Barnes-Jewish Hospital

09/19/2025

Today, we celebrate the unveiling of Plaza West Tower, the latest addition to our legacy of service and enduring commitment to the St. Louis community.

For years, we've watched the tower rise floor by floor, a vision in concrete and steel becoming a reality. A promise taking shape.

This isn't just any building. With the tireless work of 3,700 architects, engineers, and skilled tradespeople, we've created an environment designed to enhance patient recovery and healing.

As the #1 hospital in Missouri and the fifth largest in the country, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine Physicians have long been national leaders in delivering the most advanced care to patients from around the world. The new Plaza West Tower is part of our continuing promise to our community—and to the patients who are at the forefront of every decision we make. As Dr. John Lynch, president of Barnes-Jewish Hospital, said:

“The growing demand for critical care requires facilities that are as sophisticated and innovative as the care that we offer. The enhancements in Plaza West Tower are designed to foster collaboration among caregivers, which ultimately benefits our patients.”

This incredible new space will make a real difference for our patients and their loved ones, especially those with the most complex illnesses. It's a place designed to make people feel safe and at ease, with features like:
• 224 private rooms and 56 private ICU beds
• A new cafeteria and two beautiful rooftop gardens for a moment to breathe
• Advanced technology to support our expert care teams
• A design that can accommodate the needs of future pandemics

We are so proud of everyone who was a part of the journey that brought us this far. This tower is a promise made real, and a foundation to train the next generation of care providers who will build their careers right here.

The Plaza West Tower will welcome its first patients this October. We can't wait to share more updates with you soon.

Read the full press release here: https://heyor.ca/B7ONew

ST. LOUIS (September 18, 2025) – Plaza West Tower, the new 16-story patient care tower at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, will welcome patients beginning in October.

09/16/2025

Parents often say they would do anything for their kids. For Esmay’s mom, Halie, that promise became a matter of survival.

When Esmay, an 8-year-old from Arkansas, needed a new liver, Halie stepped forward to become a living donor, offering a portion of her own liver to save her daughter's life. After seeking treatment from across the nation, her family chose Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children's Hospital for their care.

The seamless collaboration between WashU Medicine Physicians and teams across our two hospitals made this living-donor transplant possible, leading to Esmay's incredible recovery.

High-energy Esmay is now thriving and was able to return to school this fall. We're honored to be a part of her story. Watch the family's story of strength and love from KMOV: https://heyor.ca/JxZnu4

09/10/2025

From leading 4 Hands Brewing Company to facing a Stage 3 cancer diagnosis, Kevin's journey is one of incredible resilience and gratitude. Now, as a Pedal the Cause Featured Fighter, he's turning his fight into fuel for hope.

Kevin's story reminds us why Pedal the Cause’s mission is so vital. The funds raised accelerate breakthrough cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine towards a world where prevention strategies, innovative treatments, and cures are accessible to all.

Watch Kevin's inspiring video and see how together, we're making St. Louis all it can be in the fight against cancer: https://heyor.ca/OzvFBG

09/04/2025

Rodney knew he had a problem with his heart—a faulty valve risked developing into a condition known as mitral regurgitation, which could eventually lead to heart failure. The thought of open-heart surgery kept him from getting the treatment he needed, but at 55, with his condition worsening, he decided it was time to find a less invasive alternative.

His cardiologist referred him to Tsuyoshi Kaneko, MD, a leading cardiothoracic surgeon with WashU Medicine Physicians at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. As pioneers in breakthroughs for heart disease treatment and unmatched experts in minimally invasive surgical procedures, it was no surprise that Dr. Kaneko was the first in the region to perform an innovative robotic mitral valve repair. Rodney knew this was where he needed to be.

Dr. Kaneko explains what makes this surgery so groundbreaking: "We operate through tiny ports between the ribs. Our instruments articulate like a human wrist. It’s like having super-fine forearms inside the chest. Patients often experience faster recovery time, minimal scarring, minimal pain, and are up and walking within a day."

For active patients like Rodney, it's a game-changer. His recovery was swift. "I was out of intensive care in under 24 hours," he recalls. "I was able to sit up and move around after the surgery."

Now, Rodney is back home and looking forward to hiking, scuba diving, and taking a long-delayed trip to Quebec.

Learn more about Rodney’s experience and how this advanced robotic procedure helped him get his momentum back: https://heyor.ca/vhWCsY

08/01/2025

We're celebrating a Barnes-Jewish love story. Brie and Brett, who recently got engaged, met while working as ICU nurses and grew close during their shifts in our COVID-19 ICU. Years later, they are now excelling as certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) doctoral students at Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing.

Their journey from the ICU to walking across the graduation stage together this December is a powerful reflection of the passion, perseverance, and professional growth fostered within BJC HealthCare.

Join us in sending a massive congratulations to this couple. We can't wait to see them launch their careers as WashU Medicine CRNAs, caring for patients throughout BJC HealthCare's hospitals.

07/29/2025

Barnes-Jewish Hospital, along with its physician partners from WashU Medicine Physicians, is honored to be ranked as the #1 hospital in St. Louis and Missouri on U.S. News and World Report's 2025–2026 Best Hospitals list.

Barnes-Jewish ranked nationally in 11 specialties, including cancer; cardiology, heart and vascular surgery; diabetes and endocrinology; ear, nose, and throat; gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery; geriatrics; neurology and neurosurgery; obstetrics and gynecology; orthopedics; pulmonology and lung surgery; and urology. Barnes-Jewish was also rated as high performing in rheumatology and 18 procedures and conditions—bringing its total number of recognitions to encompass 30 types of care.

Thank you to our clinical teams for their expertise, compassion, and dedication to excellence—we are incredibly proud of the care you provide!

See the complete list of BJC Health System honors: https://heyor.ca/sV8Ilq

07/23/2025

A devastating workplace accident left Zach, a devoted single father, without both legs. For agonizing months, he fought for survival, enduring 17 surgeries. Through it all, Zach credits his three sons as the inspiration that fueled his fight.

Life after the accident was a constant, uphill battle. Even simple daily tasks became incredibly difficult, and traditional prosthetics brought him constant discomfort. Yet, despite these challenges, Zach found an unexpected passion: sled hockey. This adaptive sport allows players with limb loss to sit on specialized sleds, propelling themselves across the ice with two shortened sticks. "I never thought I would be able to play a sport and be competitive," Zach shared, explaining how playing hockey lifts his spirits.

Still, his prosthetics limited him. Then, Zach was referred to WashU Medicine Physicians' Ian English, MD, for a groundbreaking osseointegration surgery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. This innovative procedure directly implants a prosthetic into the bone, offering a more comfortable fit and restoring an incredible amount of mobility for patients.

Following his surgery, Zach has been able to take part in weight training with his new prosthetic and is currently in rehabilitation, learning to walk again. After months of rehab, he says the osseointegration already makes a big difference: "I don’t have to worry about the prosthesis falling off."

When asked what he's most excited about, Zach didn't miss a beat before answering: "Walking. That’s what I want to do. I want to walk again."

Read Zach's full story and discover how osseointegration is transforming lives: https://heyor.ca/QhJz2E

WashU Medicine Orthopedics

07/09/2025

From helping our community after the tornado to raising more than $4.1 million for cancer research through the Illumination Gala, it's been a whirlwind of a first couple of months for David Bruns, the new Vice President and Executive Director of The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital at the helm.

David brought with him over 20 years of incredible experience in fundraising, most recently from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he helped lead a record-breaking fundraising campaign. He was selected after a national search, and the Foundation couldn't be more excited to have his vision guiding their mission.

From his first few months, David has already witnessed the profound impact of Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

"My first months in this role have been truly inspiring, as I’ve met with leaders and caregivers about their most urgent priorities and toured world-class spaces like the new Plaza West Tower," said David. "What I’ve experienced so far has only reinforced how indispensable Barnes-Jewish is to the community, and how essential philanthropy will be to its continued success.”

The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital and its donors play a vital role in supporting patient care, research, caregiver education, and community outreach that make a real difference in the health and well-being of the St. Louis region. With David's leadership, we're looking forward to even greater impact.

06/27/2025

In our constant pursuit of moving medicine forward, we're honored to be part of this breakthrough gene therapy treatment for sickle cell patients. This gives new hope to families across the Midwest. ❤️

06/25/2025

Congratulations to Rich Liekweg, BJC Health System CEO, who announced his plans to retire on October 1, 2025, concluding an extraordinary career spanning almost 40 years in health care, the last 16 of which were devoted to BJC.

“It has been an honor to serve and lead our team members these past 16 years as they deliver exceptional care to our patients and communities,” said Rich. “Together, we successfully navigated through unprecedented times in the industry, never losing sight of our singular purpose to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve. I am deeply proud of our caregivers, the culture we have created, and the values we share that place the patient at the center of all we do.”

BJC is pleased to announce that Nick Barto, current BJC Health System President, will succeed Rich as President and CEO of BJC Health System.

“I am honored to be selected to succeed Rich Liekweg as BJC Health System’s President and CEO,” said Nick. “I look forward to working with our 47,000 team members to build on Rich’s vision that grew BJC into a super-regional health care leader, to continue to provide extraordinary care to the communities we serve, and to position BJC as a mission-oriented academic health care leader for all future generations.”

Read more here: https://heyor.ca/j1yUMR

06/13/2025

Did you know your liver can regenerate itself? The liver is a powerhouse organ that can perform over 5,000 vital tasks—everything from fueling your body to filtering toxins. But what happens when it malfunctions?

"Most patients I talk with don’t really know what the liver does—until it doesn’t,” says Jeffrey Crippin, MD, WashU Medicine Physicians gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. For advanced liver disease, transplantation may be the best treatment option.

Thanks to the liver's remarkable ability to regenerate, living-donor liver transplants are possible, with donors safely giving up to 65% of their liver. However, demand for donor livers far exceeds supply, driving a critical need for innovative solutions in preserving deceased-donor livers.

Learn more about these advancements in liver transplantation from WashU Medicine transplant surgeon William Chapman, MD, FACS, in the latest issue of Curiosus: https://heyor.ca/VOuhHz