticed.  Help us highlight the kindness, clinical judgement, resourcefulness, and work ethic.​​​​​​​Nominate a resident/intern for Housestaff of the month or just share something good.  February 2024 Inpatient Intern of the MonthDr. Samir Faruque […]

Deaf History Month 2024 (Links to an external site)

Deaf History Month

National Deaf History Month is celebrated March 13th to April 15th each year to commemorate the achievements of people who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Division of Oncology Receives Green Office Program Platinum Certification (Links to an external site)

Green Office Program

The Division of Oncology was awarded the highest level of Green Office Certification from the WashU Office of Sustainability. Coordinated by the Office of Sustainability and endorsed by Resource Management, WashU’s Green Office Program aims to encourage offices across all WashU campuses to be champions of the university’s sustainability ethic.

AI may predict spread of lung cancer to brain (Links to an external site)

lung image

Method may inform personalized cancer treatments Physicians treating patients with early-stage lung cancer face a conundrum: choosing potentially helpful yet toxic therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation or immunotherapy to knock out the cancer and lessen the risk of it spreading to the brain, or waiting to see if lung surgery alone proves sufficient. When up […]

Baggstrom Earns FASCO Award

Maria Baggstrom, MD

Maria Quintos Baggstrom, MD, FACP, FASCO, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has been awarded the FASCO – Fellow of ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) distinction. The Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO) distinction recognizes members for their extraordinary volunteer […]

Happy Ramadan (Links to an external site)

Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and holds great significance in the Islamic faith. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a period of fasting, prayer, self-reflection, and increased devotion to Allah.

Erin Baum, MD, Receives LeJIT Teaching Award (Links to an external site)

The Gateway Medicine Clerkship has selected Dr. Erin Baum to receive the “LeJIT” Teaching Award. This award recognizes Dr. Baum’s excellence in completing just-in-time assessments during the 2024 Block 1 Medicine Clerkship (January-February 2024). They stated, “You skillfully integrate JITs into your clinical and teaching workflows and provide meaningful, timely feedback to students through your […]

WashU Medicine rises to No. 2 in nation in NIH research funding (Links to an external site)

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis received in 2023 the second highest amount of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of all medical schools nationwide. This ranking reflects the school’s commitment to cutting-edge research and positions it as a key player in shaping the future of medicine. (Photo: Matt Miller/School of Medicine)

Ranking reflects success as thriving hub of scientific excellence, medical innovation In the realm of biomedical research, securing funding is a testament to an institution’s record of scientific accomplishments and potential for further advances to improve human health. In 2023, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis received the second-highest amount of funding from […]

Chheda Receives Dr. Ralph & Marian Falk Medical Research Trust – Catalyst Award

Milan G. Chheda, MD

Milan G. Chheda, MD, Associate Professor, Division of Oncology, received the Dr. Ralph & Marian Falk Medical Research Trust – Catalyst Award, to fund his project titled: Genetic arming of Zika virus to treat patients with glioblastoma. The Trust is managed by Health Resources in Action (HRiA), a nonprofit consultancy, which makes funding decisions on […]

Dr. Mike Rich Receives BJH Neville Grant Award (Links to an external site)

Dr. Mike Rich

Professor of Medicine, Associate Program Director for Cardiovascular Research andDirector of the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Cardiac Rapid Evaluation Unit Dr. Mike Rich has been selected for The Neville Grant Award, the highest clinical honor bestowed by BJH.

Institute staff changes set the stage for robust public health programs and initiatives (Links to an external site)

Institute for Public Health

In service of Public Health at WashU, the Institute for Public Health announces the addition of new roles and a few staff promotions in several of its seven centers. The changes will help advance the Institute’s mission to harness the strengths of Washington University in St. Louis to address complex public health issues and disparities […]

Dr. David DeNardo Explores How the Tumor Microenvironment Affects Immune Responses to Cancer (Links to an external site)

David DeNardo, P.D

David DeNardo, Ph.D., is a Professor of Medicine and Co-Director of the Tumor Immunology Program at the Washington University St. Louis, School of Medicine.  His research team is working to understand why responses to cancer immunotherapy vary among patients. In studying and uncovering mechanisms of cancer immunology, Dr. DeNardo aims to identify strategies that can […]

Preeclampsia vs Dual Organ Transplant vs Animal House and More (Links to an external site)

NephMadness 2024

NephMadness 2024 is Underway! The 12th NephMadness is officially underway. The month-long event, hosted by AJKD Blog, is an online, interactive, educational activity modeled on March Madness, the annual US college basketball tournament, with the exception that nephrology topics fill in for basketball teams.