Expert discusses the next steps for health care reform in the U.S.

With health care legislation now up for debate in both the House and the Senate, comprehensive health care reform is closer than ever, says Timothy McBride, Ph.D., health economist and associate dean of public health at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. McBride says that there is still much work to be done with health care reform and contentious issues remain. Among those are the public option, how the legislation will be financed, the generosity of the coverage, Medicare Advantage reforms and whether there will be mandates for employers to offer coverage. (Video available)

Solnica-Krezel to lead developmental biology department

Solnica-KrezelLilianna Solnica-Krezel has been named head of the Department of Developmental Biology at the School of Medicine. Larry J. Shapiro, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, announced the appointment, effective Jan.1.

Carl Phillips’ ‘Speak Low’ named National Book Award finalist

Poet Carl Phillips, professor of English and of African and African American Studies, both in Arts & Sciences, at Washington University in St. Louis, has been selected — for the third time — as a finalist for the 2009 National Book Award in poetry. Phillips was nominated for his 10th collection of poetry, “Speak Low,” published in April by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

DeBaun elected to Institute of Medicine

DeBaunMichael R. DeBaun has been elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors medical scientists in the United States can receive. DeBaun was recognized for his major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care and public health.

Poet Phillips named National Book Award finalist

Poet Carl Phillips, professor of English and of African and African American Studies, both in Arts & Sciences, has been selected — for the third time — as a finalist for the National Book Award in poetry. Phillips was nominated in 2009 for his 10th collection of poetry, “Speak Low,” published this year by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Emergency notification system to be tested Oct. 21

Washington University in St. Louis will test its emergency notification system, WUSTLAlerts, at approximately 12:50 p.m. Oct. 21. The test will take place unless there is the potential for severe weather that day or some other emergency is occurring at that time.

Celebrating a career

Jeigh Singleton, associate professor of fashion in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, received the First Annual Saint Louis Fashion Week Plaza Frontenac Fashion Achievement Award Oct. 8 during a ceremony at Plaza Frontenac.

Goodenough to deliver annual Witherspoon Lecture Oct. 22

Ursula Goodenough, Ph.D., professor of biology in Arts & Sciences, will present “Religious Naturalism and Ecomorality” for the 2009-10 Witherspoon Memorial Lecture in Religion and Science at 4 p.m. Oct. 22 in Room 300 of the Arts & Sciences Laboratory Sciences Building. Goodenough is internationally known for her work in the field of cell biology. […]