Campus & Community

Gary Weil, MD, has been named the inaugural Gerald and Judith Medoff Professor of Infectious Diseases at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Weil received the honor in recognition of his efforts to eliminate parasitic worm diseases as global public health threats.

Andrew Knight, vice dean for education and globalization and professor of organizational behavior at Olin Business School, has been named executive director of WashU’s George and Carol Bauer Leaders Academy and senior advisor to the chancellor for leadership, effective July 1, announced Chancellor Andrew D. Martin. Knight succeeds Kurt Dirks, who has accepted an appointment at the University of Utah. 

Chancellor Andrew D. Martin has established a Global Advisory Council to maximize the impact of the university’s global efforts in research, education, patient care, recruitment and advancement.

Cassandra M. Pruitt, MD, a professor of pediatrics, has been named director of the Division of Academic Pediatrics in the Department of Pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Sandro Galea, MD, DrPH, one of the world’s most influential public health leaders, will become the inaugural Margaret C. Ryan Dean of the planned School of Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis, effective Jan. 1. In this critical leadership role, Galea will help shape and launch WashU’s first new school in 100 years.

Sana D. Karam, MD, PhD, a renowned radiation oncologist widely known for cutting-edge cancer research that combines radiation therapy and immunotherapy to treat head and neck, and pancreatic tumors, has been named the James S. McDonnell Professor of Radiation Oncology and head of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the School of Medicine.

Jennifer Heemstra was installed as the Charles Allen Thomas Professor in Chemistry in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis during a ceremony April 10 at the Whittemore House. Her lab is focused on harnessing the capabilities of proteins and nucleic acids to address unmet needs in biomedicine and the environment.

Katharine Pei, director of Student Transitions & Family Programs at Washington University in St. Louis, has been appointed to a four-year term on the national advisory board of the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition at the University of South Carolina.

Eric Thompson, MD, a pediatric neurosurgeon noted for his expertise in caring for children with complex neurological conditions, particularly brain and spinal tumors, has been named director of the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and neurosurgeon-in-chief at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Dorian E. Traube, an expert on early childhood development, was installed as the Neidorff Family and Centene Corporation Dean of the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis during a recent ceremony in Brown Hall.