A tribute to Stuart A. Kornfeld (1936–2025) (Links to an external site)

David C. and Betty Farrell Professor of Medicine, Stuart A. Kornfeld, MD, assistant professor Wang-Sik Lee, PhD, and associate professor Balraj Doray, PhD, look over test results in the Clinical Sciences Research Building on April 10, 2019. MATT MILLER/WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Half-century of research illuminates how cells work in health, disease - Kornfeld reflects on knowledge gained from longest running NCI grant - Stuart Kornfeld, MD, has led the field of glycobiology — the study of sugars bound to proteins — for decades, fueled by the same grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) that first supported his lab more than 50 years ago. He reflects on his career and the advances made possible by the NCI's longest running research grant.

A giant in the field of biomedical research, Stuart Arthur Kornfeld, MD (Figure 1), passed away in St. Louis on Sunday, August 17, 2025, following complications from Parkinson’s disease. Stuart was the David C. and Betty Farrell Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM). His leadership roles at WUSM, where […]

Matthew A. Ciorba, MD – William B. Kountz Professor of Medicine

Matthew A. Ciorba, MD

Colleagues, it is my great pleasure to announce the appointment of Dr. Matthew A. Ciorba as the William B. Kountz Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at WashU Medicine. The Kountz Chair was previously held by Dr. Gus Schoenfeld, Dr. David Alpers and most recently Dr. Deborah Rubin, all exceptional physician scientists. Dr. Ciorba will continue this […]

WashU startups attract record-setting $1.7 billion in private-sector investment over past year (Links to an external site)

St. Louis-based biotech company Wugen, which is developing cell-based immunotherapies for hard-to-treat blood cancers, is among the WashU startups that collectively have attracted a record-setting total of $1.7 billion in private-sector investment over the past year.

Startup companies built on Washington University in St. Louis discoveries attracted a record $1.7 billion in private-sector investment over the past year, accelerating the commercialization of WashU innovations into life-changing diagnostics, therapeutics and medical devices. Among those innovations are a blood test to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease; immunotherapies to treat aggressive blood cancers; and an AI-based […]

WashU Data Viz Competition (Links to an external site)

""

The WashU Data Viz Competition is part of Love Data Week and is supported by the Digital Intelligence & Innovation (DI²) Accelerator, Office of Institutional Effectiveness, University Libraries, and Becker Medical Library. The second annual competition is now open and accepting submissions until Sunday Jan 25th, 11:59 p.m. CT. 

2024-2025 Academic Year of Impact (Links to an external site)

As we begin the new year, I am filled with gratitude for the enormous contributions our faculty, staff and trainees have made, providing outstanding care for patients, performing groundbreaking research and delivering exceptional educational programs. This has not been an easy year. We have dealt with many challenges including a tornado that impacted many in […]

Dr. Christina Kearse joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Christina Kearse joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Palliative Medicine as an Instructor as of January 2026. Dr. Kearse obtained her medical degree in 2019 from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She then completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at MUSC. Prior to completing her fellowship in […]

2025 Diabetes Day Symposium Recap (Links to an external site)

Diabetes Day Symposium

In honor of World Diabetes Day, the Diabetes Research Center of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research hosted the 2025 Diabetes Day Symposium. The event took place on Thursday, November 6, at WashU Medicine’s Eric P. Newman Education Center. The symposium brought together scientists, trainees, and clinicians to showcase research, foster collaboration, and raise awareness of cutting-edge advances in diabetes research. 

Obituary: Steven L. Teitelbaum, professor of pathology and immunology, 87 (Links to an external site)

Steven L. Teitelbaum, MD, a nationally recognized leader in bone biology research at WashU Medicine, died Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, in St. Louis after suffering an intracranial hemorrhage. He was 87. Teitelbaum was the Wilma and Roswell Messing Professor of Pathology & Immunology and professor of medicine in the WashU Medicine Division of Bone & Mineral Diseases. A […]

January is Blood Donor Month

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. January marks Blood Donor Awareness Month, a time to recognize the life-saving impact of blood donors and raise awareness about the constant need for blood and platelet donations.  Donating blood is one of the simplest yet most impactful ways to help those in need. Whether […]

December 2025 Accolade Recipients – SAFE (Supporting a Fair Environment)

Congratulations to the 9 Department of Medicine (DOM) Accolade Recipients. Richardson, Erin Gastroenterology Gastroenterology Staff Wilson, Taylor Internal Medicine IM PGY2 Resident/Clinical Fellow Hassan, Ghandi Internal Medicine Med 1 Firm Resident/Clinical Fellow Amy, Zhao Internal Medicine Medicine – Cards Firm Resident/Clinical Fellow Kwok, Michael Internal Medicine MICU Resident/Clinical Fellow Patino, Diego Internal Medicine VA 1D […]

Big Ideas program to sunset, celebrating legacy of innovation (Links to an external site)

Big Ideas graphic

The Big Ideas program, which began to foster health care innovation, will officially conclude with the 2025-2026 cohort at the end of the academic year. This decision follows the planned sunsetting of the Healthcare Innovation Lab, marking a strategic shift to better integrate care delivery innovation throughout clinical operations.

Nussbaum family fuels pancreatic cancer research (Links to an external site)

WashU Medicine’s Kian-Huat Lim, MD, PhD, second from left, welcomed members of the Nussbaum family to his research lab. (Courtesy photo)

When Sam Nussbaum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in his 70s, it was no surprise to his family that he chose WashU Medicine for his care. After all, Nussbaum had spent a significant portion of his distinguished career as a physician-scientist and health-care executive at the medical school and BJC HealthCare. And during that time, […]

Genetic analysis explains rare disease severity, points to possible treatment (Links to an external site)

Normal lung tissue is shown on the left. On the right is lung tissue from a person with primary ciliary dyskinesia with a CCDC39 mutation. A large mucus plug is visible in magenta, demonstrating the severe airway problems seen in such patients with these specific mutations. (Image: Brody lab/WashU Medicine)

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have uncovered why some patients with a rare genetic disorder called primary ciliary dyskinesia have worse lung problems than others with the same disorder. The discovery, published in Science Translational Medicine, suggests that gene therapy to restore a missing protein complex could help treat the […]

Couple make $6.5 million gift to WashU Medicine (Links to an external site)

Kyung Ja Shin Lee, MD, PhD, left, and Won Ro Lee, MD, right, paid their first visit to St. Louis in July to witness the installation of their daughter, Janet Lee, MD, as WashU Medicine’s Selma and Herman Seldin Distinguished Professor in Medicine. (Photo: Dan Donovan/WashU Medicine)

Won Ro Lee, MD, PhD, and Kyung Ja Shin Lee, MD, consider themselves fortunate people, despite having grown up in challenging circumstances. Kyung Ja escaped North Korea as a young child; both she and Won Ro grew up in poverty and lived through the Korean War. Their futures could have been significantly different had they […]

2025 Winston Fellows (Links to an external site)

Lila Dabill and David Turicek

The David and Deborah Winston Fellows in Diabetes Research was established in 2012 through a generous gift from David and Deborah Winston. Awarded annually by the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, it supports graduate students engaged in diabetes and diabetes-related research who reside within laboratories of Diabetes Research Center members. 

$3.2 million grant funds research on computational AI in fistulizing Crohn’s disease (Links to an external site)

Parakkal Deepak, MBBS, MS, an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, and David H. Ballard, MD, an assistant professor of radiology at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology

Parakkal Deepak, MBBS, MS, an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, and David H. Ballard, MD, an assistant professor of radiology at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, both of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and Satish Viswanath, PhD, an associate professor in pediatrics and in biomedical engineering at Emory […]

Celebrating Millman and Lee: Bold Thinkers Driving Medical Progress

Jeffrey R. Millman, MD and Jin-Moo Lee, MD, PhD

Falk Catalyst Awards support pioneering stem-cell discovery and neuromodulation approaches to improve patient lives. WashU Medicine is proud to celebrate two distinguished faculty members — Jeffrey R. Millman, PhD, and Jin-Moo Lee, MD, PhD — as recipients of the Dr. Ralph & Marian Falk Medical Research Trust Catalyst Award. This competitive award supports bold, early-stage […]

November 2025 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 skills, and work ethic: submit here. Residents of the Month Dr. Nick Griffith: “I am a nurse coordinator who works with him in the Resident Clinic. I am nominating […]

Building the Future of General Medicine (Links to an external site)

Dr. McNairy presents keynote

On Thursday, November 20, 2025, Chief of the Divisions of General Medicine, Geriatrics and Hospital Medicine, Dr. Molly McNairy, conducted a keynote address in the Connor Auditorium of the Farrell Learning and Teaching Center. When Molly McNairy, MD, MSc, joined WashU Medicine, she took on the unique challenge of re-imaging the structure of general medicine, […]

Outlook Magazine (Links to an external site)

David H. Perlmutter, MD

Decades ago, during my fellowship, I worked in the lab of a world-renowned investigator who put me on a project that everyone in the lab thought would fail. I think this mentor knew that I needed the deep dive into complex cell biology the project would entail, but he likely also understood that challenge and […]

Department of Medicine 2026 Fellowship Matches

""

The Department of Medicine is proud to announce that we have 77 matched fellows. These physicians bring talent, curiosity and drive to their program built on teamwork and discovery. Please view the list below for more information about each. Fellowships Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology Cardiovascular Disease Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Interventional Cardiology Structural Heart […]

Dr. Alaina Kessler joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Alaina Kessler joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Oncology as an Assistant Professor in June 2025. Dr. Kessler is a board-certified medical oncologist with a focus on breast cancer. She received her medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine as well as a Master of Public Health from […]

Call for Applications: Chief, Division of Gastroenterology

Page Index: Division of Gastroenterology | Department of Medicine | Washington University School of Medicine | BJC HealthCare | Barnes-Jewish Hospital | The St. Louis Region | Nominations & Application Procedure The Chief, Division of Gastroenterology (GI) will lead and grow successful clinical, educational, and research programs in the Division of Gastroenterology. The Division of […]

In Memoriam: William Edwin (Ed) Magee, Sr, MD

Magee

September 2, 1927 – November 25, 2025 Colleagues, I am deeply saddened to share the news that Dr. Ed Magee, Emeritus Clinical Professor of Medicine, passed away on November 25, 2025, at the age of 98.  Born in Sumter, South Carolina, the son of a Baptist minister and a teacher, Dr. Magee became interested in being a […]

Hospitalists Celebrate their Peers at the Second Annual Hospital Medicine Awards (Links to an external site)

Hospitalists Celebrate their Peers at the Second Annual Hospital Medicine Awards

The Social and Wellness Committee organized the Second Annual Hospital Medicine Awards on November 19, 2025. Hospitalists, APCs, and staff came together to enjoy ‘WashU-Giving’ and celebrate their colleagues in the Holden Auditorium in the Farrell Learning and Teaching Center. We shared a delicious Thanksgiving meal, complete with all the traditional fixings, to help reward hospitalists for […]

Call for Applications: Developing Faculty Competencies in Assessment (Links to an external site)

Academy of Educators

Deadline: Sunday, 2/15/26 at 11:59 pm. Overview: This highly interactive course supports faculty skill development in learner assessment (including direct observation, feedback, and more) and in designing and enhancing assessment programs. It is intended for faculty program leaders and front-line faculty assessors across all WashU Medicine health professions and who work with learners at any […]

Call for Applications: Leadership in Education Administration Program (Links to an external site)

Academy of Educators

Application Deadline: Friday, 12/12/25 at 11:59 pm. Overview: This course is designed for ambitious individuals seeking to excel in leadership roles across WashU Medicine’s educational programs. LEAP offers an introductory leadership curriculum that covers essential skills and knowledge, including Change Management, Negotiation, Coaching, Mentoring & Sponsorship, Funds Flow in Education, and more. This course is […]

October 2025 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 skills, and work ethic: submit here. Residents of the Month Dr. Jessica Liebiech: “She is an intern is currently performing at the level of a 3rd year […]

Dr. Akhil Sood joins the Department of Medicine

Dr. Akhil Sood joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology as an Assistant Professor in August 2025. Dr. Sood clinical and research interests focus on systemic lupus erythematosus, with an emphasis on understanding patterns of care and developing strategies to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes. During his fellowship in […]

Together, WashU Medicine MD, OT, PT students treat patients at Pro Bono Health Clinic (Links to an external site)

Lapada Pavanacharoensuk (left), a WashU Medicine physical therapy student volunteer, and Mackenzie Halton (right), a WashU Medicine occupational therapy student leader, work together with a patient on balance, motor skills and memory at the Pro Bono Health Clinic. Medical, occupational therapy and physical therapy students provide services to uninsured and underinsured community members every Friday afternoon.

Makenna Dixon remembers all the appointments during her childhood. Her mother suffered from autoimmune diseases that required countless trips to physical therapy. As her health conditions worsened, Dixon’s mom could no longer work a full-time job, and the lack of insurance through an employer made therapy one financial challenge among many.

Happy Hanukkah (Links to an external site)

""

Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival (December 14 – 22, 2025). The central theme of Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century B.C. and the miracle of the oil. Hanukkah holds great cultural and religious significance for Jewish communities around the world, and the celebration of this festival […]

Happy Kwanzaa (Links to an external site)

""

Kwanzaa is a secular festival observed from December 26th through January 1st as part of a celebration of African American cultural heritage and traditional values.

Las Posadas (Links to an external site)

""

Las Posadas is a traditional Mexican celebration that takes place from December 16th to December 24th, marking the nine days before Christmas. This event holds significant cultural and religious importance in Mexico and other Latin American countries, as well as among Latino communities in the United States.

Merry Christmas

""

December 25th is celebrated as both a religious holiday and a global cultural and commercial event. People around the world celebrate this holiday through a variety of religious and secular traditions. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their […]

Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week

""

Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week takes place from December 1-7 each year, spotlighting the nearly 3 million Americans living with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These chronic, lifelong conditions cause inflammation in the digestive tract, leading to symptoms that can significantly impact quality of life, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, […]

Obituary: Brian Andrew Van Tine, MD, PhD

Colleagues, I am deeply saddened to share the news that Brian Andrew Van Tine, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine and of Pediatrics and a nationally recognized leader in sarcoma research and early-phase clinical therapeutics, passed away on November 8, 2025, at the age of 53, after a brief, challenging battle following an acute illness.  A […]

Prabhu Coauthors ACC Scientific Statement on inflammation and cardiovascular disease (Links to an external site)

Sumanth Prabu, MD, Lewin Distinguished Professor of Cardiovascular Diseases and Chief of the WashU Cardiovascular Division

Sumanth Prabu, MD, Lewin Distinguished Professor of Cardiovascular Diseases and Chief of the WashU Cardiovascular Division, co-authored the 2025 scientific statement published by the American College of Cardiology on the role of inflammation in cardiovascular disease. The new statement reviews residual inflammatory risk, screening & management, and new anti-inflammatory strategies.

Silverstein co-authors study defining how age shapes Cushing disease and its treatment outcomes  (Links to an external site)

Julie M. Silverstein, MD, Professor of Medicine and Neurological Surgery, and Medical Director of the Pituitary Center in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Lipid Research at WashU Medicine

Julie M. Silverstein, MD, Professor of Medicine and Neurological Surgery, and Medical Director of the Pituitary Center in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Lipid Research at WashU Medicine, is co-author of a study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 

Inaugural Jack Sarver Prize honors groundbreaking research by WashU Medicine scientist (Links to an external site)

Zainab Mahmoud, MD

 Zainab Mahmoud, M.D., M.Sc., an assistant professor of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and Zhao Zhang, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, will receive the inaugural Jack Sarver Prize in Clinical Science and Jack Sarver Prize in Basic Science, respectively, at […]