The official newsletter of the Department of Medicine
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Dear colleagues and friends,
As we officially welcome spring to St. Louis, I am reminded every day of the incredible accomplishments taking place within the Department of Medicine at WashU Medicine. Together, we are advancing discovery, shaping the future of patient care, and training the next generation of physician-scientists at a scale that is truly unmatched across our institution.
This spirit of growth was especially evident on Match Day, when we were pleased to welcome 68 new interns and residents to the Department of Medicine. Our team eagerly anticipates the energy, expertise, and fresh perspectives these new members will contribute to our community. This marks the beginning of an extraordinary journey toward becoming leaders in healthcare, and our program remains deeply committed to supporting them every step of the way.
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We are also preparing for significant leadership transitions within WashU Medicine. We look forward to officially welcoming Bruce D. Levy, MD, a highly regarded leader in academic medicine and an accomplished physician-scientist, who has been named executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of Washington University School of Medicine. We are excited to welcome him back to St. Louis and look forward to the collaborative work ahead as he leads our institution into the future.
I encourage everyone to attend or listen to Dean Perlmutter’s final State of the School address before he concludes his deanship this summer. He will reflect on our collective progress, highlight key achievements, and share the momentum that is shaping our future. We are profoundly thankful for his leadership over the last decade, and I am personally grateful for the incredible advances we have experienced during his tenure.
In this edition of the DOM Insider, we shine a spotlight on Dr. Tarek Alhamad, a transplant nephrologist whose work perfectly exemplifies our commitment to innovation and patient-centered care. Alhamad is leading critical efforts to expand access to kidney transplantation and improve outcomes for those facing advanced kidney disease. He highlights the life-changing benefits of early transplant referral and emphasizes the urgent need for more kidney donors—particularly living donors—to help patients spend less time on dialysis and live longer, healthier lives.
I am grateful for the dedication of our community, the patients who trust us with their care, and the opportunity to lead such an exceptional department.
As always, thank you for your support of the Department of Medicine.
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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Method spots early signs of infection after breast cancer reconstruction
(Read article)
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Nasal vaccine combats bird flu infection in rodents (Read article)
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Specific brain signals rapidly eliminate body fat in mice (Read article)
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Stopping GLP-1 drugs can quickly erase cardiovascular benefits (Read article)
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Surprising culprit leads to chronic rejection of transplanted lungs, hearts (Read article)
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Kidney Transplantation: A Path to Longer Life, Better Health and Renewed Hope |
For patients with advanced kidney disease, transplantation offers far more than an alternative to dialysis — it offers the chance to live longer, feel better and reclaim a full, active life. “Every day, we see patients whose lives could be transformed by a kidney transplant,” said WashU Medicine – Department of Medicine transplant Nephrologist Dr. Tarek Alhamad. “Our goal is not just survival, but restoring quality of life.”
At WashU Medicine, the kidney transplant program continues to grow steadily, with a target of performing approximately 400 transplants annually by 2027.
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| | Clinical considerations for thyroid dysfunction among older adults |
Sina Jasim, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Lipid Research at WashU Medicine, and Maria Papaleontiou, MD, associate professor of internal medicine in the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes at the University of Michigan, have published a narrative review in Thyroid®, the official journal of the American Thyroid Association.
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| Innovative CAR-T cell therapy receives FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation |
A cell-based immunotherapy designed to treat rare and aggressive types of blood cancer has been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Developed by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, this innovative CAR-T cell therapy is licensed to Wugen, a WashU Medicine startup biotechnology company based in St. Louis’ Cortex Innovation District.
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Thomas Ciesielski, MD, admires the recently published 38th edition of “The Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics,” a bestselling medical book used by doctors around the world.
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| Who wrote the book on medicine? We did! |
Renowned for excellence in patient care, research and education, WashU Medicine is also a publishing powerhouse, home to the No. 1-selling medical textbook in the world. The book — known formally as “The Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics” and informally as “the bible of the medical ward” — has taught generations of physicians how to care for patients since it was first published in 1943.
A product of the John T. Milliken Department of Medicine, the manual is planned, written, edited and produced by chief residents in internal medicine in collaboration with veteran faculty and staff.
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| Awards/Fellowships/Honors/Accolades |
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Eight Department of Medicine 2026 Dean’s Impact Awardees
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The 2026 theme is "Honoring the Focused Excellence of Exemplary Clinicians and Researchers."
Recipients of the Dean’s Impact Awards represent the compassion, innovation, and commitment required to build dynamic, meaningful, and community-focused efforts to improve clinical care, education, and research.
(Read article)
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(top l-r) Drs. Ernie-Paul Barrette, Alan C. Braverman, C. Prakash Gyawali, Deborah Parks (bottom l-r) Chelsea Pearson, Ramaswamy Govindan, Daniel Rosenbluth, and Marcos Rothstein
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Cochran awarded Lymphoma Research Foundation Grant (Read article)
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Hassan named 2026 John Haddad Young Investigator Award Recipient (Read article)
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Herrlich elected to American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (Read article)
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Klein recognized by Endocrine Society for outstanding research (Read article)
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Odeny selected for a Winn Clinical Investigator Leadership Award (Read article)
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| Reno named one of the
2026-2027 ICTS CTRFP Awardees (Read article)
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Steve Brody, MD, elected to Association of American Physicians |
The Department of Medicine proudly congratulates Dr. Brody, on his election to the Association of American Physicians (AAP), one of the nation’s most respected honorary medical societies. Founded in 1885, the AAP recognizes physician scientists whose work has advanced biomedical science and improved human health. (Read article)
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Marty Kerrigan, MD, appointed as Clerkship Director of Internal Medicine |
The Department of Medicine is delighted to announce a significant leadership development and share an exciting opportunity within its educational leadership team. The department congratulates Dr. Kerrigan, on his appointment as the new Clerkship Director of Internal Medicine. (Read article)
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Michael Lin, MD, SFHM, appointed as the new Section Chief of Hospital Medicine in the Division of General Medicine, Geriatrics and Hospital Medicine |
Dr. Lin brings an exceptional track record of leadership, clinical excellence, hospital medicine innovation, and institutional commitment that makes him an outstanding choice for this important role. (Read article)
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Jeffrey R. Millman, PhD, appointed as the Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Professor of Endocrinology in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Lipid Research |
Dr. Millman is a distinguished scientist who discovered the process for converting human pluripotent stem cells into insulin-producing cells a decade ago and his creative scholarship at WashU has driven refinements leading to the recent first successful treatment of type 1 diabetes with allogeneic stem cell-derived islet-cell therapy.
(Read article)
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Office of Faculty Development (OFD) |
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The Office of Faculty Development is excited to announce the Spring 2026 schedule for their Faculty Development Seminar Series. Join us in-person or virtually on April 9th from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. for Don’t Flatline Your Feelings: Emotional Intelligence in Practice presented by Dr. Russell Hoffman.
Congratulations to the 2025-2026 cohort for successfully completing the DOM Leadership Training Course organized by the Office of Faculty Development. This year's cohort consisted of faculty from the Department of Medicine, the Department of Anesthesiology, the Department of Radiology, and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.
The course included eight half-day sessions from December 2025 through February 2026 covering topics such as Self-Awareness/Managing Yourself, Systems Thinking, Managing Others, Conflict Management, Crucial Conversations, and Negotiations, Facilitation Skills and Meeting Management, Healthcare Quality Measurement and Improvement, Healthcare Finance, and Leadership Moments. The LTC sessions were led by Dr. Clay Dunagan, Denise Murphy, and Dr. Russell Hoffman.
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| Dr. Milan Anadkat
Vice Chair of Faculty Development
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Mentorship to Enhance Development in Academia (MEDA) |
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Dr. Angela L. Brown
Vice Chair for Community Health
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2026 Project Heartstrong volunteer group, from left: Mary Uhrich, Homaa Ahmad, MD; Angela Brown, MD; Sarah Nussbaum, MD; Sharon Cresci, MD; Bill Cathey; Crystal Licari, Linda Peterson, MD; Karen Joynt Maddox, MD; Andrew Butler, Sah, MD, PhD, Dawson Haley
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| Community Outreach Spotlight: Project Heartstrong Reaches 10 Year Milestone |
February 2026 was the 10th consecutive year that faculty and staff from the WashU Medicine Cardiovascular Division have visited the Normandy School District to bring heart health education to middle school students. What began in 2016 as Dr. Linda Peterson’s vision to expand medical knowledge to students who might not otherwise have exposure to it has grown into a beloved annual tradition, known as Project Heartstrong.
(Read article)
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Call for Award Nominations: Academy of Educators has announced the call for nominations for the 2026 Lifetime Achievement, Exemplary Educator, and Rising Star awards, recognizing outstanding contributions by faculty in health and basic sciences education. Nominations are open until May 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Learn more & submit here.
Call for Abstract Proposals: Academy of Educators invites faculty and learners across all WashU Medicine programs & departments to submit an abstract for poster or oral presentation for Education Day on October 8, 2026. The deadline to submit is Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Learn more & submit here.
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| Dr. Abby Spencer
Vice Chair of Education
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Vice Chairs of Safety, Quality, and Operations |
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2026 Clay Dunagan MD, MS, Annual Patient Safety and Quality Symposium |
Closing the Quality Divide – Providing health care we want, need, and deserve.
With the evolving health care needs of our communities, it’s more important than ever that we are continuously assessing and responding to any gaps in patient care and experience. “Closing the Quality Divide” is more than providing consistent and excellent care to everyone; it also requires turning to the concepts and lessons covered in the 2001 Crossing the Quality Chasm report to provide unique, individualized care to each patient so they receive the health care they want, need, and deserve.
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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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This year’s Clay Dunagan MD, MS, Annual Patient Safety and Quality Symposium, was held on March 6, 2026 at the Eric P. Newman Education Center. Clay Dunagan, MD, MS, Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, (whom the event was named for) kicked off the event with an opening talk “Crossing the Quality Chasm: Reflections on 25 Years of Quality Improvement and the Road Ahead” speaking on health care quality. (Read article)
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Fellows Reddy and Klucher Present Challenging Infectious Disease Cases |
WashU Medicine Infectious Diseases Fellows Prashanth Reddy, MD, and Justin Klucher, MD, recently participated in the semimar “Challenging ID Case Presentation 2026.” Hosted by the Infectious Disease Society of St. Louis (IDSTL), this annual event emphasizes the importance of clinical reasoning through real-world infectious disease cases presented by regional ID fellows. Reddy and Kulcher’s presentations were among five chosen by the IDSTL, highlighting complex diagnostic challenges, management dilemmas, and evidence-based decision-making in action. (Read article)
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| (From left) Drs. Reddy, Wooten and Klucher
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| Welcome to WashU Medicine |
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Levy appointed executive vice chancellor for medical affairs, dean of WashU Medicine |
Bruce D. Levy, MD, a highly regarded leader in academic medicine and an accomplished physician-scientist, has been named executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and the George and Carol Bauer Dean of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis — one of the nation’s top medical schools. He begins his new role July 1, announced Chancellor Andrew D. Martin. (Read article)
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| Congratulations to our newly matched Internal Medicine interns (62) and Dermatology residents (6).
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The department looks forward to the energy, expertise, and fresh perspectives these new trainees will bring. This match marks the beginning of an exciting journey toward becoming leaders in healthcare, and the program is committed to supporting them every step of the way.
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Hao-Wei Chang, PhD
Instructor in Medicine
Division of Nutritional Science & Obesity Medicine
(Read article)
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Gurkiran Dhindsa, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Lipid Research
(Read article)
| | Melissa Kaltenbach, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Gastroenterology
(Read article)
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James McMenimen, MD
Instructor in Medicine
Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
(Read article)
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| - Master of Science in Clinical Investigation
NEW: The Master of Science is now open to those who possess a bachelor’s degree!
Applications deadline: April 15, 2026 | View details - Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases
Applications deadline: April 23, 2026 | View details
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Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Zoom
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| Friday, Apr. 17, 2026
7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Eric P. Newman Education Center
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| Thursday, May 07, 2026
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Zoom
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Nominations Now Open for 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctors® |
To increase our presence on the Castle Connolly Top Doctors® list, the Department encourage all eligible physicians to nominate their peers. Castle Connolly accepts nominations year-round, and the list is continually updated. However, physicians who appear on the list as of June are eligible to be listed in the annual “Top Doctors” issue of St. Louis Magazine, published in August. (View details)
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Voting Now Open for 2026–2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals |
Your vote Matters! Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital and WashU Medicine are proud to be ranked among the nation’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. These rankings help consumers find the best treatment when facing critical medical conditions and complicated procedures, and we appreciate your help in recognizing the hard work and dedication our faculty and staff put into providing the highest level of specialty care. (View details)
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Contact DOM Media/Marketing Team (dom.media@wustl.edu) if you have questions or requests about social media, marketing, websites, web design, etc.
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