Author: Elizabethe Holland Durando

Chronic kidney disease sufferers are more likely to die of heart disease than kidney problems. However, it hasn’t been clear how kidney disease causes heart disease or what could be done to stop it. But a new study at the School of Medicine led by Keith A. Hruska, MD, has pinpointed the cause of a kidney-related syndrome linked to heart disease and found how to neutralize a protein that spurs heart disease.

Tread the Med, the School of Medicine’s popular 100-day wellness program that encourages participants to walk 10,000 steps each day, is set to begin Thursday, Feb. 27, with an Olympics-themed kickoff on the Medical Campus.

The School of Medicine’s 10th Annual Art Show, which features works by students, faculty and staff, is in the Farrell Learning and Teaching Center atrium through Friday, Feb. 21.

David M. Kipnis, MD, Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, died at his home Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, after a long illness. He was 86.

Nominations for the 15th annual naming of a Dean’s Distinguished Service Award recipient, as well nominations for research support and operations staff awards, are being accepted through Feb. 28.

Stuart C. Sweet, MD, PhD, a world leader in pediatric lung transplantation, has been named the W. McKim Marriott, MD, Professor of Pediatrics at the School of Medicine. Pictured is Joan Magruder, president of St. Louis Children’s Hospital, congratulating Sweet on the honor.

There’s more than one way to make sure your ticker gets some love this Valentine’s Day. Plan a visit to the annual Health Happening Fair from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, in the Eric P. Newman Education Center for free health screenings and information on a wide variety of health topics.

As part of an ongoing road construction project, the Tower Grove Avenue bridge over Interstate 64/Highway 40 will be closed for about two weeks, beginning Monday, Feb. 3. When the bridge reopens, it will remain open until March 7 (tentatively), when it and the Boyle Avenue bridge will be closed for demolition.

Several School of Medicine faculty members were honored by the school Jan. 29 at the 2014 Faculty Recognition Event at the Eric P. Newman Education Center. Faculty members were honored at the event with Distinguished Faculty and Samuel R. Goldstein Leadership awards.

Ten Washington University physicians recently became certified in new medical subspecialties — five in clinical informatics and five in emergency medical services. Board certification exams were offered for the first time in each subspecialty in October.