After 26 years of transformative service to WashU Department of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Chandra Aubin retired in 2025, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of clinical mastery, passionate advocacy, and pioneering educational development. Returning home to St. Louis to join the WashU community in 1997, Dr. Aubin switched specialties to emergency medicine (EM) following an initial general surgery residency in New York City. As one of only two female faculty members present at the inception of the EM residency program over two decades ago, she blazed a trail for women across the house of medicine. Throughout her tenure, she proudly identified as a “trench doc,” pairing her deep clinical expertise and self-deprecating humor with an unyielding dedication to bedside care. Always at the forefront of clinical advancements, Dr. Aubin pursued specialized training as an ultrasound technician during her residency elective time, earning certification from the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography to help pioneer emergency point-of-care ultrasound at WashU. Furthermore, she was among the earliest in her field to develop and teach advanced airway management techniques.
Dr. Aubin’s contributions to the WashU Emergency Medicine Residency Program are foundational. During the residency’s early days, she built much of the core didactic content for resident conferences. A national lecturer and early pioneer in medical simulation, she designed hands-on training sessions covering everything from difficult airway management to high-stakes procedures like resuscitative hysterotomies. Beyond technical skills, Dr. Aubin served as the moral compass for generations of trainees. Known for instilling deep empathy and fighting burnout, her core philosophy—”Thank goodness the patient came back. This is our chance to catch what we missed the first time”—remains etched in the minds of program alumni. She also prioritized wellness across the department, co-leading crisis debriefing initiatives for clinical staff. Her widespread impact has been honored with multiple local and national awards.