Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Faculty in the Division of Emergency Medicine are hosting a regional conference on out-of-hospital medicine from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 23 and 24, at the Renaissance Grand Hotel in St. Louis. Out-of-hospital medicine refers to treatment provided by emergency medical services (EMS) that operate under the supervision of physicians.

The mix of microbes living inside the gut can protect against obesity, but a healthy diet is critical, according to School of Medicine scientists who transplanted intestinal microbes from obese and lean twins into mice and fed the animals different diets. Pictured are researchers Vanessa Ridaura, a graduate student, and Jeffrey I. Gordon, MD, director of the Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology.

Washington University alumnus Mark Wronkiewicz (BS ’12) developed BrainCopter, one of the first brain-controlled applications for the iPad, while studying biomedical engineering at the university. His mentor, the School of Medicine’s Eric Leuthardt, MD, tries the application, which challenges players to use their thoughts to manipulate a flying brain icon past obstacles.

Timothy Eberlein, chairman of the Department of Surgery, has been named the inaugural winner of the Pillar of Support Award. The award was created by the Academic Women’s Network at the School of Medicine to recognize outstanding support of female faculty.

In the weeks, months and years after a severe head injury, patients often experience epileptic seizures that are difficult to control. A new study in rats suggests that gently cooling the brain after injury may prevent these seizures.

The third round of Tread the Med, a walking program and competition  open to School of Medicine employees, is under way. Among those participating is medical assistant Deloris Brown, who credits the program with improving her health and helping her lose about 70 pounds. Registration for the program will remain open until Feb. 15.

School of Medicine instructors recently were presented with Distinguished Service Teaching Awards for the 2011-12 academic year. Gregory M. Polites, MD, and Steven C. Cheng, MD, display their awards.

Children with traumatic brain injuries are more likely to survive and avoid long-term disabilities when treated with an aggressive approach involving neurologists, neurosurgeons and other critical-care specialists, a new study shows. St. Louis Children’s Hospital patient Drew Mitchem, injured in a sledding accident, had a full recovery after the protocol was followed in his treatment.

​Douglas W. Hanto, MD, PhD, is the new associate dean for continuing medical education (CME) at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Max Wolfson and Amber Lin, second-year medical students, perform at a School of Medicine coffeehouse Nov. 29. Held three times a year and hosted by the school’s Arts Commission, the coffeehouses give students the opportunity to showcase musical and other talents.