Washington People: Suresh Vedantham

They said it couldn’t be done. Suresh Vedantham, MD, professor of radiology and surgery, was planning a nationwide trial comparing treatments for deep vein thromboses — dangerous blood clots in the legs’ major veins. Prior attempts had failed to meet recruitment goals, but Vedantham was eager to test a new approach. Four years later, recruitment for ATTRACT (Acute Venous Thrombosis: Thrombus Removal with Adjunctive Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis), his NIH-sponsored trial, has crossed the halfway mark.

Fundraising flourishes as Dance Marathon awareness spreads​

Some 900 students have signed up to dance all night in the 14th annual St. Louis Area Dance Marathon. The 12-hour event begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, in the Athletic Complex Field House, and lasts until 2 a.m. the next day. Faculty and staff are encouraged to take part, too, with Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton donating $14 for every employee who attends the reception. Proceeds benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals of Greater St. Louis.

Poet Mark Wunderlich to read Oct. 25

In The Anchorage, his debut collection, poet Mark Wunderlich creates a central metaphor of the body as anchor for the soul, in poems located in New York’s summer streets, in the barren snowfields of Wisconsin, and along stretches of Cape Cod’s open shoreline. On Thursday, Oct. 25, Wunderlich will read from his work for The Writing Program in Arts & Sciences.

Service First​ volunteers brighten area public schools

WUSTL volunteers painted bleachers at University City High School Oct. 13, as part of Service First. Through this annual community service event, organizers work with principals of KIPP: Inspire Academy, St. Louis and University City public schools to identify needs.

Aquila Theatre at Edison Nov. 2 and 3

Cyrano is smart, courageous and noble, a brilliant poet and skilled swordsman. He is utterly besotted with the beautiful Roxanne. But oh, that nose! On Friday, the Aquila Theatre Company — today’s leading producer of touring classical theater — will return to Edison with Cyrano de Bergerac, Edmond Rostand’s funny, poignant and often heart-wrenching tale of unrequited love. On Saturday, Aquila will retake the stage with Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare’s timeless battle of the sexes.

Puppy love helped charity at Rent-a-Pet event​​

Junior Yoni Barlev “rented” Max during Chi Omega sorority’s recent fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The sorority raised nearly $600 by renting dogs for 15-minute stints. More than 100 people rented the eight pets volunteered by faculty and staff. Make-A-Wish Foundation is the sorority’s nationally designated charity.