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Michael Fletcher was incredibly active before sports injuries flared up, leading to constant neck pain and a lack of fine motor skills. But even after he had two cervical spine (neck) surgeries, the pain in his lower back persisted. “I could walk with minimal pain, but I couldn’t stand still for any length of time,” says Michael. “If I had to stand around at a work function or something like that, the pressure on my spine was unbearable. The pain was very much affecting my quality of life.” Tests showed that he had degenerative disk disease in his lower spine, and he would need to have extensive surgery. It was Dr. Patel that helped ease his anxiety about the procedure. “Dr. Patel has a calm, logical demeanor that is reassuring,” Michael says. “Talking to him and knowing he was with UW Medicine, which has such a great reputation for medical innovation, put me at ease.” While there was pain after surgery, he was able to stop taking prescription pain medication 10 days after his surgery, and he could sit and lie down without discomfort, as well as walk around his house unassisted. By the six-week mark, he knew the surgery had been a success! “Surgery always comes with risk, but it also has the potential to change your life,” he says. “If you are living with that kind of pain, see a specialist. If you are uncomfortable with their advice or it doesn’t work, don’t give up — see someone else."

The University of Washington - School of Medicine celebrated the start of the Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics in September, with Beth Buffalo, PhD, serving as founding chair. The department has been formed by consolidating the previously separate departments of Biological Structure and Physiology and Biophysics. “Dr. Beth Buffalo is widely recognized for her neuroscience research, and she has provided outstanding leadership in her previous role as chair of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics,” says Dr. Tim Dellit, CEO of UW Medicine. “I look forward to working with her to support the new department and the collective vision that has been created by the members of both departments.” The new department will strengthen neuroscience research and educational activities by building on the two departments’ expertise in the fields of neuroscience, physiology and biophysics and their shared goal of establishing a quantitative and mechanistic understanding of molecular, cellular and nervous system function. It will also support recruitment and retention efforts to increase diversity among faculty, trainees and students. We look forward to this next chapter of UW Medicine's collective future.

Some of our employees shared about their healthcare journey and the importance of representation in healthcare in honor of Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month. Alejandra Ortiz Santana, Medical Assistant, UW Medical Center – Northwest: "Early in my career, I worked around cancer patients at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Being around them ignited my path to being in the medical field to help patients feel comfortable and safe during their, at times, scary visits. I saw that becoming a medical assistant would be a good path to start on. I’m currently in OB-GYN surrounded by the best and most supportive team." Orlando Ruiz Rivera, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Transfusion Services Lab, UW Medical Center – Montlake: "I’ve always had an interest in knowing how our bodies function and how science can help our communities to have a good life, which led me to my career as a medical laboratory scientist." Jeniffer Gonzalez, Pediatric Clinical Social Worker, Harborview Medical Center: "In healthcare, I believe an environment of cultural inclusivity improves when staff can communicate in a patient’s native language. When clinical staff can speak the language a family speaks at home, it allows for rapport building and increased engagement." Karen Figueroa, Health Services Manager, UW Medicine Primary Care (UWMPC) at Federal Way, UWMPC Administrative Lead for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: "I’m inspired by the stories of courage and resilience that I hear from our patients and the dedication, drive and creativity of our healthcare teams. As a health services manager, I come to work every day excited about the difference our team will make."

In celebrating Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month, we asked some of our employees about their healthcare journey and the importance of representation in healthcare. Darinka Gil Menchaca, Clinical Diabetes Research Coordinator, UW Medicine Diabetes Research Institute: "My current role focuses on culturally tailored approaches to health education and diabetes management. In diabetes research, I contribute to studies that aim to improve outcomes and quality of life for those affected by this condition." Christian Hernandez, Data Analyst, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington - School of Medicine: "My interest in data analysis began during my undergraduate studies, when a single epidemiology course revealed the role health metrics play in shaping real-world outcomes. While I had aspirations of a medical career, as I delved deeper into data, its potential to drive impactful change – particularly in public health – became increasingly clear." Nora Coronado, Program Manager, Center for Workforce Inclusion and Healthcare System Equity, UW Medicine Office of Healthcare Equity: "I was a first-generation student, and I understand the barriers to health professions. We can encourage students who are interested in healthcare by sharing enrichment programs with them. The Center for Workforce Inclusion and Healthcare System Equity (WIHSE) has programs such as Doctor for a Day, UDOC, BRIGHT-UP, and Summer Health Professions Education Program. If some of these students return to their communities to practice, what a difference they’ll make in the lives of their patients." We'll be sharing more highlights from some of our employees later today.

UW Medicine Orthopedic Health Sports Medicine and Spine were on site at the UW Alumni Association Alaska Airlines Dawg Dash this morning to support all the athletes and their furry friends!

Join us in giving a giant THANK YOU to our supply chain teams for everything that they do to support our patients! The work that they do is often completed "behind the scenes," but each and every one of our team members plays a vital role in ensuring our health system can provide world class care to all our patients. This week is National Healthcare Supply Chain Week, which is a great opportunity to celebrate the value UW Medicine's supply chain teams provide to the clinical and support services teams. #SCWeek

University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce says Dr. David Baker of the Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington is a “local kid” making “global impact”. University of Washington - School of Medicine professor David Baker won the 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry Wednesday for using a process known as computational protein design to turn amino acids into proteins unlike any in existence. “The number of proteins that could exist is vast, and if we can harness just a little bit of that power to solve today’s problems, it will make a difference for everybody,” says Trisha Davis, Baker’s former department chair.

Johan Aqvist, a member of the Nobel committee, said David Baker had used his computer program first to “draw protein structures in new dimensions,” then to “figure out what sequence of amino acids would give you this structure.” This allowed Baker to create these new proteins, “most of which had never been seen before and didn’t exist in nature.” He said the variety of proteins Baker had created was “absolutely mindblowing.

Scenes from this morning's press conference and lab tour with Dr. David Baker, who was awarded The Nobel Prize in Chemistry for computational protein design.

Here we see Dr. David Baker talking with his fellow Nobel laureates early this morning after learning that he had received The Nobel Prize in chemistry for computational protein design. Truly an unforgettable moment! Congratulations, Dr. Baker. Photos by Ian C Haydon, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington