UW Medicine

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing on Friday, July 26, of Dr. Michael K. Copass, a pioneer in emergency medicine and a cherished member of our community. Dr. Copass, 86, dedicated his career to saving lives and advancing the field of emergency medical care, leaving an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of working with him.

Women are an important part of our workforce, making up approximately 67% of our organization. All three of UW Medicine’s hospitals are led by women. Recently, UW Medicine ranked in the top 5% in the nation as a 2024 Best Employer for Women by Forbes. Forbes’ ranking of America’s Best Employers for Women is released annually to help people identify companies that support women in leadership roles, address the gender wage gap, and create a more equitable workplace for women. “From an HR perspective, we conduct pay equity analyses for jobs and provide resources and support for life at work and beyond,” says Nicki McCraw, assistant vice president of Human Resources at UW Medicine. “Across UW Medicine, work is being done to improve equity, support well-being, address bias, and continue to make UW Medicine a top-choice employer.”

We're thrilled to announce that a number of UW Medicine physicians have made it to Seattle magazine's 2024 roster of Top Doctors! See the full list: https://bit.ly/3zXNTye

Last week, in a special celebratory ceremony, the next generation of future physicians were presented with their stethoscopes. This new University of Washington - School of Medicine class will now embark on four years of exploring and encountering the medical field and local communities during their medical training. Congratulations! We can’t wait to see all you do in the years to come! 📷: Tara Brown Photography 🔁: University of Washington - School of Medicine

Currently, there is no cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and available treatments and drugs only slow down the disease. But, a new gene therapy treatment shows promise of not only stopping the decline of the muscles of those affected, but perhaps, in the future, even repairing those muscles. The study’s senior author, neurologist and geneticist Dr. Jeffery Chamberlain explains that up until now, there was no way to deliver the needed protein fixes into the muscles and their genes because the the gene which needs to be fixed is the largest gene in nature. The new method uses a series of adeno-associated viral vectors or AAVs, which are tiny shuttles that are being used to deliver gene therapies into human cells. Instead of just one AAV, this gene therapy uses a series of AAVs which take parts of the therapeutic protein inside the muscles, along with embedded instructions to begin assembling the necessary genetic fix once within the body. There is hope that this method might eventually lead to a reversal of the muscle wasting and restore normal health of the muscle tissue. “When you meet families and patients it just inspired me to work that much harder,” Dr. Chamberlain said.

As the Primary Care Medical Director for our Post-COVID clinic, Dr. Nikki Gentile sees a wide range of people with a wide range of symptoms. Often, these symptoms make it difficult--even impossible--to carry on with daily activities. She supports patients and also studies the effects of long COVID, focusing on pain. In a recent comic from a series via the King County Public Health, she shares how to get through long COVID and says there is hope.

Dermatologist Paul Nghiem, head of the University of Washington - School of Medicine Dermatology Department, was recently on KUOW Public Radio to discuss the importance of sunscreen, and practical solutions to "sunscreen stickiness" while you're enjoying time outside with your family this summer. "Your skin never fully forgets what you have done to it," he says. "It's all about habits."

UW Medicine’s Alvord Brain Tumor Center and Neurosciences Institute was on site at the 11th Annual Head For The Cure 5K, supporting Brain Cancer survivors and caregivers. This event raises funds, awareness, and hope for the Seattle brain tumor community.

UW Medical Center - Northwest is a recipient of the first Center of Excellence for Perinatal Substance Use certification from the Washington State Department of Health, Washington State Hospital Association, and the Washington State Health Care Authority. This certificate, which supports the state’s Opioid and Overdose Response Plan, recognizes hospitals that have made significant progress in supporting birthing parents and infants affected by substance use disorder by adapting perinatal care best practices. “Ensuring parents and people who are pregnant receive substance use recovery and supportive services is a top priority for our agency and our communities,” said Lacy Fehrenbach, Chief of Prevention, Safety and Health, Department of Health. “Our hope in creating the Centers of Excellence for Perinatal Substance Use certification is to set a baseline of care and available resources for parents and infants affected by this epidemic. This joint effort is guided by proven science and human compassion.”

Yesterday was the second annual Brain Health Block Party! This special event promoting brain health featured outdoor “brain-healthy” activity stations spread throughout Seattle’s First Hill neighborhood. As participants walked from site to site, they solved puzzles, made their own trail mix, played games, created art, and much more! Initiated by the Memory Hub, a community center operated by UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center, the fun neighborhood event celebrates easy steps we can take to promote brain health – like staying active, reducing stress, challenging our minds, connecting with others, and eating a healthy diet. It’s also a unique way to build awareness about memory loss and dementia. Nine organizations partnered to produce this year’s event, offering activities at the following locations: The Memory Hub, Frye Art Museum, Murano Senior Living, Skyline Retirement Community, St. James Cathedral, Horizon House (CCRC), Swedish First Hill, Town Hall Seattle, and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. Each of the participating organizations has a commitment to supporting older adults and the community at large. We can all play a role in helping build a dementia-friendly community: by building awareness, challenging stigma, and taking steps to make sure people with dementia are actively included in community life.