Department of
A new study published in JCI Insight led by Richard S. Hotchkiss, MD, suggests that interleukin-7 (IL-7) may help critically ill COVID-19 patients by reducing life-threatening secondary infections.
Julia Downey, Andrea Liefer, and Melissa Prewitt were selected as finalists for the St. Louis Magazine 2025 Excellence in Nursing Awards! The winners will be revealed at an awards reception this summer and recognized in the June/July issue of St. Louis Magazine.
On January 20, 2025, Dr. Renee Doherty started as a locum with our Pediatric Anesthesiology Division. Please take a moment to welcome her to the Department of Anesthesiology and WashU Medicine.
Alexis is an Administrative Coordinator for the Research Division within the Department of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine. She splits her time between the Haroutounian Lab and the Center for Clinical Pharmacology. Outside of work, she enjoys exercise, reading, learning guitar, participating in church activities, and hanging out with her family!
Jimmy is a nocturnal intensivist at WashU Medicine. Outside of work, he dedicates his time to writing, reading, spending time with his daughters, engaging in charitable initiatives, and playing basketball. His book, available on his website, chronicles his inspiring journey from youth homelessness to Harvard. All proceeds from the book sales have been donated to national and local charities, supporting causes such as domestic violence shelters, women’s safe houses, and homelessness initiatives in the St. Louis area. Since 2023, Jimmy has raised and donated over $16,000 through his book sales.
Forget resolutions—this year, it’s all about vibes. Whether you’re looking to grow your career, connect with colleagues, or prioritize mental health, we’ve got free programming to help you thrive in 2025. Dive in to this month’s newsletter and discover what resonates!
WashU Medicine researchers, including Drs. Robert Gereau, Bryan Copits, and Juliet Mwirigi, were recently featured for their groundbreaking chronic pain research, advancing precision treatments and non-opioid therapies to improve patient care.
Jamie Brown-Shpigel, MD, and Mohammed Helwani, MD, MSPH, have been appointed as Assistant Residency Program Directors in the Department of Anesthesiology. In addition, Dr. Brown-Shpigel has also been appointed Trauma Fellowship Program Director.
Neuroscientist Juliet Mwirigi, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine, has been named a Hanna H. Gray Fellow by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI).
Researchers at WashU Medicine received nearly $5 million from the NIH to study factors influencing chronic post-surgical pain. Led by Dr. Simon Haroutounian, the team aims to identify genetic, molecular, neuro-immune, and behavioral patterns contributing to pain variability.