UW Medicine

10/01/2025

For Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month, we asked some of our employees how heritage and cultural background have influenced their choice of a career in healthcare.

Today we're featuring Kasandra Sy, RN, BSN, C-EFM, Childbirth Center, UW Medical Center – Northwest; Michael Silva, MD, Addiction Psychiatry Fellow, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington University of Washington; and Erika Serna, CNA, Acute Care, UW Medical Center – Northwest.

Kasandra Sy: "Drawing on a family background in education and a lifelong passion for caring for others, I was inspired to pursue a nursing career. This interest was cemented during a difficult personal experience with a terminally ill grandmother; I saw firsthand the vital role a nurse plays in helping families understand complex medical information. During nursing school, a mentor guided me toward my specialty in obstetrics. Supporting mothers and babies through such transformative moments has been a profound privilege."

Michael Silva: “In my Mexican household growing up, psychiatric illness was a taboo topic of discussion. I had no concept of what mental illness really was until I experienced a mental health issue for the first time. I suffered panic attacks in my first year of medical school, but once I received the help I needed (just a few therapy sessions to teach me anxiety coping skills), I was able to control my anxiety and the panic attacks stopped. I developed a passion for mental health advocacy and became driven to educate all people (especially other Latine people) about the importance of mental health treatment."

Erika Serna: “I love to take care of people when they need me most. It is my pleasure. As a Latina, we really love what we do; we are very energetic and always willing to help others. We are good people; we came to this country to work hard and find our dreams.”

09/30/2025

In 2013, Jack Odell was told he might have as little as two months to live after being diagnosed with uveal melanoma, a rare and aggressive eye cancer.

Today — 12 years after his diagnosis and having survived far longer than expected — Jack is grateful for the care he received at UW Medicine and determined to turn his experience into a powerful advocacy platform. 💜

“Dr. Stacey is the best! The care I received at UW was invaluable,” Jack said.

Read about Jack's journey and the profound impact of both exceptional care and the ongoing research being done by Dr. Stacey’s team at UW Medicine.

How donor-supported research leads to new treatments for patients with these aggressive diseases.

09/30/2025

First-year medical student Shannon Miller, studying at Alaska's Medical School - WWAMI, spent the 2024–25 Austral Summer with the U.S. Antarctic Program at McMurdo Research Station, supporting logistics at the largest research base on the continent. She says the lessons of teamwork and community are ones that she’ll carry forward into her future as a physician.

As part of the Cargo Team, she worked long shifts moving supplies across the sea ice, helping keep research and field camps running.

“It was such a unique experience to live in a completely self-reliant community at the bottom of the world, where everyone depends on one another,” she says.

🔁 alaskawwami on Instagram

09/29/2025

Meet Dr. Chris Peterson, an orthopedic surgeon at UW Medicine and the dedicated medical director for Ballard FC & Salmon Bay FC! UW Medicine is a proud sponsor of both clubs, and we love seeing Dr. Peterson keep our athletes at their best season after season.

09/27/2025

UW Medicine is at the big game cheering on the Huskies. Go Dawgs! 💜

09/26/2025

Everyone’s talking about the Washington Husky Football — Ohio State Football game, but there’s another story you should know.

For over two decades, University of Washington’s Dr. Matt Parsek and The Ohio State University’s Dr. Daniel Wozniak have worked side by side — from 2,000 miles apart — to fight dangerous bacterial infections that impact people with cystic fibrosis.

They’ve co-authored 40+ studies, met for annual lab “family reunions,” and uncovered new ways to fight antibiotic resistance.

Science, like sports, is a team effort. 🧪🏈

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — This weekend, all eyes are on the football field as Ohio State takes on Washington in Seattle. But off the field, the two universities have been teammates for decades.…

09/26/2025

The air is getting cooler, the leaves are beginning to change, and cold and flu season are upon us. And with the many myths about the efficacy of vaccines circulating, it’s important to know the facts about vaccines, and why you should get them.

“Vaccines help prevent many serious infections, including some that have no cure or specific treatment," says Abby Hussein, MD, MPH, the associate medical director of infection prevention and control at the University of Washington Medical Center. “And if you do get infected, your illness is usually much milder than it would be without the vaccine."

Getting vaccines not only keep you safe, but they can keep your community safe by preventing the spread of harmful viruses.

“Unvaccinated individuals can also unknowingly spread infections to others who may be more susceptible and not able to fight off illness as effectively," says Dr. Hussein.

If you're worried about any potential adverse reactions from vaccines, talk to your doctor to get their recommendations based on your health history.

Read more here to find out which vaccines are recommended when, and for which age groups.

Here’s what to know.

09/26/2025

Every journey into healthcare has a story. Often, cultural backgrounds, heritage and traditions are part of that story. This Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month, we’re sharing how culture and heritage have inspired some of our employees to choose a career in healthcare.

Today, we're featuring Lizbeth Arias (PT, DPT, Rehab Therapies, UW Medical Center – Northwest) and Michelle Cardenas (MS, MBA, PA-C, Assistant Director, Health Services, Harborview Medical Center).

Lizbeth Arias: "I was drawn to physical therapy because I get to work with patients on their rehabilitation journey to regain their independence and quality of life. When my grandma had a stroke in a small rural town in Mexico, I realized the significant value of having access to rehab services. Being bilingual in Spanish and English has been very valuable in my career because I have been able to assist non-English speaking Latino patients with navigating the complex medical system.

Latino culture is beautiful. It’s colorful, fun, lively and loving. My family is from Mexico, and I’m lucky to visit the town where they were raised every year and experience my culture through the Mariachi, pozole and tamales, and the land. There is always a reason to party and celebrate life! Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Mu***os, is a beautiful tradition that honors loved ones who have passed by creating beautiful ofrendas or altars with their pictures and favorite foods. I recommend everyone check out the events held around Seattle celebrating this beautiful tradition."

Michelle Cardenas: "There is such diversity within the Latinx community, with lived experiences that span generations and countries.

I worked with physician assistants at UW Medical Center when I was an X-ray tech and really loved what they brought to the medical team. I come from a family of migrant farmworkers, so I was pleased that my first physician assistant job was at Yakima Valley Farmworkers Clinic. I loved their mission but after six years decided I missed working in an academic environment. I still wanted to work at a place that served the same mission and Harborview seemed like a great fit. I have now been at Harborview 20 years."

09/24/2025

Stop scrolling ✋

Take a deep breath 🫁
Hold for four seconds ⏱️
Slowly exhale 😮‍💨

Okay, you can keep scrolling now 📱👈

09/24/2025

As medical research advances, recommendations for testing and treatments change. That's good because it ensures people get the best care. But, all those changes can understandably be stressful for a health-conscious person on the other end of the doctor-patient interaction.

The only reason we have all the tests, vaccines and other preventive options we do today is because of medical research. That research is ongoing, with experts looking into things like at-home saliva tests for ovarian cancer and opioid vaccines to prevent overdose. Not all of these efforts may prove effective at combating disease, but the ones that are will save lives, which means the uncertainty serves a greater purpose.

The best way to get customized recommendations is to visit your doctor every year for a wellness exam. It can be difficult these days, but try to get one scheduled even if it’s for several months out. During your appointment, ask which tests and screenings they recommend for you.

No, your doctor isn’t bad at their job

09/23/2025

Promising news for older adults with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

A new randomized, double-blinded trial — published in The New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the 150th American Neurological Association meeting — shows that brain shunt implantation can significantly improve symptoms of this condition.

Patients who received shunt treatment were able to walk faster, maintain steadier balance, and experience fewer falls.

The study, conducted at 21 medical centers in the United States, Canada, and Sweden, was co-led by UW Medicine neurologist Dr. Michael A. Williams. Neuropsychologist Dr. Nickolas Dasher contributed to the research. The findings offer hope for improving quality of life in older adults with this condition.

Watch our short video to learn more about the results and what they mean for patients.