For this Faculty Feature, we highlighted Catherine Omosule, an Assistant Professor in the Laboratory and Genomic Medicine Division.
Tell us about your background. Where did you grow up, and when did you first become interested in science and medicine?
I grew up in a small community in northern Ghana and was introduced to healthcare early through my mother, who was a midwife. As a child, I often accompanied her to the local clinic, where she cared for women in our community. These experiences sparked my interest in medicine and shaped my early understanding of healthcare as a service-oriented profession. I was drawn to the idea of service and initially envisioned myself following a similar path in the medical field.
In high school, my exposure to science was largely theoretical. That changed in college when I received the Mathematics in Life Sciences fellowship at the University of Missouri–Columbia under the mentorship of Dr. George Smith and Dr. Dix Pettey. Through this program, science became an active, hands-on endeavor as I gained research experience working on traumatic brain injury biomarker development. This experience showed me how research and medicine could be meaningfully integrated.
I then pursued a PhD in Biochemistry, choosing an advisor and research focus that combined with my interests in pediatrics, research, and medicine. My doctoral research examined strategies to improve bone strength in a congenital disorder commonly known as brittle bone disease.
What is your career path?
I completed my fellowship in clinical chemistry here as WashU, after which I returned to Ghana to take up a position as a Senior Research Fellow at the Medical and Scientific Research Center of the University of Ghana Medical Centre, a premier tertiary medical facility in Accra, Ghana.
In that role, I translated findings from my fellowship research into a grant proposal aimed at validating a novel renal biomarker, myo-inositol, in Ghanaian populations. The proposal was awarded a five-year Wellcome Trust grant, which includes longitudinal follow-up of participants to assess the predictive value of myo-inositol for chronic kidney disease. This work reinforced my commitment to translational research that connects discovery to meaningful clinical impact in diverse populations.
What are your favorite parts of your current role?
I am an Assistant Professor at WashU and the Associate Medical Director of Pediatric Lab Services at SLCH. This role combines all my professional loves: pediatrics, research, medicine and teaching.
Beyond this, I have the most amazing colleagues and mentors, who make the daily experience unique.
What is a memorable moment you’ve had while working in the department?
Welcoming my second child during my fellowship here was memorable. The faculty, staff, and residents created an exceptionally supportive environment that allowed me to balance family responsibilities with my training. Their flexibility, encouragement, and genuine care made a lasting impression and reinforced the sense of community within the department.
What special skills or talents do you have that people may not know about?
I learn best by doing, whether that’s in the lab or at home. On a whim, I once replaced three toilets in my house over two days, entirely on my own (with some help from YouTube, of course). I also genuinely enjoy putting together IKEA furniture 😊, there’s something really satisfying about ending up with a finished, functional result.
What are some of your favorite hobbies or activities?
Baking Ghanaian pastries is one of my favorite ways to unwind, and it’s an activity I enjoy sharing with my daughter.
What is your advice to aspiring people in your field?
Aspirants should seek opportunities to shadow and appreciate the breadth of what it means to be a clinical chemist. Nothing is more frustrating than being in a job you do not care for!
