The newly formed Division of Physician-Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has selected five physicians for its inaugural Dean’s Scholar Program, which provides up to two years of financial support and mentorship to aspiring, early-career physician-scientists, along with dedicated time for conducting laboratory research.
The program represents one of the division’s first major efforts to address a nationwide shortage of physician-scientists by nurturing the career development of physicians who treat patients but also want to pursue laboratory-based biomedical research…
…The five Dean’s Scholars underwent a competitive application process that required interviews with senior faculty and presentations of their proposed research projects. The awardees are:…
- …David M. Brogan, MD, an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. His research will aim to develop a technique to assess peripheral nerve damage in badly injured limbs. He also plans to tap into his expertise in microsurgery, with plans to create custom-made, molecular imaging probes to improve diagnosis and treatment of peripheral nerve damage. His mentor is Samuel Achilefu, PhD, the Michel M. Ter-Pogossian Professor of Radiology, as well as a professor of medicine, of biochemistry and molecular biophysics, and of biomedical engineering…
- …Stephen I. Stone, MD, an instructor of pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes. His research will delve into the role of specific genetic mutations in insulin resistance in diabetic patients, as well as potential therapies involving gene editing. His research was inspired by a young patient with a rare syndrome that causes extreme insulin resistance. His mentor is David Ornitz, MD, PhD, an Alumni Endowed Professor of Developmental Biology.