In the sophomore year of the APC Fellowship Program, two fellows are joining the Division of Hospital Medicine. We are delighted to welcome Amanda Airaghi, PA-S and Tabitha Gruskowski, NP. Amanda completed her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Mississippi State University in May of 2025. She holds a Bachelor of Science in […]
We are excited to welcome our new faculty members to the Division of Hospital Medicine. Please join us in welcoming: Nine of our new physicians finished residency from WashU School of Medicine in St. Louis. Twenty-one of our new physicians are external candidates.
Congratulations to Natalia Brito Rivera, MD, MPHS, Jeffrey Choi, MD, MS, Madeline Grondalski, RN, MD, Sonya Liu, MD, and Diana Zhao, MD, PhD, on their promotions to Assistant Professor of Medicine in July of 2025. Natalia Brito Rivera, MD, MPHS, works primarily on the internal medicine and medical oncology services, where she provides direct patient […]
The Physician Leadership Development Program offered by the WashU Department of Medicine was designed to help faculty boost team performance and achieve goals with advanced leadership skills, master key concepts for leading healthcare improvements, and improve problem-solving and decision-making for better leadership. In 2024, three physicians from the Division of Hospital Medicine completed this extensive […]
Michael Lin, MD, SFHM, is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Senior Fellow of Hospital Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine. Dr. Lin is an integral part of the division and the hospital, having served on multiple committees for both WashU Medicine and BJC, and as the president-elect of the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Medical Staff […]
On May 23, 2025, the Division of Hospital Medicine came together to wish Dr. Mark Williams well in his future endeavors and to express their gratitude for his excellent leadership during his time as chief. We enjoyed spending time with one another, sharing stories and laughs over appetizers and drinks. As we look forward to […]
The 15th Annual Gateway Hospital Medicine Conference took place from May 1, 2025, to May 3, 2025, at the Eric P. Newman Education Center (EPNEC). The Gateway Conference planning committee, composed of adult and pediatric physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists, put extensive effort into designing, planning, and implementing the agenda for the conference. […]
The Patient Experience Team at Barnes-Jewish Hospital distributes awards annually to providers with exceptional patient experience scores. In 2025, providers across Barnes-Jewish Hospital received 301 Healthcare Excellence Awards. Out of the 301 providers, 164 scored above the 75th percentile, including 15 hospitalists. The Honor Roll is awarded to doctors who met the performance criteria for […]
The division’s hospitalists, staff, and family and friends came together to enjoy this year’s Cardinal’s Game Night on May 6, 2025. We watched with anticipation as the St. Louis Cardinals swooped in to claim victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Everyone enjoyed a night of food, drinks, and lots of fun. We’re already looking forward to […]
The Patient Experience Team at Barnes-Jewish Hospital reaches out to patients after they are discharged from the hospital to inquire about their experience with the providers that worked with them during their stay. In March and April of 2025, a number of patients reported excellent care from hospitalists. Saleh Alhalaseh, MD, was recognized by his […]
Message from the ChairDear colleagues and friends,WashU’s Medical School graduation is May 12 and Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH former Director of the CDC, is the graduation speaker. Please participate in graduation if you can and recognize the accomplishments of our amazing medical students. Our Internal Medicine residency match was very successful and we are pleased […]
The Mark Thoelke, MD, SFHM Visiting Professorship was started in 2022 as a way to honor the legacy of previous Division Chief Mark Thoelke. Since 2022, the division has enjoyed lectures from several amazing speakers from a variety of hospitals. The visiting professor for 2025 was G. Randy Smith Jr., MD, MS, FRCP, SFHM. Dr. […]
Mark Thoelke, MD, has had an incredible impact on hospital medicine, both within Barnes-Jewish Hospital and beyond. After completing his internal medicine residency and serving as Chief Resident at Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Dr. Thoelke became Director of the Gold Service in 1995, one of the earliest hospitalist programs in the nation. In 1998, […]
The annual Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) Converge Conferences are a wonderful opportunity for hospitalists from all over the country to come together for educational workshops, poster presentations, lectures, and networking opportunities. The 2025 SHM Converge Conference took place from Wednesday, April 23, to Friday, April 25 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Many of the division’s […]
Memorial Day is meant as a day of observance for us to honor those who lost their lives while serving our country in the U.S. military. Originally it was known as Decoration Day, and began in the years following the Civil War and was officially designated a federal holiday in 1971. Many observe Memorial Day […]
Prevention is the best strategy to help avoid having one When it comes to dealing with strokes, every second truly does matter. Nearly 2 million brain cells die each minute a stroke remains untreated. And every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke. 795,000 strokes happen each year and chances are if you […]
Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) is an annual celebration in the United States during May. It recognizes and honors the contributions of Jewish Americans to the country’s history, culture, and society. The idea for JAHM was proposed by Senator Arlen Specter and Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz in 2005 to appreciate the achievements of Jewish Americans […]
Let’s break the silence and stigma surrounding mental health by spreading awareness and understanding. Mental health is just as important as physical health, yet it often goes unnoticed or untreated. Here are some key points to consider: Where Can I Find Mental Health Resources? This Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s come together to raise awareness, […]
May marks the annual celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the United States. In 1978 Congress proclaimed the first week of May as “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.” Future Presidents continued this annual proclamation until 1992 when Congress and President George H.W. Bush signed a law designating the month of May to celebrate […]
At Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the Patient Experience team makes it a priority to gather feedback from patients after they have been discharged from the hospital. Patricia Litkowski, Medical Director of Patient Experience, along with Heather Lazarides, Director of Patient Experience, and Roma Bordewick, Executive Director of Patient Care Services Operations, reach out to patients post-discharge to […]
The Division of Hospital Medicine has several types of learners that rotate on our service lines. The Physician Assistant (PA) students from SLU (St. Louis University) rotate on hospital medicine for 5.5 weeks several times over the course of a fiscal year. Feedback from the most recent rotation of students highlighted their positive training experience. […]
Congratulations to Adam Littich, MD, on his promotion from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor of Medicine, retroactive to January 1, 2025. Dr. Littich joined the Division of Hospital Medicine in 2012. He currently holds the position of Medical Director of the Hospitalist Service at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital (BJWCH), in addition to Chief of Staff at […]
By Julia Sandvoss • March 24, 2025 Easter is a religious Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb on the third day after his crucifixion on Good Friday. Easter is the fulfilled foretelling of the one who would be persecuted, die for our sins, and rise on the third day. Remembering the resurrection of […]
By Julia Sandvoss • March 24, 2025 Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now offers a wide range of events coordinated globally by EARTHDAY.ORG and includes 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. The official theme for 2025 is Our Power, Our Planet. […]
By Julia Sandvoss • March 24, 2025 What is Passover? Passover, known as Pesach in Hebrew, is among the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays. It commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt, as recounted in the biblical book of Exodus. Lasting for seven or eight days (depending on tradition), Passover is a time of […]
By Jennifer Mosher, MA • March 24, 2025 Autism Acceptance Month takes place in April each year and is a time dedicated to promoting acceptance, understanding, and celebrating the diversity of people on the autism spectrum. The history of Autism Acceptance Month can be traced back to Autism Awareness Month, which was first designated in the 1970s to […]
By Jennifer Mosher, MA • March 24, 2025 April celebrates both Diversity Month and National Minority Health Month, providing an opportunity to recognize and honor the diversity of the world around us while also addressing the disproportionate burden of premature death and illness in racial and ethnic minority groups. Diversity Month acknowledges and embraces the diverse cultures, perspectives, […]
By Julia Sandvoss • March 24, 2025 The month of April is IBS Awareness Month, designed to raise awareness about this common but often misunderstood disorder. IBS affects millions of people worldwide, impacting daily life and causing significant discomfort. During this month, healthcare providers, advocacy groups, and individuals come together to educate the public, promote early detection, and […]
Patricia Litkowski, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and the Medical Director of Patient Experience at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Additionally, she holds the position of Director of Hospitalist Services for the Inpatient Medical Oncology department. Since Dr. Litkowski started with the Division of Hospital Medicine, she has made an incredible impact on its faculty and […]
On April 1, 2024, Ankita Kapoor, MD, and Samuel Reuter, PA-C, spearheaded the Physician Assistant/Nurse Practitioner Fellowship Program for the Division of Hospital Medicine. The goal of this program is to offer specialized training for PAs and NPs, preparing them to deliver outstanding patient care, and facilitating a seamless transition from the academic environment into […]
“While this is just the beginning of the diagnostic learning journey, it has taken a true commitment by your faculty to implement our case review process—including ensuring approval by IRB, building and training their case review team, implementing workflows embedded into local culture/safety programs, and developing alliances with leaders in quality and safety at your […]
Devin Odom, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine within the Divisions of Hospital Medicine and Palliative Medicine at WashU. Dr. Odom has dedicated his career to enhancing communication skills education beyond residency training. He established and oversees the BJC Communication Skills Academy, which offers experiential learning opportunities for providers across the School of Medicine […]
Each month, the Patient Experience Team at Barnes-Jewish Hospital collects feedback from discharged patients about their experience during their hospital stay. In January of 2025, several hospitalists received excellent feedback from their patients. Dr. Andrew Alter’s patient mentioned him by name, saying, “My hospitalist doctor, Dr. Alter, was extraordinary and so was the nursing staff […]
In 2023, division hospitalists Dennis Chang, MD, Eileen Lee, MD, and Alex Thomas, MD organized the inaugural “Roads to Success” workshop with the goal of providing a comprehensive faculty development opportunity for hospitalists. After its initial success, Abby Spencer, MD, Professor and Vice Chair for Education and Director of the Academy of Educators, suggested a […]
The Department of Medicine hosts Medicine CPC every Friday during the academic year from 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm CST. Clinicopathological conference (CPC) is a case-based method of learning medicine by a problem-solving approach and has been in practice for more than 100 years now. A CPC is an outstanding presentation of a challenging case to […]
The WashU Minority Medical Association (WUMMA) is an organization of residents and fellows across different departments that work to empower minorities in the medical community through fostering an inclusive environment and supporting the professional and personal development of under-represented minority (URM) medical trainees. IDEAS Committee members Natalia Brito Rivera, MD, Jaime Flores-Ruiz, MD, and Corey […]
Dennis Chang, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine, Interprofessional Education (IPE) MD Thread Director, and Co-Director of the Inpatient Clinical Immersion at WashU. Dr. Chang is involved in numerous education endeavors throughout the division, as well as the Department of Medicine. He plays a vital role in organizing […]
By Julia Sandvoss • February 18, 2025 Holi is a vibrant and colorful Hindu festival celebrated predominantly in India and Nepal but also observed by communities around the world. Also known as the “Festival of Colors” or “Festival of Love,” Holi typically takes place in March, marking the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. […]
By Jennifer Mosher, MA • February 18, 2025 National Deaf History Month is celebrated March 13th to April 15th each year to commemorate the achievements of people who are deaf and hard of hearing. This timeframe was chosen to signify significant milestones in deaf education history, including: The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) introduced National Deaf History […]
By Jennifer Mosher, MA and Takisha Jethroe • February 18, 2025 March offers us an opportunity to celebrate Women’s History Month. This annual event honors women’s achievements and contributions throughout history. The theme for the 2025 Women’s History Month is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” The theme recognizes the powerful influence of women who have dedicated their lives […]
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Christian season of Lent. This day is marked by Mass, where ashes are placed on the foreheads of Christians in the shape of crosses by the priest. This act symbolizes repentance and a commitment to God. Lent is a season of penance, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, lasting for […]
By Julia Sandvoss • February 18, 2025 Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is an annual observance held in March to increase public awareness about developmental disabilities and promote inclusivity, acceptance, and understanding for individuals with these conditions. The month-long campaign aims to educate the public, challenge stereotypes, and highlight the unique abilities and accomplishments of people with developmental disabilities. […]
This year, the holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin on Friday, Feb. 28, or Saturday, March 1, 2025. The exact timing is based on the sighting of the moon. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and holds great significance in the Islamic faith. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a […]
I want to be able to look back someday and say, “I did make a difference.” Whether it was to open the minds of people to think that a woman can do a good job, or whether it’s the fact that so many kids out there think that they could be like me.” Dr. Antonia […]
At Barnes-Jewish Hospital, patient feedback is a priority. The Patient Experience Team reaches out to patients post-discharge to gather comments on their hospital stay. In December of 2024, three hospitalists received outstanding recognition from their patients. Monique Bruinsma, MD and Thomas Hoyt, MD were mentioned by their patient, along with Dr. MaeMae Huang from Internal […]
As the Division of Hospital Medicine continues to expand, Division Chief Mark Williams, MD, has placed emphasis on the importance of continued education and training for its physicians to increase overall impact and effectiveness. Since Dr. Williams started with the division in October 2021, he has helped transform the division into one of the premier […]
The POCUS (Point of Care Ultrasound) Journal is a free, open-access, peer-reviewed publication featuring original research, case reports, and protocols on point-of-care ultrasound. Published by CINQUILL Medical Publishers Inc., the journal releases issues online twice a year in April and November. They receive submissions from clinicians, researchers, and educators in the field of POCUS. Editor-in-Chief […]
The Department of Medicine hosts Grand Rounds every Thursday during the academic year from 8 am – 9 am CST. Grand Rounds features School of Medicine faculty and regional, national, and international leaders in their fields who present on a variety of current topics in medicine. On Thursday, February 20, 2025, Dennis Chang, MD, will […]
Every year, the Division of Hospital Medicine unites for our eagerly awaited holiday party. In 2025, the Social and Wellness Committee decided on Puttshack STL for our venue. Our hospitalists, APCs, and staff enjoyed an evening filled with fun and friendly competition, featuring mini-golf, delectable food, and an entertaining photobooth.
By Julia Sandvoss • January 24, 2025 In February, a month traditionally associated with love, people across the United States and around the world turn their attention to something equally vital: heart health. February is recognized as Heart Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing awareness about cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which remain the leading cause of death […]