Washington People

For Mark Rollins, PhD, professor of philosophy and chair of the Performing Arts Department (PAD), both in Arts & Sciences, a guiding principle throughout his distinguished career at Washington University in St. Louis has been making connections in the search for answers. This principle has proved useful in his administrative work for the university and as an educator and researcher whose focus is on making connections between science and art.

Although he wasn’t quite sure he wanted to go to medical school, ophthalmologist Todd P. Margolis, MD, PhD, now heads the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. And he’s pioneering a phone app that could revolutionize the way people are screened for particular eye diseases.

A Q&A with Sean Joe, PhD, the Benjamin E. Youngdahl Professor of Social Development at the Brown School, who came to Washington University in St. Louis this fall from the University of Michigan. His research focuses on black adolescents’ mental health; the role of religion in black suicidal behavior; and the development of father-focused, family-based interventions to prevent black adolescent males from engaging in multiple forms of self-destructive behaviors.

Fourth-year medical student Uzoh Ikpeama reflects on his time at Washington University School of Medicine as he prepares for the next step of his journey.

Over the past several decades, Michael Kinch of Washington University in St. Louis says, the pharmaceutical industry has managed to dismantle itself. In a provocative series of articles and interviews, Kinch, the director of the Center for Research Innovation in Businessat the university, has been describing the history of this dismantling and its implications for the future of medicine.

A cancer odyssey​ Inspired by his childhood physicians, Ramaswamy Govindan, MD, knew at a young age what he wanted to become. Along the way, he has journeyed from his native India to the U.S. and helped to navigate the frontiers of cancer care.

​Washington University in St. Louis’ Jill Stratton, the “world’s oldest RA,” hel​ps students, staff and faculty to find their joy. Stratton strives to develop common education experiences, multidisciplinary courses and expanded programming at university housing.

​Mark Thoelke’s work ethic has contributed to his success in starting and leading the hospitalist division at Washington University School of Medicine. He has been called “the doctor’s doctor,” a term that refers to a physician whom another physician would recommend to family and friends.

Since the shooting of Michael Brown, the eyes of the world have turned to St. Louis. Over the last several weeks, associate professor Bob Hansman — one of the area’s most prominent community activists — has quietly ushered hundreds of students through the neighborhoods of north St. Louis, chronicling the racial, social and urban histories that have shaped conditions on the ground.

John Schael, Washington University’s longtime director of athletics retired this summer. Here’s a look back at his legacy, shared from Washington Magazine.