First-Year Reading Program contest winners announced

Nearly 50 first-year students at Washington University in St. Louis created their own chapter to the novel The Cellist of Sarajevo, as part of the First-Year Reading Program Contest. Five contest winners were treated to lunch with author Steven Galloway, including Juliet Kinder, who won the grand prize and a $250 gift certificate to the Washington University Campus Store.

Age, race, debt linked to docs’ board certification

New research shows that the likelihood of a medical school graduate becoming board certified is linked to age at graduation, race and ethnicity, and level of debt. The study, by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, was published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Oct. 5 conference to focus on global health

The Institute for Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis will host its fourth annual conference, titled “Beyond Borders: Transforming Health at Home & Abroad,” from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the Eric P. Newman Education Center on the Medical Campus.

Taking health care to the world

The Global Health Scholars Internal Medicine Program brought the world to the Ellen S. Clark Hope Plaza as part of its inaugural Global Health Scholars Week (Sept. 18-24). At a marketplace with international food, crafts and entertainment, (from left) Global Health Scholars and Barnes-Jewish Hospital residents Rohan Ahluwalia, MD, and Tima Karaki, MD, talk with Jan Muraski, transportation services manager at the medical school, about the efforts of the program.

Aspiring WUSTL playwrights debut work at ‘The Hotch’

Three aspiring playwrights will present staged readings of their works Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 as part of the 2011 A.E. Hotchner Playwriting Festival. Nicknamed “The Hotch,” the festival is sponsored by the Performing Arts Department in Arts & Sciences and is named in honor of celebrated alumnus A.E. Hotchner. It consists of an intensive two-week workshop, led this year by nationally known dramaturg Megan Monaghan Revis, which culminates in the staged readings.

PHD Comics creator to speak for Assembly Series

Graduate school can be lonely, stressful place, but that doesn’t mean you can’t laugh about it. At 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, the Washington University in St. Louis community will get to see something out of the ordinary: The Graduate Professional Council, with assistance from the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and the Assembly Series, will screen The PHD Movie (2011) in Edison Theatre. The film will be followed by a discussion led by Jorge Cham, PhD, creator of the online comic strip for graduate students that inspired the movie.

Campus Author: Anjan Thakor, PhD

Many companies struggle with how to use innovation and technology to grow their business. A new book by a Washington University in St. Louis business professor guides senior managers and executives in developing a straightforward and effective growth strategy.

‘Deadly Medicine’ panel discussion Thursday

Don’t miss a panel discussion Thursday, Sept. 22 on “Deadly Medicine: Beyond the Era of National Socialism” featuring Washington University faculty. The discussion is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Moore Auditorium in the North Building on the School of Medicine campus. It is free and open to the public.