In battling obesity and prediabetes, combining exercise with weight loss is key (Links to an external site)

Insulin sensitivity improved twofold when exercise paired with 10% weight loss Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that combining regular exercise with a 10% loss of body weight more than doubles sensitivity to insulin, compared with a 10% weight loss without exercise. Enhanced sensitivity to insulin has important health […]

Meet the World’s Brainiest Cover Band—It Has a Nobel Prize Winner on Harmonica (Links to an external site)

On a recent night in Chicago, Taylor Swift was in town, along with the annual conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. A few block from Solider Field, where Swift was set to perform, doctors and researchers were crowding into Buddy guy’s Legends club to see The CheckPoints, a cover band of immunotherapy all-stars. […]

An update from the Office of the Vice Chair of Education

Gastroenterology Fellows celebrate graduation. Back row from left: Kemmian Johnson, MD, MPH, Matthew Peller, MD, Badr Alhumayyd, MBBS, Parth Shah, MD, Parth Patel, MD. Front row from left: Garrett Greenan, MD, Lolwa Al-Obaid, MD, Vladimir Lamm, MD. Not pictured: Ankita Tirath

Looking Ahead to a New Academic Year There is no denying that June is a particularly special time of year in Medical Education. Programs are working tirelessly to graduate seniors while simultaneously onboarding new interns and fellows. Medical school graduates and senior residents are readying themselves for the next phase in their careers. Medical school […]

2023 Internal Medicine Scholars Symposium Winners

On behalf of the Mentors in Medicine Pathway, and Director Dr. Brian Gage and Associate Director Dr. Seth Eisen, we are pleased to announce the poster and oral presentation winners for this year’s Internal Medicine Scholars Symposium, recently held on May 17, 2023. Poster Winners 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place Oral Presentation Winners 1st […]

Third Space Endoscopy with Dr. Ahmad Najdat Bazarbashi

Cancerous lesions, pre-cancerous lesions, placing stents for obstructions and managing patients with biliary tree and pancreatic disease are all part of a day’s work for Dr. Ahmad Najdat Bazarbashi. Bazarbashi is one of the faculty in the WashU Gastroenterology Division, specifically in the section of Biliary & Interventional-Endoscopy and is director of the Third Space […]

Dr. Kory Lavine Named As New Director for Center of Cardiovascular Research (Links to an external site)

Kory Lavine, MD, PhD

Cardiovascular Division Chief Dr. Sumanth Prabhu has announced that Kory Lavine, MD, PhD, will serve as the next Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Research (CCR), effective July 1, 2023. Dr. Lavine is currently Associate Professor of Medicine and Associate Director of the CCR. In his new role, he will succeed Dr. Jeanne Nerbonne, who […]

Collaborator Spotlight: Postdoc leverages passion for racial equity & justice to “Make the science care” (Links to an external site)

Being a “post-doc” (a person engaged in postdoctoral research) comes with all kinds of responsibilities, transdisciplinary collaborations, and community-based time commitments on top of a mountain of research. This isn’t a bad thing. Just ask Cory Bradley, PhD, MSW, MPH, a post-doctoral research associate in WashU’s Division of Infectious Diseases and collaborator with the Center for […]

Leadership Announcement – DOM Vice Chair for Career Advancement

Rakhee Bhayani, MD

I am pleased to announce that Rakhee Bhayani, MD, has been appointed as the Vice Chair for Career Advancement in the Department of Medicine (DOM). Dr. Bhayani is Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics at WashU Medicine and the Director of the Future Workforce in Medicine (FWIM). Dr. Bhayani brings a […]

Obituary: Robert M. Senior, MD, Professor Emeritus of Medicine

Robert M. Senior, MD

Dear colleagues, I am sad to inform you that one of our distinguished colleagues and friends, Dr.  Robert M. Senior, MD, a highly regarded physician-scientist, and professor emeritus of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, died peacefully yesterday at his home in St. Louis, surrounded by his family.  Dr. Senior earned […]

May 2023 Kudos and Awards

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.  May 2023 Inpatient Resident of the MonthElissa Arnold “I […]

Powderly will receive faculty achievement awards

William G. Powderly, MD

William G. Powderly will receive Washington University in St. Louis’ 2023 faculty achievement awards, Chancellor Andrew D. Martin announced.  Powderly, MD, the Dr. J. William Campbell Professor of Medicine at the School of Medicine, will receive the Carl and Gerty Cori Faculty Achievement Award. Powderly, an infectious diseases specialist and public health leader, has made […]

Washington University School of Medicine chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society announces class of 2023

The Alpha Omega Alpha Executive and Selection committees announce the new faculty, alumni and house officers to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Class of 2023. AΩA is the honor medical society recognizing, advocating for, and inspiring physicians in the care of patients and promotion of health. Members may be elected throughout their career […]

Emphasizing the Importance of Women in Medicine

When I enrolled in the six-year medical degree program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1973, UMKC was considered a pioneer because they admitted roughly an equal number of men and women to their medical school. Historically, that has not been the case at other medical schools across the country, though over the decades, […]

Care at the Highest Caliber: Transplant Team Celebrates 2000th Lung Transplant (Links to an external site)

In 1988, a team of leading innovative surgeons established the Lung Transplant Program at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Since its inception, the program has made massive strides in the advancement of transplant care and research and has continued to shatter national and international records while maintaining a quality level of care for each […]

Kidney donor updates for those with HCV and COVID-19

Tarek Alhamad, MD, MS

The association of donor hepatitis C virus infection with 3-year kidney transplant outcomes in the era of direct-acting antiviral medications Tarek Alhamad, MD, MS, MBA, Associate Professor of Medicine, Medical Director of Transplant Nephrology, Division of Nephrology, recently had two manuscripts published in JAMA Open and the American Journal of Transplantation regarding new findings of […]

Fogarty Fellowship proves pivotal for Dr. Agarwal’s career

Anubha Agarwal, MD, MSc, at the 20th Anniversary of Global Health Fellow and Scholars.

Anubha Agarwal, MD, MSc, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, has much to be thankful for, including the recent addition of her son born on January 1st of this year. She attributes much of her current success to her time as an NIH Fogarty fellow from 2017-2018 while based in India. The Fogarty Global Health Training […]

Center co-Director collaborates with university & Nigerian partners to curb hypertension (Links to an external site)

One of the largest health burdens in Nigeria is hypertension. According to the Global Burden of Disease, hypertension combined with other cardiovascular disease, affects more than 70 million people in Nigeria. Co-Director of the Global Health Center, Mark Huffman, MD, MPH, and a research team at Washington University in St. Louis, are collaborating with University of […]

Scanning electron microscopy of human islet cilia (Links to an external site)

Primary cilia are vital cell-surface sensory organelles, but their physical dimensions have eluded characterization due to difficulty in isolating and studying these enigmatic structures, especially in human tissues. In the present study, we use a multi-scale surface scanning approach to enable a 3D architectural study of human primary cilia, the first in pancreatic islets and […]

Innovative Research Opens the Door to ACS Grant for Dr. Russell Pachynski

Russell Pachynski, MD

The American Cancer Society recently awarded 90 new Research and Cancer Development Grants funding researchers at 67 institutions nationwide. These grantees are leading innovative discoveries that advance the ACS mission to end cancer for everyone. Dr. Pachynski’s work concentrates on developing new approaches to fighting prostate cancer by modulating the immune response. This four-year grant […]

April 2023 Kudos and Awards

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.  April 2023 Inpatient Resident of the MonthAaron Pruitt “Aaron […]

Nephrologist Steven Cheng is the New Program Director for Internal Medicine’s Residency Program (Links to an external site)

Steven Cheng

WashU Nephrology congratulates Steven Cheng, MD, who has accepted the position of Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital. After receiving his medical degree and completing an internal medicine residency at Northwestern University in Chicago, Dr. Cheng entered the Nephrology Fellowship at WashU, and upon graduation in 2006 joined our […]

WashU Human Resources

Well-being resources, family care benefits, learning & development opportunities, employee recognition, perks and more, to help you thrive personally and professionally. Take care with WashU’s mind-body programming MyWay to Health Rooted in scientific evidence, expert opinion and 25 years of research, MyWay to Health provides sound advice, guidance and tips to help you take charge […]

WashU Celebration of Inventors 2023 (Links to an external site)

Sixth Annual Celebration of Inventors.

Congratulations to Department of Medicine’s Rita Brookheart; Lynn Cornelius; Philip Cuculich; Brian Finck; Jeffrey P. Henderson; Michael Holtzman; Keely McDonald; Rodney Newberry; Christine Pham; Arthur Romero; Fumihiko Urano; Kangyun Wu and Huimin Yan

Findings may lead to improved insulin-secreting cells derived from stem cells (Links to an external site)

Diabetes researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have uncovered at least one reason insulin-secreting cells made from stem cells in the lab don’t work as well as natural cells. The discovery could help speed progress toward making insulin-secreting cells — called islet beta cells — more effective in the treatment of […]

Seasonal Allergies Overflow Your Bucket

Allergy Graphic

Spring brings flowers and warmer temps but it can be a difficult time if you are an allergy sufferer. Seasonal allergies flare up when there’s a lot of pollen in the air causing allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever.  Allergy season or pollen season as many refer to … applies to many different plants that […]

Sina Jasim, MD awarded AACE Rising Star in Endocrinology (Links to an external site)

On May 5, during the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology’s (AACE) 32nd Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington, Sina Jasim, MD received the AACE Rising Star in Endocrinology Award.  The prestigious award nationally recognizes member individuals who are within ten years of completing their endocrine fellowship and have demonstrated actionable outcomes in outstanding leadership, teamwork or innovation, […]

Expanding Veteran Care: Expanding Kidney Transplant Services at St. Louis VA

Each year, 450 Veterans undergo kidney transplantation, and VA’s National Transplant Program is dedicated to providing Veterans with expanded access to kidney transplant care and support. VA most recently added a ninth national kidney transplant center, but Dr. Anuja Java, Director of the Kidney Transplant Clinic at the John J. Cochran VA Hospital in St. […]

Dr. Fumihiko Urano featured in PBS Wolfram syndrome documentary  (Links to an external site)

Dr. Fumihiko Urano

In April, Fumihiko Urano, MD, PhD was featured in the documentary “Colorado Voices: Ellie White,” to raise awareness of the rare genetic disorder, Wolfram syndrome. The short documentary was published by Rocky Mountain PBS and tells the story of Colorado college student Ellie White, who lives with the disorder. Although the disorder is very rare […]

2nd Annual DOM Women in Medicine & Science Seminar

The 2nd Annual Department of Medicine Women in Medicine and Science Seminar hosted by Advancing Women in Academic Medicine (AWAM) and the Forum for Women in Medicine (FWIM) was held last Friday, April 28th via Zoom. The virtual seminar, “Leadership and Promotion – the chicken or the egg?”, offered a foundation to learn the critical skills, strategies and resources […]

March 2023 Kudos and Awards

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.  March 2023 Inpatient Resident of the MonthCosette Champion “In […]

Obituary: Richard D. Brasington Jr., MD, Professor Emeritus of Medicine, 71

Richard D. Brasington Jr., MD

Dear colleagues, It is with great sadness that I inform you that Richard D. Brasington Jr., MD, a highly regarded professor emeritus of medicine and former director of the rheumatology fellowship training program at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, drowned April 30, 2023, while fishing in the North Fork River in Ozark, […]

Paint, Paper and Watercolors with Dr. Raya Saba

When she’s not busy pursuing her third year of fellowship in the WashU Oncology division, Dr. Raya Saba finds time to get creative with paints and other mediums. Growing up in Damascus, Syria, Raya’s parents were followers of art, literature, and music, and her Mom enjoyed painting with oils. This introduction from her family began […]

Red flags indicate risk for early-onset colorectal cancer (Links to an external site)

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified four important signs and symptoms that signal an elevated risk of early-onset colorectal cancer. These red flags may be key to earlier detection and diagnosis of early-onset colorectal cancer among younger adults. The number of young adults with colorectal cancer has nearly doubled […]

Dr. Zainab Mahmoud Receives Eisenberg Scholar Award (Links to an external site)

Zainab Mahmoud, MD

The Paul and Patti Eisenberg Scholar Award is presented annually by the Washington University School of Medicine Cardiovascular Division to fund junior faculty research that broadly focuses on cardiovascular disease. Funds should be used to generate key preliminary data and/or to develop new areas of research. Dr. Zainab Mahmoud is this year’s recipient of the […]

Leadership Announcement – Vice Chair of Ambulatory Clinical Operations, Safety and Quality

Maya R. Jerath, MD, PhD

I am pleased to announce that Maya R. Jerath, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Allergy & Immunology at Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM) has been appointed as Vice Chair of Ambulatory Clinical Operations, Safety and Quality for the Department of Medicine. Dr. Jerath received her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University […]

Kulkarni Lab investigates modulating host immune response in the lungs in severe pneumonia

Hrishikesh Kulkarni MD, MSCI, from the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine recently had two manuscripts published in Science Immunology and a Phase 3 clinical Trial on complement inhibition in COVID-19 in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine. Lung epithelial cell–derived C3 protects against pneumonia-induced lung injury The complement cascade is made up of innate immune defense proteins that protect […]

Cherabie named ‘Let’s Stop HIV Together’ ambassador (Links to an external site)

Joseph N. Cherabie, MD, MSc

Joseph Cherabie, MD, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been named a clinical ambassador for the national Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign, which is led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

AWAM Leaders in Empowerment and Development (LEAD) Awards

Description The AWAM LEAD awards was announced at the 2nd Annual DOM Women in Medicine and Science Seminar, (which was held on Friday April 28th, 2023). Nominations for the LEAD Awards will be accepted until June 9, 2023. Awards will be announced in late June. The awards are open to all DOM faculty and will be awarded […]

2023 COVID Pandemic Awards

The COVID pandemic created tremendous adversity for many individuals, communities, and healthcare systems. Many of our faculty, fellows, residents, and staff were instrumental in helping the Department thrive despite these challenges. The Department of Medicine (DOM) is seeking nominations to recognize outstanding individuals for our Department of Medicine COVID Pandemic Awards in three categories: See details […]

COVID-19 vaccine appears more effective if received around midday (Links to an external site)

Covid-19 Vaccine graphic

A study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates that the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine may be more effective at preventing infections if doses are given around the middle of the day rather than at other times. The researchers believe circadian rhythm — the natural cycle of physical and other changes our bodies […]