School of Medicine

Sam Bhayani, MD, has been appointed chief medical officer of the Faculty Practice Plan at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, effective Nov. 1. The university’s Faculty Practice Plan, known as Washington University Physicians, ranks among the five largest academic group practices in the United States.

Larry J. Shapiro, MD, executive vice chancellor of medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, will step down in December after 12 years at the helm. He reflects on his tenure here and on the dedicated, inspiring students, faculty and staff he has worked with.

As part of the overall plan to improve traffic flow in and around the Medical Campus, the access road on the south side of the campus garages along Duncan Avenue only will allow for right turns into and out of both Taylor and Newstead avenues beginning Monday, Sept. 21.

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are recruiting volunteers for a study comparing the potential health and longevity benefits of the Mediterranean diet with those of a typical American diet. The study’s aim is to determine whether health and longevity are influenced more by healthy eating or by weight loss.

With a new $7.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a team of lung transplant surgeons and researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is investigating the immunological basis of lung transplant rejection, with the aim of improving the long-term outlook for patients. ​

Building on a growing body of work that suggests dietary nitrate improves muscle performance in many elite athletes, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that drinking concentrated beet juice — high in nitrates — increases muscle power in patients with heart failure.

​​Siteman Cancer Center plans to expand cancer services and facilities at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital in St. Charles County. The $13.1 million project will expand the existing facility from 19,500 square feet to 30,750 square feet. That is in addition to expansion projects already underway at Siteman’s main campus at Washington University Medical Center and at Siteman Cancer Center-South County.

David A. Hunstad, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, has been named director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the School of Medicine. A School of Medicine graduate, Hunstad previously served as director of the pediatric infectious diseases fellowship program and co-founded the Pediatric Physician-Scientist Training Program

Scott Frey, PhD, has been named associate director of the Program in Occupational Therapy at Washington University School of Medicine and head of its Rehabilitation and Participation Science (RAPS) PhD program.

Thirty-six staff members in the Facilities Management Department at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis recently earned the Sustainable Facility Professional credential from the International Facility Management Association.