News Stories

Campus Catch-Up

The Washington University campus community is making headlines every day. Members of the School of Medicine are regularly featured in local, national and international news stories. Department of Surgery faculty, staff and medical students are leaders in their specialties, and share their expertise when called upon. Campus Catch-Up collects some of these stories and celebrates members of the community who are receiving recognition.

National Leaders in Liver Transplant, Interview with Cathy and William Chapman, MD, FACS

From Barnes-Jewish Hospital YouTube

Meet inspiring liver transplant recipients from the Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Transplant Center in St. Louis. Their stories are a reflection of the team’s dedication to taking exceptional care of people.

Excellent, Comfortable Care

From Alton Memorial Hospital

For Trish Oberweis, the fact that John Felder, MD, successfully treated her melanoma was the main thing. But the way in which Felder and his office treated her along the way was just as important.

Washington University to offer genetic counseling master’s program

From WashU Med News Hub

Washington University School of Medicine is now offering a new master’s program in Genetic Counseling, a field that has exploded in growth as genetic information becomes more widely available to patients. The first round of applications is due Dec. 15.

Women Who Are Young, Non‐White, and with Lower Socioeconomic Status Report Higher Financial Toxicity up to 1 Year After Breast Cancer Surgery: A Mixed‐Effects Regression Analysis

From The Oncologist

Improvements in cancer treatments have led to higher out‐of‐pocket costs for patients. These out‐of‐pocket costs substantially impact patients’ financial stability and health outcomes. Financial toxicity describes both the financial hardship and psychological distress associated with health care costs. Many patients report depleting their savings to pay for needed cancer care. Others describe rationing medication and delaying or avoiding needed care because of costs. Patients with cancer also report worry and anxiety about paying their medical bills. Professor of Surgery Mary Politi, PhD, is leading research on the impact of financial toxicity among breast cancer patients.

Incidence of Nerve Injury After Extremity Trauma in the United States

From HAND

Traumatic peripheral nerve injuries cause chronic pain, disability, and long-term reductions in quality of life. However, their incidence after extremity trauma remains poorly understood. Researchers from the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery studied nerve injury in a national cohort, finding that the incidence was higher than previously reported. A minority of injuries were diagnosed by emergency department or hospital discharge. These findings may improve practitioner awareness and inform public health interventions for injury prevention.