Washington People

Tracy Spitznagle, professor at the School of Medicine, is a physical therapist who has evolved during her career into an advocate for women who have had difficult births, both in the U.S. and in Africa.

Jennifer Silva, MD, a pediatric electrophysiologist at the School of Medicine, treats children with abnormal heart rhythms. She has co-founded a startup that is developing technology to help doctors see real-time 3D holograms of the heart during procedures to fix erratic heart rhythms.

During an 8-mile journey from the Columbia Bottom conservation area over the Chain of Rocks in a canoe, Bob Criss in Arts & Sciences talks about Lewis and Clark, navigation and the relevance of rivers today.

Softball player-turned-coach Michelle Venturella achieved Olympic gold in 2000. Today, she provides her athletes with encouragement to succeed on and off the field.

Marcus Raichle, MD, is a central figure in the history and science of brain imaging. He is noted for developing positron emission tomography (PET) techniques, explaining principles underlying functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and capturing some of the first snapshots of the brain at work.

Cathy Raymond, who works in the Office for International Students and Scholars, recently completed a six-month project as a Fulbright Scholar in Tajikistan. Here, she shares, in her own words and images, about her experience and how what she learned can influence and guide her work and life here at Washington University in St. Louis.  

Robyn Klein, MD, PhD, has never bought into the idea that girls and women don’t do science. Not only is Klein — vice provost and associate dean for graduate education for the Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences — a well-respected expert in neuroimmunology and neuroinfectious diseases, she works hard to promote diversity in science.

Allison King, whose mom worked in a renal lab at the School of Medicine, grew up in and around Washington University. Now, this associate professor of occupational therapy, of pediatrics and of medicine is a leading national expert on sickle cell disease in children and young adults.

Martin Israel, professor of physics in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, received the Dean’s Medal this spring. Israel discusses his background and his career in this video from Arts & Sciences. 

Sarah C.R. “Sally” Elgin, of Arts & Sciences, knew from an early age that she wanted to be a scientist. In her time at Washington University, the Viktor Hamburger Professor has worked to make sure kids like her would be encouraged to pursue science.