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    ACR on Air

    As the official podcast of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), ACR on Air seeks to have informative and engaging conversations rheumatology professionals want to hear – ranging in topic from trends in clinical practice, to issues affecting rheumatology professionals, and the changing landscape of the rheumatology field. Tune in twice a month for engaging interviews and commentary.
    enAmerican College of Rheumatology82 Episodes

    Episodes (82)

    Sneak Peek of “Hot Off the Press at ACR Convergence”

    Sneak Peek of “Hot Off the Press at ACR Convergence”

    ACR Convergence 2022 is almost here, and with that, new trials, new medications and new results. We’re preparing a very HOT episode for you, to be released along with the opening ceremony at ACR Convergence 2022, this Saturday, November 12th. In this preview of Saturday’s full episode, we’ve invited host of “ACR Journals on Air” Dr. Vicki Shanmugam, to briefly discuss all the exciting science that is just a few days away! 

    40. ACR Convergence 2022 Preview

    40. ACR Convergence 2022 Preview

    Excited for ACR Convergence 2022? So are we! This week Jon catches up with AMPC Chair, Dr. Sharon Kolasinski! It's been two years since we’ve gathered physically, and when we meet up at The Philadelphia Convention Center, you won’t be disappointed. Dr. Kolasinski dives into this year’s program, new features at Convergence and even the delicious dining to be had in this historic city of brotherly love. See you soon! 

    39. The Science Behind Reprocessing Pain

    39. The Science Behind Reprocessing Pain

    In this episode we discuss how pain syndromes occur, what's happening in the brain, how to diagnose and explain these syndromes in our patients and (most importantly) how to help patients on the road to recovery. Our guest, Dr. Schubiner, has decades of experience in treating patients with these syndromes and uses randomized controlled studies to inform his approach. These studies have shown that a specific type of treatment leads to a nearly complete elimination of pain in a large majority of patients with chronic pain. 

    Books written by our colleagues for patients:

    • John Sarno—The Mindbody Prescription, Healing Back Pain, The Divided Mind
    • Alan Gordon—The Way Out, pain reprocessing therapy for patients
    • Howard Schubiner—Unlearn Your Pain and Unlearn Your Anxiety and Depression; books for patients with self-guided recovery programs

    Other books:

    • David Hanscom—Back in Control and Should you have spine surgery?
    • David Clarke—They can't find anything wrong
    • David Schechter—Think away your pain
    • Georgie Oldfield—The key to chronic pain recovery

    Books for professionals:

    • Lisa Feldman Barrett—How Emotions are Made; on predictive processing
    • Schubiner and Allan Abbass—Hidden from View
    • PPD Association—Clarke, Schubiner, Abbass, Clark-Smith—Textbook on psychophysiologic disorders

    38. Revisiting the Great Debate JAKs vs TNFs

    38. Revisiting the Great Debate JAKs vs TNFs

    During “The Great Debate” at ACR Convergence 2020, the question: Should JAK inhibitors be started before TNF inhibitors in people with rheumatoid arthritis who failed methotrexate? was asked. However, in 2021, results from the oral surveillance trial showed an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in cancers among patients with rheumatoid arthritis taking tofacitinib as compared to those on TNF inhibitors. These findings led to the FDA updating their black box warning on JAK inhibitors. Today, we’ve invited one of the speakers on the great debate, Dr. Vibeke Strand, to speak on her position on JAK inhibitors given these new results and shed some more light on the subject. 

    36. Hot Topics – Spring & Summer 2022 Edition

    36. Hot Topics – Spring & Summer 2022 Edition

    This week’s episode is another installment of our popular “Hot Topics” series, where we discuss “must read” studies recently published in one of ACR’s three peer-reviewed journals. Joining us is Dr. Vicki Shanmugam. Not just our guest today, but also the host of a new ACR podcast series, “ACR Journals on Air” scheduled to launch later this summer. Today, we’ll hear what we can expect from her new podcast, and we’ll talk about some of her favorite studies in the ACR’s journals right now. Enjoy! 

    35. Guideline for Vaccinations in Patients with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases

    35. Guideline for Vaccinations in Patients with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases

    In this week’s episode, we discuss the "ACR’s 2022 Guideline Summary for Vaccinations in Patients with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases" with lead author Dr. Anne Bass, Attending Physician in the Division of Rheumatology at Hospital for Special Surgery and a Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. During our conversation we consider the importance of guidelines for vaccines, the impact certain drugs like rituximab and methotrexate have on vaccinations, cover some vaccine highlights within the guidelines, how these guidelines can aid in navigation with insurance companies and much, much more. 

    34. Responding to and Dealing with Implicit Bias as a Healthcare Provider

    34. Responding to and Dealing with Implicit Bias as a Healthcare Provider

    Today we’re talking about implicit bias with Dr Arin Reeves. What bias is, how it permeates our lives, how it can negatively impact our workforce, and its impact on clinical research and patient care. Most importantly, we discuss what we can do about our implicit biases to prevent them from causing damage. 

    33. B-Cell Depleting Therapies and COVID-19

    33. B-Cell Depleting Therapies and COVID-19

    This week we welcome Dr. Alfred Kim to our show as we discuss B-Cell depleting therapies and how patients on these drugs may be more susceptible to COVID-19. During which, Dr. Kim takes us back to the beginning of the pandemic and how he and his patients initially managed the rituximab infusions, how and why people on this drug may be at increased risk of severe disease, the importance of vaccinations, and why they may not work for this patient population. Finally, we finish with Dr. Kim sharing with us important information on how to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 among people taking b-cell depleting therapies, now that there are new therapies for COVID-19 pre-exposure prophylaxis.  

    32. The Importance of Mental Healthcare for Healthcare Providers

    32. The Importance of Mental Healthcare for Healthcare Providers

    Today’s episode is all about mental health for today’s healthcare professionals with our guest, Dr. Hanna Zembrzuska. She is a psychiatrist and rheumatologist and is a clinical assistant professor at The University of Iowa, holding appointments in the depts of internal medicine and psychiatry. We discuss everything from what burnout is, strategies to prevent/overcome it, the importance of having a sense of control within your medical practice and how to establish boundaries to coaching and support groups for physicians, as well as tips and tricks to maintain your mental health during busy clinic days. We then dive into how depression and anxiety can cause physical pain with rheumatic disease. 

    31. 2021 Kawasaki Disease Guidelines

    31. 2021 Kawasaki Disease Guidelines

    Today, in this episode, we’ll discuss the new “2021 Guideline for the Management of Kawasaki Disease, the mysterious triggers that cause KD, the use of therapies such as IVIG, steroids, infliximab, anakinra, and compare multisystem inflammatory disease in children, or MIS-C (a condition very similar to Kawasaki Disease that is triggered by SARS COV-2). Joining us today is Dr. Mark Gorelik, lead Author of the “2021 Guideline for the Management of Kawasaki Disease. He’s an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, is a pediatric rheumatologist, an allergist and immunologist. His research focuses on vasculitis, including Kawasaki disease, and on immune dysregulation.   

    30. Importance of Physical Activity for People with Rheumatic Diseases

    30.  Importance of Physical Activity for People with Rheumatic Diseases

    In this episode, Dr. Kim Steinbarger, PT, MHS, DHSc, Asst. Professor at Husson University, and Talitha Black, an occupational therapist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), help us clarify some common misconceptions about exercise for people with rheumatic diseases. We’ll discuss tips and strategies to increase physical activity for people of all ages, explore who would benefit from physical or occupational therapy. We’ll discuss bracing, taping, and other strategies that people may use to reduce pain and improve function. 

    27. Hot Topics in Reproductive Health

    27. Hot Topics in Reproductive Health
    Pregnancy and reproductive health have long been hot topics in the rheumatology community. Lisa Sammaritano, MD and Whitney White, PharmD, BCPS joined our host to discuss three research articles moving conversations forward on pregnancy and lactation in rheumatic disease patients. 

    26. Vasculitis Guidelines Miniseries - Part 3

    26. Vasculitis Guidelines Miniseries - Part 3

    In this episode of ACR on Air, we reach the final installment of our vasculitis guideline miniseries. Dr. Hausmann is once again joined by Dr. Sharon Chung, lead author of the 2021 ACR/VF guidelines for managing systemic vasculitis, to discuss Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN). Dr. Chung weighs in on CTA over MRA for abdominal vascular imaging, and blind biopsy. Dr. Hausmann and Dr. Chung examine various patient scenarios for PAN symptoms and why they would meet the criteria for data testing. 

    25. Vasculitis Guidelines Miniseries - Part 2

    25. Vasculitis Guidelines Miniseries - Part 2

    In this episode of ACR on Air, we continue into part two of our Vasculitis miniseries with Dr. Sharon Chung, lead author of the 2021 ACR/VF guidelines for managing systemic vasculitis. Dr. Chung addresses how the guidelines were developed, the use of use temporal artery biopsy, and the on-going challenges with treating Takayasu’s arteritis. She also highlights the success of non-invasive ultrasound techniques in Europe for diagnosing Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) and discusses the treatment approaches for GCA. 

    24. Vasculitis Guidelines Miniseries - Part 1

    24. Vasculitis Guidelines Miniseries - Part 1

    In this episode of ACR on Air we begin the first entry in our Vasculitis miniseries with Dr. Sharon Chung, where we take a detailed examination of the 2021 ACR/VF guidelines for managing systemic vasculitis. In part one of the series Dr. Chung will discuss the importance and creation of the guidelines along with the impact the author's hope to achieve. We then dive into the recommendations for ANCA-associated vasculitis, including: GPA, EGPA and MPA. We'll address controversial questions for treatment and the impacts that arise for COVID-19 vaccinations.

    23. COVID-19 Updates: Vaccine 3rd Doses, Antibody Testing & Real-World Data

    23. COVID-19 Updates: Vaccine 3rd Doses, Antibody Testing & Real-World Data

    It’s been seven months since the ACR released its COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Guidance for Patients with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases, and we continue to learn more about navigating COVID-19 in rheumatology patients. Some real-world data has become available on patient outcomes. The FDA has issued an EUA for 3rd doses of an available mRNA vaccine in certain immunocompromised patients. Antibody testing continues to be heavily debated. And monoclonal antibody treatment has received an EUA to be used as a prophylaxis measure in patients at high risk for developing severe COVID-19. Dr. Jeff Curtis, Chair of the ACR COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance Task Force, joins us to discuss these developments, updated task force recommendations, and more.

    22. The Impact of Diet on Rheumatic Conditions

    22. The Impact of Diet on Rheumatic Conditions

    On episode 21, we discussed alternative therapies that providers and patients can consider to support treatment plans for rheumatic diseases. On this episode,  Dr. Monica Guma joins the show to talk about how diet may impact these conditions, positively or negatively.  

    The host, Dr. Guma nor the ACR suggest that patients with rheumatic conditions forgo traditional treatment plans recommended by trained rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals. Patients should continue to see their rheumatologist to discuss complements to their treatment plan.

    ACR on Air
    enMay 18, 2021