Newsroom Stories

Washington University in St. Louis is establishing a scholarly and educational center that will focus on the role of religion in politics in the United States, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton. “The establishment of the John C. Danforth Center on Religion & Politics reflects the legacy of Jack Danforth and his belief in the importance of a civil discourse that treats differences with respect,” Wrighton said. The creation of the center, which includes the recruitment of five new faculty members with endowed professorships, is being made possible by a $30 million endowment gift from the St. Louis-based Danforth Foundation. It is believed to be the largest gift of its kind made to a university to fund such an academic center.

Jamie Adkins can walk on wire, stand atop unsupported ladders, do handstands off the back of a chair and juggle just about anything. But in Circus INcognitus, this internationally acclaimed clown, balancing artist and acrobat — a featured soloist with Cirque du Soleil and Montreal’s Cirque Éloize — must attempt the one thing he fears most: public speaking.

Washington University Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton and former Sen. John C. Danforth, chairman of the Danforth Foundation, will hold a 3 p.m. media briefing Wednesday, Dec. 16, in WUSTL’s Alumni House to discuss a major announcement focused on religion and politics that they are making earlier in the day at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Neill Wright, associate professor of neurosurgery and of orthopedic surgery, has been named the Herbert Lourie Professor in Neurosurgery at the School of Medicine. Washington University Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton and Larry J. Shapiro, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, announced the appointment.

For the first time, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have shown that brain plaques in apparently healthy individuals are associated with increased risk of diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease years later. In two studies published this month in Archives of Neurology, scientists report that volunteers with brain plaques were more likely to have declining scores on annual cognitive tests, to show signs of shrinkage in a key brain area affected by Alzheimer’s and to eventually be diagnosed with the disease.

Free 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccinations will be provided to faculty, staff and students from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, in the lobby of the McDonnell Pediatrics Research Building on the School of Medicine campus.

Obese patients who lost a moderate amount of weight by eating less and exercising more improved their cardiovascular health, new research at the School of Medicine shows.

Photo by Ray MarklinSchool of Medicine students learn belly dancing from instructor Penny Moskus as part of a week’s worth of events emphasizing a healthy life.

Psychiatric disorders are underdiagnosed, poorly treated and highly stigmatized, according to Washington University psychiatrists Charles F. Zorumski, and Eugene H. Rubin, who have written a book to address those problems. The authors will sign copies of their book Friday, Dec. 11, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the School of Medicine Bookstore.

The holiday season, while fun, can be draining. When you add the pressure of New Year’s resolutions, stress levels can rise. Environmental health expert J. Aaron Hipp, Ph.D., says that simply getting out of the house and going to a local park has the potential to lower stress and increase focus.”Parks allow us to physically and psychologically get away from stressful environments,” says Hipp, assistant professor of social work at Washington University in St. Louis. “Spending time in a park is a restorative activity that can recharge your batteries. A resolution to take advantage of local parks can contribute to a healthy, green year. Plus, a walk in the park can help you relax and refocus on New Year’s resolutions that may already have been broken.”