The official newsletter of the Department of Medicine - Vol. 24
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Dear colleagues and friends,
At WashU Medicine, our unwavering focus remains on our mission—research, education, and patient care. I am thrilled to share several notable achievements from our Department of Medicine.
Five of our faculty members have been selected for the prestigious 2025 ASCI Awards, and two have been elected as 2025 ASCI Members. Ying Maggie Chen, MD, PhD, was awarded an R56 Grant, Benjamin Humphreys, MD, PhD, Chief of Nephrology, received the 2024 National Kidney Foundation Award of Excellence, and Jose Saenz, MD, PhD, was honored with an NIH R01 Award, to name just a few. These accomplishments are a testament to the exceptional work happening within our department.
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In this DOM Insider, we are pleased to spotlight Jessica Williams, MD, a dedicated rheumatologist and clinical researcher who is making significant strides in understanding lupus, an autoimmune disease that disproportionately affects women, racial and ethnic minorities, and individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Be sure to read about her important work and her efforts to uncover the reasons behind these health disparities.
We also extend our congratulations to Alan Braverman, MD and Amy McQueen, PhD, as they step into new leadership roles within the department. Their expertise and vision will undoubtedly contribute to further advancing our clinical, educational, and research missions.
Thank you, as always, for your continued dedication and support of the Department of Medicine. Together, we are setting new standards for excellence, and I am excited to see what we will accomplish in 2025. I invite you to follow the Department of Medicine on our social media platforms for the latest DOM updates and news.
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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Brett Lab study reports molecular interaction map of Alzheimer’s disease target TREM2 |
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Rheumatologist and Researcher Focuses on Lupus Care and Rural Health |
Dr. Jessica Williams, Assistant Professor of Medicine, WashU Medicine Division of Rheumatology, is a dedicated rheumatologist and clinical researcher with a deep commitment to advancing our understanding of lupus, an autoimmune disease of unknown cause that disproportionately affects women, racial and ethnic minorities, and individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Her work aims to uncover the reasons behind these disparities and develop strategies to improve diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes for affected populations.
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The ANDES study team after a meeting with the Ministry of Health in Lima, Peru. The WashU team: front row, first from left Dr. de las Fuentes; second from right Dr. Lindsay Underhill; back row
Dr. Davila-Roman.
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| Global Studies Examine Hypertension Management and Barriers to Care |
At WashU’s Global Health Center in the Institute for Public Health, teams of cardiologists, implementation scientists, and other experts are spearheading efforts to address one of the world’s most common and treatable risk factors for cardiovascular disease: hypertension. These efforts span multiple NIH/NHLBI-funded studies underway in Peru, Nigeria, India, and the United States.
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| Hospitalists Form Addiction Medicine Subcommittee to Tackle Patient Care Issues |
In 2023, several like-minded hospitalists noticed a gap in patient care, provider knowledge, and research within the division and hospital regarding the treatment of patients with addiction. These physicians— (top l-r) Benjamin Hoemann, MD; Thomas Hoyt, MD; Alex Lane, MD; (bottom l-r) Randy Laine, MD; Alyssa Moller, MD; and Corey Shy, MD—decided to come together to discuss these issues and address them, forming the Addiction Medicine Subcommittee.
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| Nasal COVID-19 vaccine based on WashU technology to enter U.S. clinical trials |
A nasal vaccine for COVID-19 – based on technology developed at Washington University in St. Louis – is poised to enter a phase 1 clinical trial in the U.S. after an investigational new drug application from Ocugen, Inc. was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Ocugen, a U.S.-based biotechnology company, licensed the innovative technology from WashU in 2022.
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| New Vaccine Developed at WashU Medicine Shows Promise Against Aggressive Breast Cancer |
There’s a groundbreaking treatment being developed at WashU Medicine for women with an extremely aggressive form of breast cancer. A small clinical trial shows promising results for patients with triple-negative breast cancer who received an investigational vaccine designed to prevent recurrence of tumors.
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Awards/Fellowships/Honors/Accolades |
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Ten Department of Medicine 2025 Dean’s Impact Awardees |
The 2025 Dean’s Impact Awards recognize faculty who have demonstrated an enduring commitment and achievement in community engagement.
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(top l-r) Drs. Angela Brown, Koushik Das, Seth Eisen, Juliet Iwelunmor, Barbara Lutey (bottom l-r) Laura Marks, Manasa Metireddy, Nathanial Nolan, Linda Peterson, and Jean Wang
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| Henderson receives a Hypothesis Fund award for Bacterial Infection Research
(Read article)
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Three faculty members awarded $3 million NIMH grant for HIV prevention in Africa (Read article)
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Siteman Cancer Center Announces 2025 American Cancer Society-Funded Pilot Projects (Read article)
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R56 NIH Grant Awarded to Physician-Scientist Ying Maggie Chen (Read article)
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Braverman (left) and McQueen
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| Dr. Alan Braverman named Section Head of General Cardiology (Read article)
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Dr. Amy McQueen named Director of Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (Read article)
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Office of Faculty Development (OFD) |
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Congratulations to the 2024 cohort for successfully completing the DOM Leadership Training Course (LTC) organized by the Office of Faculty Development. The course included eight half-day sessions from November 2024 through January 2025 covering topics such as Systems Thinking, Self-Awareness/Managing Yourself, Managing Others, Conflict Management, Facilitation Skills and Meeting Management, Healthcare Quality Measurement and Improvement, Healthcare Administration, and Leadership Moments. The LTC sessions were led by Dr. Clay Dunagan, Denise Murphy, and Dr. Russell Hoffman.
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DOM Leadership Training Course – 2024 Cohort & Facilitators
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| Dr. Milan Anadkat
Vice Chair of Faculty Development
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The Office of Faculty Development launched a monthly Faculty Development Seminar Series on January 15, 2025 with a talk on “Enhancing Your Presentation” presented by Dr. Tom De Fer and Steve Pijut. The January session was followed by "Improving EPIC Efficiency" presented by Sara Driemeier (Project Manager EPIC EHR Training and Epic Clinical Informaticist) on Thursday, February 13, 2025.
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Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Allyship & Social Justice (IDEAS) at DOM |
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On February 10th, IDEAS at DOM and the IDEAS Housestaff Council hosted a breakfast as part of Internal Medicine Resident Funuary, a month-long celebration organized by the IM Chief Residents to boost resident morale and wellness. Internal Medicine residents had the opportunity to visit and network with several Internal Medicine faculty members involved in IDEAS at DOM programs.
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Mentorship to Enhance Diversity in Academia (MEDA) |
Mentorship to Enhance Diversity in Academia (MEDA) Program and the WashU Black Postdoctoral Association hosted Dr. Kia Caldwell, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Diversity and Professor of African American Studies, to launch their Spring 2025 Career Seminar Series on January 30, 2025. Dr. Caldwell presented an insightful talk and provided valuable advice on discovering one’s purpose, along with her tips & strategies for thriving. View more details on the upcoming sessions.
On January 31, 2025, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) & Office of Diversity Programs along with IDEAS at DOM held the 8th Annual Residents Virtual Showcase.
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| Dr. Angela L. Brown
Vice Chair of Health Equity
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Medicine Grand Rounds was sponsored by OUTmed on February 13, 2025. Dr. Michael Mazzeo, Dean and Knight Family Professor of the WashU Olin Business School presented “Excellence, Opportunity and Belonging: Why Inclusion Still Matters in Business and Health”.
Join OUTmed for a discussion on mentorship and how to maximize your training environment on March 12, 2025. Featured Panelists: Daniel Castro, PhD (he/him) – Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, PI in the Biophotonics Research Center Paige Coughlin, MD (she/her) – Resident, Internal Medicine Sara Hamilton (she/her) – Clinic Administration, Department of Neurology Wanda Mahoney, Phd, OTR/L, FAOTA (she/her) – Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy. Dinner will be provided.
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Vice Chair for the Advancement of Women’s Careers |
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Advancing Women in Academic Medicine (AWAM) |
Forum for Women in Medicine (FWIM) |
FWIM Trainee Leadership Development Program Graduation (FLDP): We have had 4 out of the total 7 sessions this year, including Finding Meaning and Purpose in Medicine, Building your Academic Team for Success, Communicating Effectively, Adapting Your Style, and Leadership and Communication Skills. The longitudinal program provides our next generation of women with critical skills to lead effectively and build a network of support. Learn more.
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| Dr. Rakhee Bhayani
Vice Chair for the Advancement of Women’s Careers
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Workshop: Virtual workshop with Karen Dodson, MBA. "Biomedical Journal Publishing: Strategies for Success": March 5, 2025 | 5:30 - 7:00 pm | Online | RSVP/Details
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Women in Medicine Grand Rounds: April 10, 2025 | 8:00 - 9:00 am | Clopton Auditorium | Details
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Visiting Professor Luncheon: May 1, 2025 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm | Wohl Clinic Building | Details
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CV Workshop: May 6, 2025 | 5:00 - 7:00 pm | Details
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For more information and future events, please visit our website.
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Vice Chair of Clinical Research |
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The DOM Clinical Research Webpage is now live! |
We are currently working to enhance this page, and we need your help! If you are a clinical researcher or interested in developing your clinical research skills, please explore the resources available here and share your feedback on how we can better assist you. You will find numerous links to campus locations that offer support for your trials and clinical research projects. We will also post alerts and announcements about training sessions and resources relevant to clinical scientists in our department.
Additionally, we encourage you to use the website to nominate a Clinical Trial of the Month or a Clinical Researcher of the Month. This initiative will help foster communication and recognition within the department for those engaged in this vital work. Thank you for your support!
Learn more about Clinical Research in the Department
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| Dr. Nancy Sweitzer
Vice Chair of Clinical Research
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Clinical Trials Investigator Training Course, offered through our ICTS partner, University of Missouri. Prior attendees have found this course to be a valuable introduction to understand the roles, responsibilities, and tips for conduct of clinical trials: May 9, 2025 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm | RSVP/Details
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Vice Chairs of Safety, Quality, and Operations |
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- As part of the Epic feature release scheduled for 2/16/2025 there will be a “Pause” button on the Discharge Medication Reconciliation Navigator that will allow providers to instruct patients to temporarily stop taking a medication at discharge. More information is available on upcoming Epic Action Report emails.
- Patient Safety week is March 9-15, 2025.
- Consider nominating yourself or a colleague for a Golden Glove Great Catch Patient safety award. View Details.
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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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Global Cardiovascular Disease Seed Funding open March 1 thru March 31, 2025. View Details
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March 7, 2025
12:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Eric P. Newman Education Center
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| March 19, 2025
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Clark-Fox Forum, Hillman Hall
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| April 2, 2025
8:30 am - 2:45 pm
Eric P. Newman Education Center
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April 30, 2025 - May 01, 2025
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| May 01, 2025 - May 03, 2025
Eric P. Newman Education Center
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| May 7, 2025
9:00 am - 1:00 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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