The official newsletter of the Department of Medicine
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Dear colleagues and friends,
The start of a new school year is upon us, and we gratefully celebrate more than 50 new faculty, plus the outstanding new group of residents and fellows who have joined the Department of Medicine Divisions. Their expertise and dedication strengthen our shared commitment to excellence in patient care, research, and education.
It is a pleasure to announce that Eva Aagaard, MD, has been named the inaugural recipient of the Deans Medal for Education. This honor reflects her outstanding contributions to the Dean’s Office, Graduate and Undergraduate Medical Education, curriculum renewal, the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, and her unwavering leadership and advocacy for medical educators.
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We also celebrate the recognition of 167 Department of Medicine faculty members who have been selected for the 2025 Castle Connolly Top Doctors® list. This distinction is based entirely on merit and reflects both clinical excellence and exceptional interpersonal care. We congratulate all who have earned this honor.
Join us in welcoming Barbara Trautner, MD, PhD, to the Division of Infectious Diseases as Co-Chief. She will partner with Jennifer Philips, MD, PhD, the Theodore and Bertha Bryan Professor of Medicine, who continues to serve as Co-Chief leading the division’s basic science research initiatives.
This edition of the DOM Insider spotlights Matthew Ciorba, MD, an accomplished gastroenterologist and nationally recognized leader in inflammatory bowel disease research. His work at the WashU IBD Center exemplifies our mission to integrate innovation, compassion, and collaboration in patient care.
Currently, we are navigating a time of significant change, including a degree of uncertainty regarding the impact of funding for the NIH and CDC. Despite the challenges we have much to be proud of as our clinical programs continue to grow at about 10% year over year and our research funding is up 7.8% to $233M last year. WashU is closely monitoring these developments and remains committed to adapting and prioritizing our tripartite mission: excellence in patient care, research, and education. We are confident in our ability to uphold our values throughout these challenges.
I invite you to explore this newsletter and learn more about the remarkable achievements, awards, and research led by our faculty, staff, and trainees. Together, we continue to strengthen our department’s impact and uphold the values that define our work.
Warm regards,
Vicky Fraser, MD, Adolphus Busch Professor of Medicine, Chair, Department of Medicine
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A listing of all current Department of Medicine grants ≥ $300,000 is available here.
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View recent publications across the Department of Medicine via the Publications page.
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Your gift will help recruit and retain outstanding faculty, support life-saving research and patient care and help train the next generation of leaders in medicine.
Make your gift here.
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High Impact Research Publications |
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Mobley-Butler Reveals Antibiotics in First Trimester May Raise Risk of Birth Defects (Read article)
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Catheter and Surgical Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (Read article)
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Study proposes novel drug to target arterial thrombosis (Read article)
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| Spotlight on Dr. Matthew A. Ciorba |
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Building a World-Class Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
When Dr. Ciorba arrived at Washington University School of Medicine in 2001, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was still poorly understood, and treatment options were limited. Today, as director of the Washington University IBD Center, he leads one of the top programs in the nation—combining expert clinical care, groundbreaking research, and innovative education for the next generation of specialists. Dr. Ciorba’s journey into IBD care began during his medical training at the University of Iowa. On a colorectal surgery rotation, he saw firsthand the toll Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis could take on patients—sometimes leaving them malnourished, in pain, and facing major surgery. “I realized this was a patient population in real need,” he recalls. “And I wanted to be part of finding better answers.”
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2025 Castle Connolly Top Doctors® |
The Department of Medicine is proud to announce that 167 of our faculty have been selected for the 2025 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.
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Dr. Armin Ghobadi, prepares the new “universal” CAR-T cell product for a patient’s infusion as part of a clinical trial
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| Innovative immunotherapy shows promise against aggressive T cell cancers |
A new type of immunotherapy that targets aggressive blood cancers shows promising results alongside manageable side effects, according to the results of an international phase 1/2 clinical trial led by researchers at WashU Medicine.
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Sarah Gale (left), research lab manager of Millman Lab, next to Dr. Jeffrey Millman
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| Millman’s technology succeeds in new stem cell therapy trial, offering hope for type 1 diabetes |
A groundbreaking clinical trial utilizing technology developed previously by Jeffrey R. Millman, PhD, has reported promising new findings in the treatment of type 1 diabetes (T1D). The study, conducted by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, evaluated a stem cell-derived islet (SC-islet) replacement therapy known as Zimislecel.
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| Region’s first patient receives sickle cell gene therapy |
Martin Mwita Jr.’s symptoms started when he was just an infant, with painful swelling of his hands and feet, often one of the first manifestations of sickle cell disease. By the time he was a year old, he had been hospitalized multiple times due to the illness. At just 19 months, he suffered strokes and serious blood-vessel blockages in his lungs, resulting in severe complications that left him in a coma.
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| Trautner contributes to IDSA Clinical Guidelines for cUTIs |
IDSA has released the first IDSA guidelines on management and treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs). These guidelines provide practical advice for clinicians who manage patients with cUTIs in inpatient and outpatient settings.
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In Memoriam: Dr. Stuart A. Kornfeld, Professor Emeritus of Medicine, 88
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Renowned hematologist pioneered field of glycobiology, made significant contributions to physician-scientist training
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It is with deep sadness that we share the news that Dr. Stuart Arthur Kornfeld, Professor Emeritus, passed away on Sunday, August 17, 2025, from complications of Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Kornfeld pioneered our understanding of glycoprotein structure, function and biosynthesis. His translational work led to key findings improving the diagnosis and treatment of lysosomal storage diseases.
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| Dr. Stuart Arthur Kornfeld
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Awards/Fellowships/Honors/Accolades |
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(top l-r) Drs. Adkins, Chheda, DeNardo, Fehniger, Grierson
(bottom l-r) Drs. Odeny, Oh, Ratner, Singh, Spencer
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| Siteman Investment Program Awards $2.42 Million for Cancer Research |
Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine is pleased to announce funding for 12 new projects, including four clinical trials. Through this research, investigators aim to improve the understanding of tumor formation and growth, develop safer, more effective therapies, and explore new cancer screening strategies.
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Barnes-Jewish Hospital Ranked #28 Nationally for Cardiology, Heart and Vascular Surgery by U.S. News and World Report (Read article)
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Kim received St. Baldrick’s Foundation Scholar Grant (Read article)
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Department of Veterans Affairs Challenge Coin presented to Bernal-Mizrachi (Read article)
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| Podany received 2025 Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award
(Read article)
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Riek received Endocrinology Teacher of the Year Award (Read article)
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| | Fang awarded 2025 American Heart Association (AHA) Postdoctoral Fellowship
(Read article)
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Chheda named associate director of The Brain Tumor Center (Read article)
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| | Jones appointed Associate Program Director for Internal Medicine Residency
(Read article)
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| Joynt Maddox accepted new roles at American Heart Association
(Read article)
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Katchi named
Co-Director of Advanced Cardiac Imaging (Read article)
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Sadhu appointed as the Cardiology/ Medicine Firm Medical Director
(Read article)
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| | Sweitzer new officer for Hearth Failure Society of America
(Read article)
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Office of Faculty Development (OFD) |
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Join the Office of Faculty Development for the next hybrid seminar session on September 10th from 12 - 1 pm in EPNEC Seminar Room A. Come Learn about Diagnosis Aware Notes (DAN) and learn valuable M*Modal tips and tricks from Sarah Driemeier, MSN, RN, and Jen Almeter, MBA, members of the Washington University Clinical Assistance Team (WUCAT).
For more details on the upcoming sessions of the OFD Faculty Development Seminar Series and to view past session recordings, please visit the OFD Faculty Development Seminar Series.
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| Dr. Milan Anadkat
Vice Chair of Faculty Development
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Summer events were planned as part of the HEaR Initiative, offering wellness and resilience activities for DOM faculty, staff, and trainees.
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10-Minute Therapeutic Chair Massages for DOM Faculty and Staff provided by LMT, Sheyenne Carter (June 2025).
- Community Connections – Board Game & Networking event sponsored by IDEAS at DOM programs (MEDA, FWIM, AWAM, OUTmed, IDEAS Residency Initiative). Attendees networked with one another while playing board games (July 2025).
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Self-care practitioner, Eileen Wolfington, M.Ed, presented the Healing Power of Sound - a session in sound meditation and mindfulness (July 2025).
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Through our HEaR Initiative, we recently collaborated with the Urban League of St. Louis to gather non-perishable food items, general supplies, and essential infant and hygiene products for those impacted by the May 16th tornado. We are thankful to our WashU colleagues for their generous donations, which allowed us to deliver supplies for distribution to affected community members. Additionally, we provided information about volunteer opportunities to our department colleagues to further support the community.
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Dr. Angela L. Brown
Vice Chair for Community Health
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Mentorship to Enhance Development in Academia (MEDA) |
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Group picture before the Grand Parade at Pride Fest
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OUTmed along with the WashU Chancellor’s Office and WashU Olin Business School returned as an Equality sponsor of St. Louis Pride Fest 2025 held June 28-29 in downtown St. Louis. OUTmed members taught participants about using Narcan to prevent opiate overdoses. They also provided information on WashU resources for booth visitors. Over 100 WashU Med and Danforth attendees, their families, and friends marched in the Grand Parade, wearing coordinating OUTmed
t-shirts. (Read article)
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Vice Chair for Career Advancement |
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As we move into the new academic year, I am excited to share updates on two key initiatives in the Department of Medicine: AWAM (Advancing the Workforce in Medicine) and FWIM (Future Workforce in Medicine). Both programs reflect our commitment to supporting faculty and trainees while fostering collaboration, mentorship, and growth.
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Advancing the Workforce in Medicine (AWAM) |
AWAM is dedicated to cultivating an inclusive environment and creating opportunities for career development and advancement. This year we are launching the Award Transparency Project, a comprehensive database of specialty-specific awards designed to increase recognition of faculty across the department. The project was piloted in Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine by Dr. Nguyet Nguyen, with Drs. Maria Baggstrom and Cajal Sumino leading expansion efforts in the Division of Oncology and beyond.
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Future Workforce in Medicine (FWIM) |
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Dr. Rakhee Bhayani
Vice Chair for Career Advancement
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FWIM, established in 2014, continues to provide career development resources and foster community among trainees. This year’s programming will include workshops and events focused on leadership skills and career preparation, with a full schedule to be announced soon.
Be sure to check out our full update from the Vice Chair for Career Advancement.
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Vice Chairs of Safety, Quality, and Operations |
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Welcome to the new academic year! The new bed tower, Plaza West Tower, is slated to open in October 2025. This will be a state-of-the art facility for heart and vascular patients. Please contact Thomas Ciesielski (t.ciesielski@wustl.edu) if you are interested in touring the new bed tower for your clinical service.
Goals for this academic year are to:
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- Improve the use of the supplemental attestation.
- Decrease CAUTI and CLABSI rates on medicine units at Barnes-Jewish Hospitals.
- Continue to partner with Barnes-Jewish Hospital to improve mortality index, decrease length of stay, and decrease readmission rates.
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| Dr. Thomas Ciesielski
Vice Chair of Inpatient Safety, Quality and Operations
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| Dr. Maya Jerath
Vice Chair of Ambulatory Clinical Operations, Safety and Quality
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E-consults are now available for Allergy and Immunology, as well as Dermatology. These allow you to ask a focused clinical question of a specialist via Epic (e.g., type “Econsult Dermatology”), and receive a review and response. If a specialist visit is needed, order a referral instead (e.g., “Refer Dermatology”). Econsults expedite responses when physical visits are unnecessary. Access time for new patient appointments in the DOM has improved due to our efforts to optimize appointment usage. Thank you for your contributions to this progress.
We are also working to educate ambulatory providers on optimal billing strategies to ensure they receive appropriate credit for their work. Outreach to each division will be performed, but if you have immediate questions, please contact Maya Jerath at mjerath@wustl.edu. Additionally, the DOM is conducting edits for HCC coding to ensure proper risk adjustment and payment. Document any HCC condition managed during a visit, including it in the visit diagnosis and detailing your actions in the Assessment and Plan. This impacts the patient's HCC score, affecting reimbursement for their care throughout the year.
Be sure to check out our full update from the Vice Chairs of Safety, Quality, and Operations.
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Welcome to WashU Medicine |
(l to r - 1st row) Drs. Ali Abdelhay; Sayel Alzraikat; Adnan Al Najada; Quazim Alayo; Christine Auberle; Michelle Baliss; Muhammad Yasir Baloch; Sambhawana Bhandari; Ashenafi Bulle; Aaron Case; Melis Gokce Celdir; Shannon Coombs; Edward Daniel (l to r - 2nd row) Drs. Sopiko Gogia Osler Guzon; Fred Karaisz; Gassan Kassim; Parneet Kaur; Brendan Knapp; Adam Kneepkens; Brian Kocak; Francis Loh; Nikita Melnikov; Eugenia Miranti; Eric Mittauer; Majd Mokbel
(l to r - 3rd row) Drs. Kyle Moylan; Bashar Natour; Soophia Naydenov; Ugonna Nwankwo; Jessica Ohemeng-Dapaah; Temitope Ojo; Olufunto Olusanya; Shuchi Pandey; Mrunal Patel; Kirtan Patolia; Emily Podany; Vinathi Polamraju; Adnan Qureshi (l to r - 4th row) Drs. Walter Schiffer; Jia Tang; Shaili Tapiavala; Barbara Trautner; Mathew Thomas; Richard Van Besien; Aarthi Venkatramanan; Nikita Wadhwani; Megan White; Devvrat Yadav; Jesse Zaretsky; David Zhang; Wei Zou
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We extend a warm welcome to our 52 new faculty across 10 divisions. Our DOM website and social media features more information on each faculty member. We invite you to follow us there!
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New Graduate programs in Biomedical data science and AI (Applications open 9/1/2025) | View details
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TL1 Predoctoral Clinical Research Program (Applications open to 12/31/2025) View details
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TL1 Translational Sciences Postdoctoral Program (Applications open to 10/1/2025) | View details
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Mondays, Aug. 25 - Dec. 2, 2025
4:00 - 5:00 pm
Zoom
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| Sept. 5 - 6, 2025
Eric P. Newman Education Center
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| Sept. 10, 2025
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Zoom
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Sept. 22 - 25, 2025
Eric P. Newman Education Center
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| Sept. 25, 2025
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Zoom
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Sept. 26, 2025
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
David Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago
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Sept. 26 - 27, 2025
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel - Chesterfield, MO
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| Oct.1, 2025
9:00 - 10:00 am
Eric P. Newman Education Center
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| Oct.14, 2025
11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Eric P. Newman Education Center
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Contact DOM Media Team (dom.media@wustl.edu) if you have questions or requests about social media, marketing, websites, web design, etc.
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660 S. Euclid Ave. | St. Louis, MO 63110 US
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