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Here we are, one year and nine months since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, and just a few days away from 2022.  

At UW Medicine, we’ve cared for COVID-19 patients, administered over 489,000 vaccine doses and tested tens of thousands of people in our community, while also monitoring variants and doing outreach — and this is on top of the world-class care, research and education that we do everyday.  

As we reflect on 2021, we wanted to share the most viewed feature stories on The Huddle. The top 10 highlight our employees and faculty and the work we’re doing to care for our community and ourselves.  

Powerhouse Couple: Bay Leslie-Mazwi, MD, and Nicole Mazwi, MD, Join UW Medicine

Bay Leslie-Mazwi (left) and Nicole Mazwi (right).

Their eyes met across the emergency department. The rest is history.

Get to Know: Anoop Patel, MD, Neurological Surgeon

Anoop Patel.

He works to find new treatments for the worst brain tumors. And he scuba dives. 

Passion and Persistence: A Journey of Two Cardiologists

April Stempien-Otero (left) and Christine Chung (right).

April Stempien-Otero, MD, FACC, and Christine Chung, MD, are reshaping the future of cardiology at UW Medicine.

Welcome, UW Medicine Residents and Fellows

Pediatric Department (photos taken before mask mandates).

This year’s class of residents and fellows is the largest on record.

5 Tips For Talking With Someone Who Is Vaccine Hesitant

Photo by Marisol Benitez on Unsplash.

What to say to someone reluctant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Fulfilling Her Destiny as a Leader in Cardiac Surgery

From left to right: Drs. Kathleen Berfield, Lara Oyetunji and Tori Lennox.

Lara Oyetunji, MD, MPH, is a cardiothoracic surgeon who specializes in the treatment of all adult general cardiac surgical diseases.

Why You Should Talk About Advance Care Planning

Image credit: Brian Powell on Stocksy.

From legal documents to making hard decisions, get advice from palliative care specialist Rashmi Sharma, MD, MHS.

Cindy Hecker Celebrates 40 Years at UW Medicine

Cindy Hecker with her grandkids.

Learn her top piece of career advice. 

Get to Know: Beth Buffalo, Chair of Physiology and Biophysics

Beth Buffalo (far right) with her wife, kids and puppy.

Find out how a high school science project launched her career. 

Therapy Dogs Are Helping Staff Build Resiliency

Therapy dog Mac visits staff at Harborview.

Meet the therapy dogs and find out from Kelley Paananen, ARNP, why Harborview Medical Center’s Resiliency Committee has added pet therapy to their well-being and support toolkit.

Honorable mentions

These posts and resources were popular with Huddle readers in 2021.  

Helen Chu, MD, MPH, Named Washingtonian of the Year

Helen Chu.

Chu is credited as the first physician to identify community spread of the novel coronavirus in the United States. Her team’s discovery and ongoing work has helped shape the state’s response to the coronavirus. 

Access a Discounted Airlift Northwest Membership

Airlift Northwest helicopter.

UW Medicine employees can join for only $48 per year.

UW Medicine Hospitals Receive National and Local Recognition

UW Medical Center – Montlake.

View the 2021-2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital rankings.

Seattle Met Top Doctors 2021

Seattle Met magazine cover.

Find out who made the list. 

 

Photo caption: Photo by Ibrahim Boran on Unsplash.