[domweek] DOM Week, July 28-August 1, 2025

[Department of Medicine weekly newsletter via domweek]

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DOM Week
July 25, 2025
News, information, and events of interest from the Department of Medicine

(if you have items for DOM Week, please email amyf at uw.edu<mailto:amyf at uw.edu>)



Faculty news
Rachel Issaka named Reign FC and Starbucks Legend
[Rachel Issaka holding Seattle Reigh FC banner]The Legends Campaign, a partnership between Seattle Reign FC and Starbucks, honors women for their extraordinary contributions to our community in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Prior to Seattle Reign FC's match against Urawa, the club recognized Dr. Rachel Issaka, professor (Gastroenterology).

As a first-generation college student, the trajectory of Dr. Issaka's career was largely shaped by the experiences she had growing up and as a medical resident in Chicago, where she observed two different clinics - one in Downtown Chicago with predominantly White, affluent patients and another on the South Side of Chicago with predominately Black and Latino patients.

"There were major differences in how patients in those clinics received my recommendation to complete colon cancer screening, and colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers."

Read the full story from Seattle Reign FC<https://bit.ly/4fa8U9h>.


Education news
In memoriam: Stephen Njau
[Stephen Njau]Medicine resident Dr. Stephen Njau tragically passed away on July 19 while kayaking on Lake Washington. Dr. Njau was a second year resident. Prior to joining our residency program, he served nearly a decade as a medic and later as a General Medical Officer in the U.S. Navy, most recently at Naval Station Everett. He demonstrated unwavering dedication to service, including providing medical care in remote areas of the Pacific, mentoring high school students in Baltimore, or leading medical teams with compassion and integrity.

His journey to medicine was shaped by a profound sense of purpose. In his personal statement to our program, he wrote about the importance of trust in healthcare, and the quiet, persistent work of rebuilding that trust one patient and one conversation at a time. He believed that service meant truly knowing the people you care for and fighting for them, even when the system made it hard.

"Stephen brought warmth and humor to our community and his presence was a gift to all who had the privilege of working alongside him," said Program Director Dr. John Choe.

We will share details about a remembrance celebration of life as they become available.

________________________________

Taylor Coston awarded global health fellowship
[Taylor Coston]Dr. Taylor Coston, fellow (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine) has been awarded the Northern Pacific Global Health LEADERS Fellowship by the Fogarty International Center.

This prestigious fellowship will support Dr. Coston's research in Nairobi, Kenya, where he will collaborate with the Kenya Medical Research Institute to lead a prospective study to define functional recovery profiles among survivors of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), identify risk factors for impaired recovery, and determine the contribution of pulmonary abnormalities.

This work will synergize with his Northrop-Park Fellowship from the Firland Foundation, which supports complementary investigations into the clinical and molecular drivers of muscle loss in TB survivors and its contribution to reduced lung function and quality of life. Together, these efforts will provide Dr. Coston with valuable experience in conducting prospective studies and may uncover modifiable factors to enhance recovery and improve quality of life for TB survivors.

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CLIME small grant recipients
Congratulations to the DOM recipients of the 2025 CLIME small grants<https://bit.ly/45dgFHc>. This program supports innovative projects that advance medical education and improve health professions training locally and across the WWAMI region.

Dr. Jacqueline Birnbaum, clinical assistant professor (General Internal Medicine), "Harmony and Dissonance: How Physicians Engage in Identity Work to Reconcile Their Professional and Personal Identities." DOM collaborator is Justin Bullock.

Dr. Susan Merel, professor (General Internal Medicine), "Feasibility of WBA-based approach to teaching and assessing communication skills within clerkships using VitalTalk methodology."

Drs. Clinton Olivas, acting instructor, and Vincent Raikhel, assistant professor (General Internal Medicine), "Understanding the Resident Physician Experience in Inpatient Behavioral Emergencies."


Research news
Medical Data Science Pilot Award
[James Town]Dr. James Town, associate professor (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine) is PI on a 2025 award from the UW Institute for Medical Data Science (IMDS) for "Machine Learning-based Analysis of Auditory Signal Processing to Predict Extubation Failure in Patients with Severe Acute Brain Injury."

Approximately 20% of patients with severe acute brain injury (SABI) who require mechanical ventilation are reintubated after an initial attempt at extubation. Dr. Town and colleagues from UW Computer Science and Engineering, the Dept. of Neurology, and Google are building a multichannel sensor system to record the breathing sounds of patients with SABI after extubation and will analyze the recordings using a machine-learning algorithm to identify patterns associated with extubation failure.


Recent publications
Dr. Shailender Bhatia, professor (Hematology and Oncology) is senior author of "Phase 1b/2 study evaluating safety, efficacy and immune effects of TLR9 agonist cavrotolimod with anti-PD-1 antibodies among patients with advanced solid tumors<https://bit.ly/44LQFna>" in the Journal of ImmunoTherapy of Cancer.

Dr. Petter Bjornstad, professor (Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition) is co-author of "Adjunct-to-insulin therapy using SGLT2 inhibitors in youth with type 1 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial<https://go.nature.com/4l4Ihoa>" in Nature Medicine.

Jennifer Brody, research scientist, Dr. Rozenn Lemaitre, research professor, and Dr. Bruce Psaty, professor (General Internal Medicine) are co-authors of "Polygenic prediction of body mass index and obesity through the life course and across ancestries<https://go.nature.com/3TYrjw3>" in Nature Medicine.

Drs. Lawrence Corey, professor, and Emily Ford, assistant professor (Allergy and Infectious Diseases) are co-authors of "Extended nirmatrelvir-ritonavir treatment durations for immunocompromised patients with COVID-19 (EPIC-IC): a placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind, phase 2 trial<https://bit.ly/4lLoTx3>" in Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Dr. Taylor Coston, fellow, is lead author and Dr. T. Eoin West, professor (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine) is senior author of "Pneumonia-specific plasma metabolite profiles among patients hospitalised with infection in Southeast Asia<https://bit.ly/44LNpbr>" in ERJ Open Research. DOM co-author is Sina Gharib.

Dr. Kristina Crothers, professor (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine) is co-author of "Diagnosis and Management of Community-acquired Pneumonia. An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline<https://bit.ly/41eGSDN>" in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Dr. Vincent Fan, professor (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine) is co-author of "Military Inhalational Exposures Outside the Theater of Conflict and Chronic Respiratory Symptoms<https://bit.ly/4l0dlF7>" in JAMA Network Open.

Drs. Sina Gharib, professor (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine) and Bruce Psaty, professor (General Internal Medicine) are co-authors of "Polygenic scores for obstructive sleep apnoea reveal pathways contributing to cardiovascular disease<https://bit.ly/4o9W92S>" in eBioMedicine. Dr. Gharib is also co-author of "Prevalence and Prognostic Significance of COPD in Adults Younger than 50 Years of Age<https://bit.ly/45aBu66>" in NEJM Evidence.

Dr. Jason Goldman, clinical associate professor (Allergy and Infectious Disease) is co-author of "Efficacy and safety of obeldesivir in low-risk, non-hospitalised patients with COVID-19 (OAKTREE): a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study<https://bit.ly/3GYJoaj>" in Lancet Infectious Diseases and "Severity of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and risk of new-onset autoimmune disease: A RECOVER initiative study in nationwide U.S. cohorts<https://bit.ly/44VFiYv>" in PLoS One.

Dr. Heather Greenlee, professor (Hematology and Oncology) is senior author of "Endocrine therapy and risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors<https://bit.ly/3UwJsRQ>" in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. DOM co-author is Richard Cheng.

Dr. Mazyar Shadman, professor (Hematology and Oncology) is lead author of "Efficacy of zanubrutinib versus acalabrutinib for relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (R/R CLL): a matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC)<https://bit.ly/46pkdbx>" in Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology.

Dr. Rachael Stovall, acting assistant professor, is lead author and Dr. Namrata Singh, associate professor (Rheumatology) is senior author of "Patient characteristics and outcomes of emergency visits in psoriatic arthritis: results from the U.S. Nationwide Emergency Department Sample<https://bit.ly/3UrxyZv>" in Clinical Rheumatology. DOM co-authors are Dominique Feterman Jimenez, Alison Bays, Jenn Thomason and Londyn Robinson.

Dr. Hans Christoph Vitzthum von Eckstaedt, fellow, is lead author and Dr. Namrata Singh, associate professor (Rheumatology) is senior author of "Sonographic Signatures of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Associated Musculoskeletal Adverse Events<https://bit.ly/3Urx1qt>" in Cancers. DOM co-authors are Ingeborg Sacksen, Rachael Stovall, Petros Grivas, Shailender Bhatia, Evan Hall, and Scott Pollock.


In the news
Dr. Timothy Dellit, professor (Allergy and Infectious Diseases). dean of the School of Medicine, CEO of UW Medicine and EVP for medical affairs, is quoted in U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)'s press release: "Murray, UW Medicine & Harborview CEOs Sound Alarm on How Republican Medicaid Cuts Will Devastate Hospitals, Threaten Specialty Care People in Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming Rely on<https://bit.ly/4m6lF70>."

Dr. Stephanie Page, professor and head (Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition) is quoted in "First Hormone-Free Male Birth Control Pill Shown Safe in Early Human Trial<https://bit.ly/4f5FyZQ>" in Scientific American.

Dr. Paul Pottinger, professor (Allergy and Infectious Diseases) is quoted in "Travel warning: Measles cases at highest since virus was considered eradicated<https://bit.ly/40SZvgH>" from KIRO Radio.

Dr. Darryl Potyk, clinical professor, is quoted in "'We're handcuffed': Medical students, residencies forced to wait idly for Congressional action<https://bit.ly/454I9yA>" in the Spokesman-Review.

Dr. Arthi Thirumalai, associate professor (Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition) is quoted in "Living With Low Testosterone? Weight Loss Drugs May Help<https://bit.ly/4f5wiVv>" in Everyday Health.


Events of interest
DOM Summer Potluck
[Gasworks Park, Seattle]Come socialize outside of the office and enjoy the summer sun at the Department of Medicine Summer Potluck, Aug 1, 3-6pm at Gas Works Park. All DOM employees, their families, and significant others are welcome. Non-alcoholic beverages will be provided by the department (alcohol is not allowed at the park). You may choose to bring a dish to share, but this is not required or expected. The purpose of this event is to socialize outside of the office and enjoy the summer sun. Food and drinks will be set up under Shelter #2 and Picnic Tables 6, 7, 8, 9.


Weekly Calendar, July 28 - August 1, 2025
Our events calendar is posted on our website<https://medicine.uw.edu/news/trumba-calendar>.


Coming up
Research Fellows Orientation Course
Registration is open for the annual Department of Medicine Workshop: "Surviving and Thriving During the Research Years<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/bit.ly/3S3jx3D__;!!K-Hz7m0Vt54!lZWile_eD8i2hniJr2ZIipFr4LmoN5sYhAp1SywYbaNZKAPUMs8ncwEV1ZGvXFEf_QFUJlFOYGOFc7Glr0AjCQ$>" on Aug. 6 at South Lake Union. This one-day in-person workshop provides practical guidance on career development, mentorship, manuscript writing and funding strategies (including a live mock study section) led by experts across the Department of Medicine.

Designed for physician and PhD research trainees and early-stage faculty spanning from those who are just starting in research to those preparing to submit a career development award, this workshop is also great networking opportunity to meet other early career and senior researchers. There is no charge to attend this course and breakfast and lunch are provided. Please register for this course<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/bit.ly/4j5ELsa__;!!K-Hz7m0Vt54!lZWile_eD8i2hniJr2ZIipFr4LmoN5sYhAp1SywYbaNZKAPUMs8ncwEV1ZGvXFEf_QFUJlFOYGOFc7GNo31hsQ$>.

________________________________

Amy Fields, Editor
amyf at uw.edu<mailto:amyf at uw.edu>


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