Liang elected to HIV Medicine Association Board of Directors

Advanced Practice Provider aims to break down barriers to HIV care and prevention through a patient-centered approach. Philana Liang, a physician assistant in the Division of Infectious Diseases at WashU Medicine, has been elected to serve on the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) Board of Directors. HIVMA, which is part of the Infectious Diseases Society of […]

Lasting connections in Infectious Diseases

Infectious Diseases Co-Chief Barbara Trautner, MD, PhD, taught about UTI at the George Washington University ID Board Review course. There she happened to see two recent graduates of the WashU ID Fellowship Training Program – Christian Hendrix, MD, and Ali Hixon, MD, PhD. Both completed the ID Fellowship in June 2026. Dr. Hendrix is currently […]

IDSA renews Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence designation of BJH program

Drs. Kevin Hsueh, Sena Sayood, and Michael Durkin

The Barnes-Jewish Hospital Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (BJH-ASP) has been renewed as an Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence. This designation recognizes hospitals that consistently provide high-quality stewardship services, advance innovative stewardship practices, and demonstrate a strong commitment to improving antimicrobial use and reducing resistance. BJH is one of only 18 […]

Dr. Scott Fabricant joins the Department of Medicine (Links to an external site)

Scott Fabricant, MD, PhD

Dr. Scott Fabricant joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Assistant Professor as of August 2026. Dr. Fabricant completed his Infectious Disease training at Boston Medical Center. His clinical and research interests focus on the intersection of infectious diseases and substance use disorders, including serious injection-related infections, hepatitis C, […]

The DOM Insider Volume 31 (Links to an external site)

We're pleased to share that the new WashU Medicine Dermatology clinic in Sunset Hills is located at 3844 S. Lindbergh Blvd, Suite 240. Situated within the BJC Outpatient Center, the clinic offers general and pediatric dermatology, Mohs surgery, and aesthetic services.

As we prepare for the start of a new academic year, I am delighted to welcome more than 40 new faculty members, along with an outstanding group of residents and fellows, to the Department of Medicine. Their expertise, talent, and dedication strengthen our collective commitment to excellence in patient care, research, education, and service. I […]

New research shows promise for treating hepatitis C in pregnancy

Researchers and clinicians at WashU Medicine are helping reshape how hepatitis C virus (HCV) is treated during pregnancy, with a new study showing that a commonly used antiviral regimen can be used safely and effectively in pregnant patients in real-world care.

DOLF Project and partners publish two new manuscripts on zoophilic filarial species in Indonesia (Links to an external site)

Peter Fischer, PhD

In July, the DOLF team and collaborators at the University of Indonesia published two new manuscripts highlighting zoonotic and zoophilic filarial species in the Belitung district of Indonesia. Long-term collaborators Drs. Peter Fischer and Taniawati Supali are leading research that will help to better understand the role of animals in the transmission and elimination of […]

Infectious Disease physician scientist views community engagement as integral for improving HIV prevention and care (Links to an external site)

Aditi Ramakrishnan, MD

Aditi Ramakrishnan MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, recognized early in her research career that community engagement would be critical. The Center for Community Health Partnership and Research talked with Aditi about her journey.   Aditi, we first met you in 2023 when you reached out for community engagement mentorship related […]

Rachel M. Presti, MD, PhD – Dr. J. William Campbell Professor of Medicine

Rachel M. Presti, MD, PhD, poses for a portrait in the Infectious Diseases Clinic on October 30, 2025. Matt Miller/WashU Medicine

Rachel Presti, MD, PhD has been named the Dr. J. William Campbell Professor of Medicine at Washington University. This professorship, established by John Doerr to honor the legacy of Dr. William “Bill” Campbell — an exceptional clinical infectious disease physician— recognizes outstanding contributions to clinically impactful research, transformative leadership, and exceptional patient care in infectious diseases. Bill Powderly, MD, Dr. Presti’s infectious diseases […]

2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctors® – John T. Milliken Department of Medicine (Links to an external site)

Congratulations!

The Department of Medicine is proud to announce that over 170 of our faculty have been selected for the 2026 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. More information […]

First-of-its-kind genomics study examines CRE acquisition in surgical ICU

Sumanth Gandra, MD, MPH

A first-of-its-kind genomics study led by Sumanth Gandra, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine and Public Health at WashU Medicine, examined the spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, or CRE, in a surgical intensive care unit in India. Published in Nature Communications on July 22, 2026 the study found that more than a quarter of patients were already colonized with CRE when they arrived in the ICU, including some with no prior hospital exposure, and that about one-third of patients who were initially negative acquired CRE during their hospital stay.

William G. Powderly, MD – Larry J. Shapiro Distinguished Professor in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences (Links to an external site)

William G. Powderly, MD

It is my pleasure to announce that Dr. William G. Powderly will be named the Larry J. Shapiro Distinguished Professor in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences on August 1st. Dr. Powderly is currently the Dr. J. William Campbell Professor of Medicine and Director of the Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS), and Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Science at […]

New research suggests microbial partners may affect parasite biology and treatment outcomes

Photo of Dr. Makedonka Mitreva, PhD, FAAM, FASTMH in her lab in 2026.

A new study from the Mitreva lab sheds light on the relationship between the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica and its bacterial endosymbiont, Neorickettsia. Researchers found that while these bacteria are widely present in fluke populations across the Americas and Europe, they show low genetic diversity and strong geographic patterning. Their results suggest a complex evolutionary history shaped by […]

Dr. Douglas Kepko joins the Department of Medicine (Links to an external site)

Douglas Kepko, DO

Douglas Kepko, DO joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Assistant Professor as of July 2026. Dr. Kepko earned his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine before completing residency at Summa Health. During residency, he focused on educating medical students and interns prior to starting fellowship […]

Dr. Adam Schafer joins the Department of Medicine (Links to an external site)

Adam Schafer, MD, PhD

Adam Schafer, MD, PhD joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Assistant Professor as of July 2026. In addition to his faculty position, Dr. Schafer is directing the Antibiotic Stewardship Program at Missouri Baptist Medical Center. In this role, he will help build the OPAT program. Dr. Schafer’s research […]

Dr. Abigail Vanderheiden joins the Department of Medicine (Links to an external site)

Abigail Vanderheiden PhD

Abigail Vanderheiden, PhD joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Instructor as of July 2026. Dr. Vanderheiden obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 2016. Her graduate studies focused on investigating innate immune signaling pathways during West Nile Virus and SARS-CoV-2 infection in […]

Dr. Joshua Nordman joins the Department of Medicine (Links to an external site)

Joshua Nordman, MD

Dr. Joshua Nordman joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as an Assistant Professor as of July 2026. Originally from northern Illinois, he attended medical school at University of Illinois before completing his residency and infectious disease fellowship at WashU. Dr. Nordman’s primary interests are in clinical infectious disease, with particular […]