One individual can make a difference. That is the underlying theme of many of the speakers this fall for the annual Assembly Series, which opens Monday, Sept. 12, with author Steven Galloway speaking on The Cellist of Sarajevo. Other topics will cover politics, religion, science and the particular angst of graduate students.

One second, one heartbeat. That’s what is needed for a new, noninvasive functional imaging technology, developed by a WUSTL scientist, to record data for locating the source in the heart of a dangerous cardiac arrhythmia called ventricular tachycardia. The findings were reported in the Aug. 31 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

The Department of Music in Arts & Sciences  has appointed new directors for its two largest ensembles. Ward Stare, resident conductor of the St. Louis Symphony, will assume the role of conductor for the Washington University Symphony Orchestra. Nicole Aldrich will conduct the 65-member Washington University Concert Choir.

Dzenana Mruckovski, former public works director for the city of Crestwood, Mo., has been named the new director of facilities in Arts & Sciences, announced Gary S. Wihl, PhD, dean of the faculty of Arts & Sciences and the Hortense and Tobias Lewin Distinguished Professor in the Humanities.

Seasonal flu vaccines will be offered to School of Medicine faculty and staff at no cost beginning Oct. 4. The School of Medicine strongly recommends that all employees, even those with no direct patient contact, get a vaccine.

Friday, Sept. 2, noon-6 p.m.

First Friday

Celebrate the “First Friday” of the new school year. Numerous activities will take place throughout campus and all afternoon, so come prepared to have fun, eat great food and meet new people. South 40 & The Village.

Memorial service for Schonfeld Sept. 23

A memorial service for Gustav Schonfeld, MD, the Samuel E. Schechter Professor and former head of the Department of Medicine, will be held at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 23 in Connor Auditorium in the Farrell Learning and Teaching Center. RSVP requested. Schonfeld died May 21, 2011.

Douglas L. Mann, MD

From music to medicine, Mann finds his passion in healing hearts. FULL STORY

Cross country teams ranked in top five in preseason poll

Both the men’s and women’s cross country teams landed in the top five of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division III preseason poll, with the women ranked third and the men fifth. Both teams open their season at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, hosting the Washington University Early Bird Meet in Forest Park.