Category: News

With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) and transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER) procedures for tricuspid regurgitation treatment, heart specialists at the Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Heart & Vascular Center in St. Louis, Mo., are pioneering advances that enhance the quality of life for patients who have historically suffered debilitating symptoms with limited therapeutic options.

Geri Lynn, 52, an avid marathon runner who has successfully completed 100 half-marathons—at least one in each state—has overcome tremendous obstacles. In October 2020, the University City attorney was hospitalized at Barnes-Jewish Hospital due to a hypertensive emergency, which means her blood pressure was dangerously high. This condition can cause serious damage to vital organs and can lead to encephalopathy, a disease that affects the function of the brain. For nearly a month, Geri Lynn was in and out of the hospital, struggling with short-term memory loss, diabetes, and physical disability.

With the help of Mustafa Husaini, MD, WashU Medicine sports cardiologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Geri Lynn began a program to resume her goal of running a half marathon in all 50 states and then conquering a goal of 100 half-marathons.

Research developed through the collaborative efforts of WashU Medicine, the University of Abuja, and The George Institute for Global Health have supported the launch of Nigeria’s Sodium Reduction Guidelines. William Bowen Endowed Professor of Medicine and Global Health Center Co-Director Mark Huffman, MD, MPH headed the WashU team for this NIH-funded project.

Associate Professor of Medicine in the Cardiovascular Division Dr. Joel Schilling along with his band South of Sanity played a show at a recent St. Louis Blues hockey game pep rally at the Enterprise Center. Joining the band on drums was heart transplant recipient Rodney Cochran.

Nathan and Lynda Olsen loved to explore the southwestern Missouri countryside near their home in Carthage, so when they discovered a cozy coffeeshop situated on a picturesque bluff, they pulled in to savor the view and the java. But their relaxing afternoon quickly came to a jolting halt.

Since 2016, Dr. Linda Peterson has spearheaded Project Heartstrong- a school outreach program to bring heart health education to the Normandy School District in North St. Louis County. Every February since, she and a growing team of division faculty and staff have visited classrooms with kid-approved interactive lessons.

WashU Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS) and The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital awards 18 investigators as part of the 18th annual Clinical and Translational Research Funding Program (CTRFP). Among the awardees are Cardiovascular Division faculty Joshua Mitchell, MD, MSCI and Joel Schilling, MD, PhD.

Professor of Medicine in the WashU Cardiovascular Division and Vice President of the BJC Innovation Lab, Dr. Thomas Maddox is co-author of an editorial in the December 2024 Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. The article, “Toward an artificial intelligence code of conduct for health and healthcare: implications for the biomedical informatics community”, outlines […]

Chief of the WashU Cardiovascular Division and Lewin Distinguished Professor of Cardiovascular Diseases, Dr. Sumanth Prabhu, was quoted in a recent article in the magazine Men’s Health titled “What Does ‘Chronic Illness’ Actually Mean?”. Dr. Prabhu defines chronic illness as “a medical condition that lasts for six months or longer, usually requires ongoing care and […]

Assistant Professor of Medicine and Director of Cardio-Obstetrics Dr. Amanda Verma appeared on Fox 2 news segment STL Moms to raise awareness about cardiovascular issues effecting pregnancy as part of Heart Month coverage. Dr. Verma provided information on some of the conditions that can occur during or after pregnancy, noting that the most common is […]

Nathan O. Stitziel, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine and of genetics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been elected to the Association of University Cardiologists. Members are elected by their peers, with active membership limited to 135 academic cardiologists across the U.S.Stitziel — who also serves as the director of Translational […]

The Healthcare Innovation Lab is happy to welcome Dr. Kyle Yoo as our 2025 Innovation Fellow. Dr. Yoo is a fellow in cardiovascular disease, cardio-oncology, and amyloidosis at Washington University School of Medicine. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago and earned his medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine […]

Professor of Medicine Dr. Mitchell Faddis appeared on KMOV news’s Living Well segment to celebrate February’s Heart Month. He discussed tips for general heart health in winter, warning signs of a cardiac emergency, as well as providing updates on the EP program at Barnes-General Hospital. WashU Physicians and BJC are now offering the Pulse Field […]

WashU Medicine sports cardiologist Mustafa Husaini, MD, explains how it works in a new Science of St. Louis Blues Hockey episode. Assistant Professor of Medicine and Director of Sports Cardiology for WashU, Dr. Mustafa Husaini, stars in a new episode of the BJC series Science of St. Louis Blues Hockey titled “Heart of a Coach“. […]

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 worldwide.

The American Society for Clinical Investigation recently announced the 2025 Awardees for the Young Physician-Scientist Award along with the Emerging Scientist Awards. Anubha Agarwal, MD, MSc, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Co-Director, Program in Global Cardiovascular Health, WashU Medicine Cardiovascular Division was among the DOM awardees.

Gregory Lanza MD, PhD, the James R. Hornsby Family Professor in Biomedical Sciences in the John T. Milliken Department of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). He is an accomplished innovator who has patented numerous nanoparticle-based methods applied in imaging, diagnostics and drug delivery.

Dr. Alan Braverman, Professor of Medicine and Alumni Endowed Professor in Cardiovascular Diseases, has been appointed the inaugural Head of the new Section of General Cardiology in the Division.

The application period for this funding will open on March 1, 2025 and close on March 31, 2025 (5 p.m. CDT). This seed funding opportunity will support pilot studies in the broad research topics of global CVD and/or CVD-related diseases with the goal to address the large and growing burden of disease in both USA…

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.

Mae Weddle, MSN, AGACNP-BC joined the Cardiovascular Division as our newest Nurse Practitioner this month. Mae comes to us with 5 years of advanced practice experience and a master’s from St. Louis University.

Thomas Maddox, MD, MSc, vice president of Digital Products and Innovation for BJC HealthCare and a professor in the Cardiovascular Division, has been appointed to the inaugural FDA Digital Health Advisory Committee. The committee will advise the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration on digital health technologies (DHT’s) and guide on policies and regulations for their use. The first meeting was held in late November 2024 and focused on generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and its use in healthcare.

Nancy Sweitzer, MD, PhD, Named as Director of Clinical and Translational Science Award Translational Workforce Development (CTSA TWD) and Clinical Research Training Center (CRTC) at WashU Medicine

Dr. Karen Joynt Maddox was recently quoted in an article published in the Health News section of United Press International reporting on a surge in cardiovascular deaths in younger adults living in rural areas.

Justin Chen, MD, First Year Cardiology Fellow, First Author along with Anubha Agarwal, MD, MSc, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Co-Director, Program in Global Cardiovascular Health, WashU Medicine Cardiovascular Division, Senior Author, have published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Marc Sintek, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Interventional Cardiology Fellowship, has been appointed as the next Director of the BJH Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. Dr. Sintek has served as Associate Director of the Cath Lab since 2023 and will take the reins from Dr. Jas Singh

In a new paper published in JACC: Advances, Drs. Anubha Agarwal, Mark Huffman, and Global Health Clinical Research Coordinator Adam Hively, MPH examine the history of polypill trials. The paper, titled “More Than a Decade of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Polypill Trials: Lessons for Heart Failure Polypills” marks the first publication for Hively, as the Global Health team within the WashU cardiovascular division continues research into this lifesaving therapy.

Wearables like Apple Watches, Fitbits, Oura Rings, WHOOP, Garmin, and other fitness trackers generally work by continuously monitoring your body’s signals and using machine learning algorithms to identify changes from your normal levels.

Most of these devices rely on photoplethysmography (PPG), a non-invasive optical technique that measures blood flow by using light and sensors to detect changes in blood volume at the skin’s surface, Thomas Maddox, MD, a professor of medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the executive director of the Healthcare Innovation Lab at BJC HealthCare, told Health.

A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that a type of immunotherapy — similar to that approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat inflammatory conditions such as arthritis — also may be an effective treatment strategy for heart failure.

The study is published Oct. 23 in the journal Nature.

Dr. Nathan Frogge has joined the Department of Medicine in the Cardiovascular Division as an Assistant Professor in October 2024. He serves as faculty in the Interventional and Structural Cardiology Section and our West County Clinic, and as Director of Clinical Outreach and Expansion.

Dr. Joel Schilling of the WashU Cardiovascular Division was one of the authors of the cover story of the August edition of the Journal of Immunology, an article titled “Cutting Edge: Hepatic Stellate Cells Drive the Phenotype of Monocyte-derived Macrophages to Regulate Liver Fibrosis in Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatohepatitis “.

James “Russ” Hornsby and Sherry Hornsby’s business is play. Gregory Lanza, MD, PhD, is a cardiologist who conducts groundbreaking research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Together, this unusual trio is forging new pathways to healthier lives for people around the globe.

The ACC, in partnership with the JF Maddox Foundation, kicked off the Rural Cardiovascular Health Initiative (RCHI) earlier this year. The 12-month pilot project taking place in Hobbs, NM, aims to create and test an action module that can be used more broadly to improve cardiovascular health in rural communities nationwide.
Cardiology talked with Thomas M. Maddox, MD, MSc, FACC, whose family’s foundation is supporting the program, about the impetus behind the program, key deliverables, and his path to both leadership and philanthropic giving with the College.

Professor of Medicine and Co-Director Global Health Center Dr. Mark Huffman appeared on KSDK’s Show Me St. Louis to recognize World Heart Day. Dr. Huffman noted that 1 in 3 people worldwide die of cardiovascular disease, and shared tips from the American Heart Association for heart health. He emphasized the dangers of ultra-processed foods, which account for half of the calories Americans consume.

“The most common preventive strategy for AF-related stroke is blood thinners, but for patients with a high risk of bleeding we must provide other treatment options,” said Dr. Abhinav Diwan, chief of cardiology. “Innovation has been key in our field and we’re leading the way here at St. Louis VA. WATCHMAN allows us to lower the risk of stroke in a broad range of patients who cannot tolerate blood thinners.”

A component of beet juice — inorganic nitrate — improves muscle power and exercise capacity in athletes and in patients with heart failure, according to earlier research by a team at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis led by Dr. Linda Peterson

The 21st annual meeting of the Society for Heart and Vascular Metabolism was held in St. Louis September 8th through 11th, with Professor of Medicine in the Cardiovascular Division Dr. Linda Peterson serving as SHVM President. This is the first time that the meeting has been held in St. Louis, and events were held in Clayton at the Le Méridien hotel as well as on the Wash U Medicine campus, with dinners at the St. Louis Art Museum and Grant’s Farm.

Assistant Professor of Medicine Jesus Jimenez, MD, PhD has been announced as a recipient of the 2024 Harold Amos Faculty Development Award. Dr. Jimenez also recently received K08 funding for his project “CD40 Immunotherapy Effect on the Cardiac Immune Landscape and Response to Myocardial Disease”.

Dr. Amanda Verma, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Director of Cardio-Obstetrics in the Cardiovascular Division, has been appointed as the Chair of the Women in Heart Failure Committee for the Heart Failure Society of America.

The Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society chapter at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has announced 25 inductees for its Class of 2024. The AOA is a national organization with a mission to recognize and support leadership, high educational achievement and effective teaching as well as service to others. The Washington University chapter has more than 450 physicians.

Drs. Mustafa Husaini, Richard Bach, and Sharon Cresci of the Cardiovascular Division published a case report in the August 2024 edition of the Journal of the American Academy of Cardiology, titled “Exercise Testing to Unmask Latent LVOT Obstruction in a Highly Symptomatic Patient With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy”.

Thomas M. Maddox MD, SM, Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology at Washington University School of Medicine and head of the BJC/WUSM Healthcare Innovation Lab, has been appointed to the inaugural FDA Digital Health Advisory Committee.

Second-Year Cardiovascular Fellow Dr. Sarah LoCoco is the first author on a new paper in the journal Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, entitled “Direct Comparison of Methods to Differentiate Wide Complex Tachycardias: Novel Automated Algorithms Versus Manual ECG Interpretation Approaches”.

Assistant Professor of Medicine Jesus Jimenez, MD, PhD was awarded the Outstanding Early Career Investigator Award at this year’s American Heart Association Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Conference in Chicago, IL.

31 Washington University Cardiovascular Division Faculty were named to the Castle Connolly 2024 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 can be found at the Top Doctors® website. This list is also published every August by St. Louis Magazine.

Assistant Professor of Medicine Dr. Ali Javaheri was featured in an article titled “Translating metabolic and cardiovascular research into effective treatments: What’s next?” In a special 50th Anniversary edition of the journal Cell.

Javaheri was among 10 scientists asked to comment on the future of cardiac metabolism research. His thoughts appear under the heading “Food as medicine and for thought”.

Dr. Steven Lavine, Professor of Medicine in the Cardiovascular Division, will retire in August. Dr. Lavine has been with Washington University since 2016. He is also the father of Dr. Kory Lavine, Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Research.

Thomas M. Maddox, MD, SM, professor of medicine and vice president of digital products and innovation at BJC HealthCare, Washington University School of Medicine, gave a presentation on new technology advances at ACC.24, the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology (ACC). He then spoke with Cardiovascular Business, providing insights into cardiology’s future.