UW Medicine

Medical research isn’t just about discovery — it’s about hope. Dr. Rotonya M. Carr, Gastroenterology; Dr. Alex Greninger, Clinical Virology Lab; and Dr. Cora Sack, Pulmonary Care, show three prominent UW Medicine researchers, detail how research is the key to ambitious ideas becoming life-changing innovations. Funding cuts delay progress, force layoffs, and threaten the future productivity, safety, and health of the workforce. From lost breakthroughs to fewer opportunities for the next generation of scientists, the stakes go beyond today’s projects. They impact generations. Medical research is core to our mission to improve the health of all people. Academic medical center research is essential for improving quality of life for everyone. It offers hope to those in need, generates job opportunities and drives economic growth in our communities. Investing in research is investing in the health and future of all people. #ResearchImprovesLives

All throughout Native American Heritage Month, we have been celebrating the contributions and diverse cultures of our American Indian and Alaska Native employees and what their heritages means to them in a multi-part series. Participants shared why they chose a career in healthcare, whether their heritage played a part and what they wish more people knew about their cultures or communities. Today, we're highlighting Maria Catalina Aguilar (she/her), Yakama - Medical Assistant at UW Medical Center – Roosevelt. "As a little girl, I always took an interest in wanting to help others, whether it was looking after my siblings or assisting my elders in the kitchen or with ceremonies. After a while, I found myself taking care of my sick aunt and being there as her caregiver. That experience definitely sparked my interest in the healthcare field. Now for over the past decade, I’ve been working as a medical assistant. I don’t see many Indigenous people in healthcare, and that is why I have hopes to further my career. My background made me a nurturer, and I enjoy my job helping patients the best way I possibly can. If you haven’t been to a pow wow yet, there are a few throughout the Seattle area. Most happen in the summertime, and you can watch the beautiful dancing in our handmade regalia while you enjoy an Indian taco or just plain frybread and jam. Or if you ever get invited to a sweat lodge, you should go to experience physical and spiritual purification."

Please help us show our gratitude to our neurology leadership for representing our teams at the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) Fall Oral Board Examination and helping to ensure the next generation of neurosurgeons is ready to make a difference nationwide! Dr. Louis Kim, Chief of Neurological Surgery at Harborview Medical Center and current ABNS Director; along with Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, Chair of Neurological Surgery; Dr. Manny Ferreira, Vice Chair of Neurological Surgery; and Dr. Amy Lee, Chief of the Neurological Surgery Service at Seattle Children's; served as oral board examiners at this year’s fall session. Their roles contribute to maintaining the highest standards in neurosurgical training and evaluation. The examiners evaluate a candidate’s clinical judgment, knowledge of disease, and ability to manage the full spectrum of neurosurgical conditions, from routine consultations to urgent emergencies, with patient safety as a constant priority.

Where will you be cheering on the runners of the UW Medicine Seattle Marathon this weekend? Extra points for those who show up at the hill near fisherman's terminal, where runners might need encouraging! The half-marathon begins at 7 a.m. on Sunday Nov. 30; the full marathon starts at 7:30 a.m. The expo for the races, featuring health and fitness vendors, is free and open to the public and begins at 11 a.m. Friday and Saturday prior to the race at the Westin Seattle (1900 Fifth Ave., Seattle). Find your spot on this fun, illustrated map featured in The Seattle Times.

Our clinically integrated adult oncology program with Fred Hutch Cancer Center is included in Becker's Healthcare 2025 list of 100 hospitals and health systems with great oncology programs. This national recognition highlights how our program gives patients access to the latest research, treatment options and clinical trials for all types of cancers. It also describes our leading role in medical discoveries, including the Nobel-prize winning work that created bone marrow transplantation. Fred Hutch is an independent organization that also serves as the cancer program for UW Medicine. Beyond cancer care, both organizations are recognized for infectious disease research and vaccine trial expertise, including our crucial role in coordination of the nation’s COVID-19 vaccine trials.

Do you wear a smart watch? If so, you might have the future of early emergency detection on your wrist! Nearly a decade ago, Jake Sunshine began investigating possibilities of smart technology being used to save human lives. This year, he debuted smartwatch technology that can detect a wearer’s cardiac arrest and call for help. Without intervention, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is one of the world’s leading causes of death, carrying a 90% mortality rate for the approximate 350,000 Americans who experience it every year. Getting help there to administer CPR quickly can mean the difference between life and death. Sunshine explains that watches are well-suited as sensing devices for emergencies because they’re worn consistently and have connective capabilities that allow them to call for help. Smartwatches can calculate wearers’ heart rates using rays of green light, a color absorbed by red blood cells, to measure blood flow — a process called photoplethysmography. Using this technology, Sunshine and his team developed a complex algorithm that can detect if a loss of pulse occurs, confirm if someone is not responsive (consistent with cardiac arrest) and call for help. All of this happens in around one minute. "This is a great example of the University being a multidisciplinary environment — people bringing different areas of expertise together to solve a problem. Using smart devices for detecting cardiopulmonary emergencies really got its start at the University of Washington," he says.

“Antibiotics don’t work against viruses and pressure the bacteria normally found in our bodies to evolve and mutate, increasing the chance that they’ll develop into antibiotic-resistant bacteria,” says Chloe Bryson-Cahn, MD, an infectious diseases physician and Medical Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship at Harborview Medical Center. “For this reason, antibiotics should only be prescribed and used when necessary. While it may not be possible to prevent contracting an infection from an antibiotic-resistant bacteria entirely, there are ways to help prevent their spread. Reminders like these are important for everyone to help decrease contributors to antibiotic resistance. Other common infections for which someone may need antibiotics include urinary tract infections, skin infections and pneumonia. Bryson-Cahn recommends patients asking their doctor: “Is this the shortest course of antibiotics I can take?"

Have you ever witnessed the Aurora Borealis… from the sky? During recent patient transports, Airlift Northwest crews had the rare privilege of experiencing the northern lights from the air. This breathtaking shot, captured by our Juneau team, is a reminder of the unique perspectives our crews encounter while delivering lifesaving care across the region. Even in the midst of critical missions, moments of beauty like this shine through. 💜 Were you able to see the northern lights during this latest display? Share your photos in the comments, we’d love to see them! 📸 Flight Nurse Chris T. 🔁 Airlift Northwest

Getting regular scans can help catch lung cancer in its early stages, increasing survival rates. “The number of lives saved by early detection completely eclipses the lives we can save with drugs for advanced lung cancer,” said Dr. Douglas Wood, chair of surgery at UW Medicine. However, more than 60 percent of Americans don’t know that lung cancer screening is available. A recent study found that only 18 percent of eligible individuals receive lung cancer screening. Beyond access to screenings, Dr. Wood also notes that many longtime smokers might assume that they’ll be blamed if lung cancer is found. Smoking is can also be concentrated among low-income people, who already struggle to access care. The new study modeled the benefit of screening smokers who are not currently eligible — like those who quit more than 15 years ago or who smoked less than a pack a day for 20 years — and estimated another 30,000 lives could be saved. Learn more about these insights in The New York Times here.

Today is National Injury Prevention Day, and we're here to advise all of you winter sports enthusiasts! Winter sports like hockey, skiing and snowboarding, can carry the risk of serious injuries like concussions, ligament or meniscus tears, and fractures. “In soft snow, we often see tears of ligaments or meniscus,” says Christian Peterson, DO, a sports medicine surgeon. “In hard pack or ice, we most commonly see fractures and closed head injuries.” Always be sure to wear your helmet, double-check your gear for any potential risks, use sunscreen and stay hydrated! In the event of an injury, we're here for you if you need us. 💜