Department of Medicine 

2024-2025 Academic Year of Impact

Welcome from the Chair

Dear colleagues and friends,

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 our community, policy changes negatively impacting research funding and healthcare, budget restrictions and threats to our cherished values of diversity, equity and inclusive excellence.

Vicky Fraser, MD

Despite these challenges, our people displayed resilience, fortitude, and hard work which enabled us to thrive. Our faculty, staff and trainees dealt with these challenges by caring for patients impacted by the tornado and volunteering with donations and clean up, increasing our grant submissions and research funding, improving patient access by expanding clinics, booking to the no show rate, adding new clinics and procedure days and providing continued programming to support community outreach and  faculty, staff and trainee engagement. We have a record number of medical students going into internal medicine, our residents had a very successful fellowship match, with many staying on here in the Department and our residents are doing incredibly well. 

We also have a new affiliation agreement that better aligns WashU Medicine with BJC. This new agreement allows our department’s clinical programs to grow into more BJC hospitals and provides greater opportunity to expand clinical research and educational programs in the region. We are recruiting and growing and we are committed to continue to excel in all aspects of our tripartite mission.

Our new "Year of Impact" report highlights many of the outstanding achievements in the Department over the past year. This comprehensive overview showcases our most significant research, significant grants awarded, high impact publications, notable honors and awards and new leadership in the Department. These milestones not only reflect our commitment to excellence but also our continuous drive to innovate and lead in the field of medicine. I invite you to join me in celebrating these accomplishments and take pride in the collective efforts that have made this year extraordinary.

Warm regards,
Vicky Fraser, MD, Adolphus Busch Professor of Medicine, Chair, Department of Medicine

$233M

Research Funding

876

Total Faculty

665K

Outpatient Visits

1649

Grants

79

New Faculty

33K

Inpatient Admissions

$61.2M

Clinical Trial Awards

168

Fellows

$94.73M

Clinical Growth/sites

2068

Publications

184

Residents

$15.97M

Gifts/Donations

Research Highlights

Anuja Java, MD, published in Science Direct (Read article) 

Hunter Cassidy Cochran, MD, published in Leukemia & Lymphoma (Read article)

In a report published in Science Immunology, co-first authors Jennifer Foltz, PhD and Jennifer Tran, PhD build on prior work from senior author Todd Fehniger, MD, PhD (Read article) 

Jennifer A. Philips, MD, PhD and Ekansh Mittal, PhD, published in Nature Microbiology (Read article)

Ali Javaheri, MD, PhD, featured in 50th anniversary edition of Cell (Read article) 

Thomas A. Odeny, MD, MPH, PhD, published in Science Direct with new insights into HIV and cancer research
(Read article)

Polypill proposed to change the heart failure treatment paradigm (Read article) 

Vaccine Shows Promise Against Aggressive Breast Cancer
(Read article)

Brian Gage, MD, MSc, research on mycophenolic acid in lung transplant recipients, published in the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation
(Read article) 

Weight-loss drugs may boost health in many ways
(Read article)

Study reports molecular interaction map of Alzheimer’s disease target TREM2
(Read article)

Abhinav Diwan, MD Lab, published Cover Story in Journal of Clinical Investigation (Read article) 

Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics Linked To Increased Risk For Adverse Drug Events Among Outpatients With CAP
(Read article)

New drug resistance marker identified in liver fluke parasite (Read article) 

 

New Faculty Leadership

Colin Diffie, MD

Colin Diffie, MD: Section Chief of Rheumatology at the John Cochran VAMC
(Read article) 

Michael Durkin, MD, MPH

Michael Durkin, MD, MPH: Section Chief of Infectious Diseases at the John Cochran VAMC 
(Read article) 

Amy McQueen, PhD

Amy McQueen, PhD: Director of Master of Science in Clinical Investigation
(Read article) 

Bryce Montané, MD

Bryce Montané, MD: Assistant Clerkship Director for the Internal Medicine Clerkship
(Read article) 

Thomas Nickolas, MD, MS

Thomas Nickolas, MD, MS: Bone and Mineral Diseases Division Chief 
(Read article) 

Deborah Parks, MD

Deborah Parks, MD: Medical Director of the Medicine Multispecialty Center and Infusion Center 
(Read article) 

Ian Ross, MD

Ian Ross, MD: Section Chief of Medical Education at the John Cochran VAMC
(Read article) 

Gregory Sayuk, MD, MPH

Gregory Sayuk, MD, MPH: Section Chief of Gastroenterology at the John Cochran VAMC (Read article) 

Marc Sintek, MD

Marc Sintek, MD: Director of the BJH Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory   
(Read article) 

Robert White, MD, PhD

Robert White, MD, PhD: Section Chief of Neurology at the John Cochran VAMC 
(Read article) 

Darcy Wooten, MD

Darcy Wooten, MD: Director of ID Fellowship Program (Read article) 

Alan Zajarias, MD

Alan Zajarias, MD: Director, Interventional and Structural Research (Read article) 

 

Professorship Installations

Monica Chang-Panesso, MD

Monica Chang-Panesso, MD, as the Roger M. Perlmutter Career Development Assistant Professor

Li Ding, PhD

Li Ding, PhD, as the David English Smith Professor of Medicine

Jennifer Philips, MD, PhD

Jennifer Philips, MD, PhD, as the Theodore and Bertha Bryan Professor of Environmental Medicine

Sumanth D. Prabhu, MD

Sumanth D. Prabhu, MD, as the Tobias and Hortense Lewin Distinguished Professor of Cardiovascular Diseases

Alessandro Vindigni, PhD

Alessandro Vindigni, PhD, as the Ira M. Lang Endowed Chair

21

Professors

18

Associate Professors

31

Assistant Professors

View full list of promotions

Large Funded Research Grants

Principal InvestigatorDivision/Group SponsorGrantAward Total
Michael Diamond, MD, PhDInfectious DiseasesNational Institute Of HealthFlavivirus And Alphavirus Revampp33,122,681
Bill Powderly, MDInstitute of Clinical & Translational SciencesNational Institute Of HealthAdminCore - WUICTS UL1 YR99,335,360
Michael Diamond, MD, PhDInfectious DiseasesVanderbilt UniversityProtect against Emergent Alphaviruses through Computation2,549,992
Sanjay Jain, MD, PhDNephrology & Kidney CentersNational Institute Of HealthKidney Single Cell And Spatial Molecular Atlas Project1,819,951
Dominic Reeds, MDInstitute of Clinical & Translational SciencesNational Institute Of HealthWUICTS KL2 Y9 - WU Institute Of Clinical And Translational Sciences1,400,164
Juliet Iwelunmor, PhDInfectious DiseasesNational Institute Of HealthSustaining Innovative Tools To Expand Youth-Friendly Hiv Self-Testing1,148,574
Li Ding, PhDOncologyNational Institute Of HealthWashington University Pdx Development And Trial Center1,076,914
Li Ding, PhD
OncologyNational Institute Of HealthHuman Prostate Tumor Atlas Center1,023,935
Sanjay Jain, MD, PhDNephrologyNational Institute Of HealthSingle Cell Multiomic And Spatial Atlas Of Acute And Chronic Kidney Injury1,020,430
Clay F. Semenkovich, MDEndocrinologyNational Institute Of HealthDiabetes And Related Metabolic Diseases1,010,582
View all Department of Medicine grants ≥ $300,000
 

Key Honors and Awards

Dr. Michael Diamond

Dr. Michael Diamond

Diamond elected to National Academy of Sciences

Two scientists at Washington University in St. Louis are among the 120 members and 24 international members recently elected to the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Election to the academy is considered one of the highest honors accorded a U.S. scientist or engineer.

Read article
Drs. Ramaswamy Govindan (left) & Nancy Sweitzer

Drs. Ramaswamy Govindan (left) & Nancy Sweitzer

WashU Medicine chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society announces class of 2024

The Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society chapter at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has announced 25 inductees for its Class of 2024. The AOA is a national organization with a mission to recognize and support leadership, high educational achievement and effective teaching as well as service to others. The Washington University chapter has more than 450 physicians.

Read article
Dr. Gregory Lanza

Dr. Gregory Lanza

Lanza named fellow of National Academy of Inventors

Gregory Lanza, MD, PhD, the James R. Hornsby Family Professor in Biomedical Sciences in the John T. Milliken Department of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). He is an accomplished innovator who has patented numerous nanoparticle-based methods applied in imaging, diagnostics and drug delivery.

Read article
Dr. John P. Atkinson

Dr. John P. Atkinson

Atkinson, American Academy of Arts & Sciences

Four Washington University in St. Louis faculty are among 250 newly elected members of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, one of the nation’s most prestigious honorary societies. Founded in 1780, the academy honors exceptional scholars, leaders, artists and innovators and engages them in sharing knowledge and addressing challenges facing the world. 

Read article
(top l-r) Drs. Anubha Agarwal, Francesca Ferraro, Michael Paley (bottom l-r) Drs. Ryan B. Day and Max Petersen

(top l-r) Drs. Anubha Agarwal, Francesca Ferraro, Michael Paley (bottom l-r) Ryan B. Day and Max Petersen

Five DOM Faculty Receive 2025 American Society for Clinical Investigation Awards

Anubha Agarwal, MD, MSc, Francesca Ferraro, MD, PhD and Michael Paley, MD, PhD were among the 2025 Awardees for the Young Physician-Scientist Award. Additionally, Ryan B. Day, MD, PhD and Max Petersen, MD, PhD were recognized as Emerging Scientist Awardees. The American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) announced the 2025 Awardees for the Young Physician-Scientist Award along with the Emerging Scientist Awards.

Read article
Angela C. Hirbe, MD, PhD and  Stephen T. Oh, MD, PhD

Drs. Angela C. Hirbe (left) & Stephen T. Oh

Hirbe and Oh elected for American Society for Clinical Investigation 2025 Members

Angela C. Hirbe, MD, PhD along with Stephen T. Oh, MD, PhD were selected for The American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) 2025 Members. The ASCI is a nonprofit medical honor society composed of more than 3,000 physician-scientists representing all medical specialties. The Society is dedicated to the advancement of research that extends understanding of diseases and improves treatment, and members are committed to mentoring future generations of physician-scientists.

Read article

Ten Department of Medicine faculty received 2025 Dean’s Impact awards

The 2025 Dean’s Impact Awards recognize faculty who have demonstrated an enduring commitment and achievement in community engagement. 

Read article

(top l-r) Drs. Angela Brown, Koushik Das, Seth Eisen, Juliet Iwelunmor, and Barbara Lutey (bottom l-r) Laura Marks, Manasa Metireddy, Nathanial Nolan, Linda Peterson, Jean Wang

Drs. Janice Hanson (left) and Nigar Kirmani

Drs. Janice Hanson (left) and Nigar Kirmani

Hanson along with Kirmani, received the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award 

Janice Hanson, PhD, EdS, MH, and Nigar Kirmani, MD, received the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2021, and recognizes current Washington University Faculty members with at least twenty years of service as faulty in an academic teaching setting who has shown a lifelong commitment to education and demonstrates excellence in one or more domains or educational service, leadership or scholarship.

Read article

Eight Department of Medicine faculty were inducted into the Academy of Educators and honored with educational awards

The Academy of Educators unites faculty committed to fostering a culture of educational excellence at WashU Medicine. They will collaborate with fellow educators to enhance health science education and contribute to initiatives that elevate teaching and mentorship within the institution.

Read article

(top l-r) Drs. Ellen Binder, Seth Goldberg, Frank O’Brien, Kaytlin Reedy-Rogier (bottom l-r) Amy Riek, David Vermette, Darcy Wooten, and Lisa Zickuhr

2024 and 2025 Castle Connolly Top Doctors®

The Department of Medicine is proud of all our faculty who were selected for the 2024 and 2025 Castle Connolly Top Doctors® lists. 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. More information can be found at the Top Doctors® website. This list is also published every August by St. Louis Magazine. 

View 2024 List
View 2025 List
 

Clinical Highlights

Siteman to welcome first patients in new building dedicated exclusively to cancer care (Read article)

Hepatitis C ElimiNATION awareness tour (Read article)

WashU now offers safe and effective, nonsurgical treatment option for benign thyroid nodules  (Read article) 

St. Louis VA performs WATCHMAN heart implant procedure (Read article)

DOLF Leadership visits clinical trial sites in Liberia and Ivory Coast (Read article)

King-Morris’ Maternal Fetal Medicine Nephrology Program to expand (Read article) 

WashU Medicine Divisions of Pulmonary and Infectious Diseases selected as Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center (Read article)

Division faculty promote heart health in school outreach program (Read article)

Hospitalists advancing local and national efforts to enhance diagnostic excellence
(Read article) 

Nigeria launches sodium reduction guidelines developed with WashU Medicine research
(Read article)

Global studies examine hypertension management and barriers to care (Read article)

Hospitalists form Addiction Medicine Subcommittee to tackle patient care issues
(Read article) 

Nasal COVID-19 vaccine based on WashU technology to enter U.S. clinical (Read article)

New vaccine developed at WashU Medicine shows promise against aggressive breast cancer (Read article)

Most Viewed Medicine Grand Round

Alveolar Type 2 Cell Rejuvenation as a Window into Reversing Progressive Fibrosis and Promoting Lung Healthspan

Speaker: Paul W. Noble, MD
Professor of Medicine Director, Women’s Guild Lung Institute Vera and Paul Guerin Family Distinguished Chair in Pulmonary Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

I. Jerome Flance Visiting Professor of Medicine Lecture

View all archived Medicine Grand Rounds
Web Site FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedInYouTube

Contact DOM Media/Marketing Team (dom.media@wustl.edu) if you have questions or requests about social media, marketing, websites, web design, etc.

 
WashU Medicine Logo
 

View this email online.

660 S. Euclid Ave. | St. Louis, MO 63110 US

This email was sent to tolliver.m@wustl.edu.
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.