ACR on Air

Our eyes: reflections of the soul, can say more than lips without need of translation and give us a glimpse into stories only a journey can record. Our next guest knows this all too well as he’s made a career of looking at rheumatic disease through a different lens. Quite literally. Join us this week for an illuminating discussion with Dr. James T. Rosenbaum, MD, rheumatologist and author of over 650 peer-reviewed manuscripts. Dr. Rosenbaum is credited as being both one of the world’s most impactful uveitis scientists for the years 2013 to 2023 and the only practicing rheumatologist to have headed a department of ophthalmology. Dr. Rosenbaum helps us put uveitis into focus this week as we discuss what it is, how he treats it, how to determine if those with it have other rheumatic conditions, and which patients with rheumatic disease should seek additional treatment with an ophthalmologist. 

In this week’s episode, we’ve invited Dr. Irene Blanco, MD, MS, to the show for a discussion regarding healthcare disparities. What are healthcare disparities? What causes them? Are there any disparities specific to rheumatology? We examine the consequences, explore the impact of patient outcomes, and the challenges faced by communities and some solutions you and your practice can engage in.   

Health research methodologist and clinical epidemiologist, Dr. Emily Sirotich, PhD is our guest this week who sheds light on a growing paradigm shift in medicine: patient participation in research. Once only considered to be the beneficiaries of research and care, Dr. Sirotich is here to discuss with us the evolving role patients and patient organizations have and how they are helping to lead the way in research. Through dispensing invaluable perspectives, experiences and insights to the conversation of care, the improvement of it and the advancement of the science involved, patient participation in research has proven to be a powerful resource in the investigation of treatment. 

Sarcoidosis: What is it? Why does it occur? Are there any potential environmental triggers? Our guest, Dr. Adam Morgenthau, sheds light on these and more, including making the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, the need for imaging or biopsy and how it will distinguish between organ involvement and organ damage. And, perhaps just as important, we discuss when to treat it, including the various medications that can be effective for organ system manifestations. Finally, we conclude with a discussion on the latest research into Sarcoidosis patients, and their families, living with this disease. 

This week, we invited Dr. Paul Dellaripa to discuss why patients and providers should be concerned regarding increases in heat, pollution, and allergens and how they may negatively impact people with rheumatic diseases. We discuss how environmental factors could contribute to the development of autoimmunity in people who were otherwise previously healthy and how these factors may also cause exacerbations of a patient's underlying rheumatic disease. Most importantly, we discuss what role we can assume at home, as professionals and as educators to our patients and medical trainees. 

This week we’ve invited Dr. Lauren Henderson of Boston Children’s Hospital to discuss what Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS) is, how to diagnose it and which medications are used to treat it. Dr. Henderson also explains her efforts to partner with healthcare professionals in other fields (who may use a different name for MAS) seeking to understand what treatments they use when confronted with MAS and to establish a formalized process in evaluating and treating these patients together. 

Join us this week for a very special episode, that is just as much a personal story as it is an educational discussion. Dr. Jon Hausmann discusses a vasculitis disease that affects cartilage, particularly around the ears, nose, joints, eyes and throat, known as Relapsing Polychondritis (RP). Our guest, board certified in internal medicine, critical care, infectious diseases, and rheumatology, is Dr. Marcela Ferrada. Dr. Ferrada is an expert in the research, diagnosis and clinical treatment of RP and is a world-renowned leader in its subject. Dr. Ferrada also lives with the disease, as she was diagnosed with RP in 2015. Her inspiring story of hard work and dedication through adversity truly sets the stage for this educational and informative episode about a very rare disease: Relapsing Polychondritis 

Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition (CPPD) - is one of the most common inflammatory arthritis in the world, and yet, it doesn’t receive the recognition it deserves. Our discussion today will feature everything you’ve ever wanted to know about this disease. We’ll review the basics, diagnosis through arthrocentesis and various imaging studies, creating classification criteria for CPPD, treating both the acute and chronic manifestations of CPPD as well as all the questions that remained unanswered. 

This week we discuss a pressing issue facing healthcare in the United States: The shortage of rheumatologists nationwide. With millions of American suffering from rheumatic diseases, the demand for specialized care has never been greater. Meanwhile, the supply of rheumatologists has not kept pace with this demand. Leaving many patients struggling to access the care they need. Today, we are joined by Dr. Daniel Battafarano, co-chair of the ACR Workforce Study, whose aim was to understand this very topic. We explore the root causes of this shortage, its impact on patient care and potential solutions for addressing this critical issue. 

Gout, despite being one of the most well-known and recognizable rheumatic diseases, still has large populations of people struggling with its management, as they do not receive urate-lowering treatment, even when they qualify. Of those who receive this treatment, only a small percentage reach their target urate goal. To shed some light on this, we’ve invited Dr. Nicola Dalbeth, a Specialist Rheumatologist, who leads research on the mechanisms, impact and treatment of gout. Dr. Dalbeth is also a principal investigator of trials for novel therapeutic agents and treatment strategies in gout and in 2020, was also a member of the core oversight committee for the ACR Gout Management Guidelines. We discuss treatment efficacy, the disparities, myths and barriers to them, diagnosis, and strategies regarding management of gout. 

Founder of Attune Health and Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Dr. Swamy Venuturupalli is our guest today! We discuss innovative tech solutions designed to keep you, the clinician, working smarter, not harder. Dr. Venuturupalli explains some of his favorite tech adoptions in his practice, such as use of VR, AI, social media, and other software designed to increase efficiency and productivity in a field desperately searching for more hands to heal and assist an ever-growing patient load. 

“Rheumatology For All” is an organization with a global mission: To increase access to rheumatology care in under-resourced regions. They aim to create self-sustaining rheumatology training programs by funding the education of local physicians to become rheumatologists and provide educational programs for local physicians. Much of the organization’s work is done in developing nations throughout Africa. Today, we have founding member and member of the board of directors, Dr. Michele Meltzer as our guest, to discuss their mission, how it began, where “Rheumatology For All” is going, and how you can get involved in the great need to expand rheumatic care to these under-served countries. 

This week we discuss what a biosimilar is, why they’re causing such controversy and why they’ve taken seven years, since the FDA approved Amgevita, to come to market. We review the evidence behind the safety and efficacy of these drugs, the data from switching from a bio-originator to a biosimilar, and how the approval of the drugs may lower the health care costs and improve access to these medications. 

This week, we have the distinct privilege to interview Dr. Dan Kaster, “The Father of Autio inflammatory Diseases”. His discoveries have taught us a great deal about how the immune system works, both in health and disease. His work has contributed to finding effective treatments for conditions that previously caused significant suffering and early death. Discussions around the many autoinflammatory diseases for which he is famous are had in this episode, but we dive deeper, asking about the keys to his success as an investigator as well. Dr. Kastner shares with us formative experiences as a medical student, skills he’s acquired solving the myriad of challenges he’s faced and the global collaborations he’s forged over his long and legendary career.     

This week, our guest is Assoc. Prof. Of Medicine in Rheumatology at Loma Linda Univ. And board certified from the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and Chair of ACR’s Government Affairs Committee, Dr. Christina Downey. Dr. Downey discusses and shares with us how to counsel and provide small and practical steps for patients to improve their wellness as well as tips on staying healthy while juggling clinical practice, administrative responsibilities and family life. We’ll learn all about empathy: what it is, how to get it and why you want it. And finally, Dr. Downey shares with us her work in advocacy for her patients and what motivates her to continue that work and fighting burnout 

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the life of a researcher.  We’ve invited Dr. Jeffrey Sparks to share with us how he ended up as an R01 independent researcher. We’ll learn how the sausage is made, as they say, of a successful grant submission.  Jeff will share with us how he became interested in research, the skills he gained along the way, how mentors were necessary for his success, and he explains the alphabet soup of NIH grants.  He also discusses the 20 medals that he has hanging on the wall of his office. 

This week, Dr. Alfred Kim joins Dr. Hausmann for a reflective episode, highlighting memorable moments and key learning takeaways from ACR Convergence 2022, in our final episode of the year. Have a happy and healthy new year. 

Join us this week as we welcome American College of Rheumatology Master, Dr. Herbert S. Baraf who is the founder and, up until his retirement this year, managing partner of “Arthritis & Rheumatism Associates” (one of the largest private rheumatology practices in America). Today, Dr. Baraf shares with us why he went into private practice, the risks and benefits of doing so, and his invaluable lifetime experience for those looking to enter and those within private practice. Currently, Dr. Baraf is a Special Volunteer at National Institue of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. He holds appts as Clinical Professor of Medicine at George Washington University and is an Associate Clinical Professor at The University of Maryland 

This week we invited Dr. Stacy Ardoin, pediatric and adult rheumatologist, to discuss all the challenges of ushering children into adult care and (more importantly) how to facilitate the transition. Dr. Ardoin led the American College of Rheumatology’s participation in the American College of Physicians Pediatric to Adult Care Transition Toolkit Project and has published several research studies and reviews on the topic. Today, she offers her advice, processes at her own practice, and resources for both patient and parents to help your pediatric patient successfully navigate this critical period in their care. 

Welcome to ACR Convergence 2022! Today, Dr. Vicki Shanmugam (host of ACR Journals on Air) joins Jon to tackle three, pivotal trials, that will be presented at our annual meeting this year! Join us as they dive into the objectives, the science behind them and their incredible results. You can find each one of the manuscripts discussed on this episode here:

1. Deucravacitinib, a Tyrosine Kinase 2 Inhibitor, in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Phase II, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
2. A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase III Extension Trial of the Long-Term Safety and Tolerability of Anifrolumab in Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
3. Genicular Nerve Block for Pain Management in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial