The Division of Rheumatology is comprised of faculty with varied backgrounds and experiences who contribute to the clinical care, research and educational mission at WashU Medicine.
The division was previously led by John Atkinson, MD (1976-1992 and 2008-2017), Wayne Yokoyama, MD (1995-2007), and Deborah Lenschow, MD, PhD (Interim 2017-2018). Christine Pham, MD assumed the position of division chief on October 1, 2018.
The division has 6 full-time NIH-funded physician-scientists who work in a highly collaborative environment to enable innovative research to advance knowledge and improve healthcare for patients suffering from various rheumatologic diseases. To facilitate these endeavors the division successfully competed for a Rheumatic Diseases Research Resource-based Center (RDRRC) NIH P30 award, which began September 1, 2018 under the co-direction of Drs. Pham and Lenschow. In addition to expanding translational research, several faculty members have established specialized clinics to meet the challenges posed by the emerging rheumatic diseases as well as complex autoimmune conditions such as lupus and vasculitis.
Christine Pham, MD
Division Chief, G & EM Magness Professor of Medicine
Research Interests: Neutrophil proteases, nanomedicine for inflammatory arthritis
Clinical Interests: Rheumatology, arthritis, inflammation and proteases
Medical School: University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida (1985)
Residency: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (1989)
Felowship: Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (1997)
Sambhawana Bhandari, MBBS
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Medical School: Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Nepal
Residency: Danbury Hospital (Nuvance Health), Danbury, Connecticut
Fellowship: Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (2023-2025)
John P Atkinson, MD
Samuel B. Grant Professor of Medicine
Research Interests: Complement and RVCL Research
Medical School: Kansas University, Lawrence, Kansas (1969)
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (1969-1971)
Fellowship: National Institutes of Health (1973-1974), NIH postdoctoral research fellowship, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (1974-1976)
Mohamed Babiker-Mohamed, MBBS
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Medical School: University of Khartoum Faculty of Medicine, Khartoum, Sudan
Residency: AMITA Health Saint Joseph Hospital, Chicago, Illinois
Fellowship: Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (2022-2024)
Vladimir N Despotovic, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan (2004)
Residency: BJH/Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri (2007)
Fellowship: Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine,St. Louis, Missouri (2007-2009)
Fellowship: Critical Care, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (2008-2010)
Colin Diffie, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Research interests: Vasculitis
Clinical interests: Vasculitis, rare diseases, arthritis
Medical School: Medical School at UT Houston, Houston, Texas (2014)
Residency: BJH/Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri (2017)
Fellowship: Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri (2017-2019)
Colleen Dostal, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Nurse Practitioner
Research Interests:
Social Determinants of Health
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois
Doctorate of Nursing Practice, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois
Sees patients at our West County and Center for Advanced Medicine locations