ACR on Air Podcast
ACR on Air seeks to have informative 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 bi-weekly for new interviews and commentary that are sure to empower listeners to excel in their specialty.
Podcast Host
Our host, Jonathan Hausmann, MD, is a pediatric and adult rheumatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital. He is also an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. His research interests include autoinflammatory diseases, health technology, and medical education. Connect with Dr. Hausmann on Twitter (@hausmannMD).
Episodes
New episodes will be available twice a month on Tuesdays.
Episode 97 – Diabetic Myonecrosis
Episode 96 – The Year in Preview
Episode 95 – Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Episode 94 – Caring for Older Adults in Rheumatology
Episode 93 – How to Become a Physician-Writer
Browse previous episodes in the ACR on Air archive.
Episode Show Notes
In this episode, we dive into a fascinating and often overlooked aspect of rheumatology: complications from diabetes that can mimic rheumatic diseases. Elena Schiopu, MD, kicks off the discussion by shedding light on diabetic myonecrosis, a painful muscle condition that can be easily mistaken for other rheumatic disorders. We then explore scleroderma, a skin-thickening muscle disorder that resembles systemic sclerosis (SSC) but has distinct underlying mechanisms. Dr. Schiopu shares invaluable insights on how to approach complex rheumatology consults in the hospital, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful diagnostic reasoning. She also discusses why sometimes the best approach in medicine is to avoid unnecessary tests and treatments, prioritizing patient care and accuracy in diagnosis.
Elena Schiopu, MD – Elena Schiopu, MD, is the Director of Clinical Trials for the Division of Rheumatology. She graduated from “Gr.T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Romania and did her medical training at Robert Wood Johnson medical school in New Jersey to Wayne State University in Detroit, after which she became faculty at University of Michigan in the Scleroderma Program, Director of the Myositis Program and the Rheumatology Lead for the combined Oncology-Rheumatology Initiative in immune checkpoint inhibitors. Her clinical research includes the first randomized controlled trial in myositis (RIM trial) and developing outcome measures in Scleroderma (CRISS) and Myositis (TIS), StopRA, photoacoustic imaging in Rheumatic structures. She currently serves in the scientific committee of the International Myositis Assessment & Clinical Studies Group (IMACS), and was a member of the University of Michigan IRB, the University of Michigan Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA) on the President’s and Provost’s COVID-19 Faculty Council in 2020, and the first rheumatologist to mentor a team from the University of Michigan Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) Graduate Innovative Design in Biomedical Engineering course for the 2019-2020 academic year.
She is a passionate educator and among others, she was honored by the University of Michigan Learning Environment Task Force (LETF) for her exemplary work in cultivating and upholding a positive learning environment for U-M Medical School students (2017), and received the Dean award in 2019 as an MD PhD candidate switched his residency application from Ob-Gyn to Medicine after working with her. She is an advisory member of the Scleroderma Foundation, The Myositis Association and Sjögren’s Foundation and feels privileged to be part of the greater Augusta medical community.
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In this episode, we dive into the cutting-edge advancements presented by Christopher T. Ritchlin, MD, MPH, at ACR Convergence 2024, where he shed light on the promising research set to transform the field of rheumatology. Join us as we break down key insights from one of the field’s leading experts, exploring the future of precision medicine, the role of TRBV9 cells in axSpA, the impact of sex differences on PsA, and the potential of urinary biomarkers in lupus nephritis. Tune in for a fascinating discussion on what’s next in rheumatology.
Christopher T. Ritchlin, MD, MPH – Professor Ritchlin's basic science research efforts are directed towards understanding the mechanisms that underlie pathologic bone resorption and new bone formation in psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. His team also developed a new murine translational model of PsO and PsA and they demonstrated that the decline in secondary bile acids are key events in the transition to PsA.
Professor Ritchlin is the principal investigator on several clinical trials testing the efficacy of anti-TNF agents and other biologic molecules in the treatment of psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. He directs the NIAMS Accelerated Medicine Partnership Autoimmune Inflammatory Mediated (AMPAIM) Psoriatic Disease Team focused on understanding key pathophysiology events that underlie psoriasis and PsA using advanced technologies such as single cell RNAseq and spatial transcriptomics.
Professor Ritchlin is the author or co-author of over 300 peer reviewed articles.
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In this episode, we explore a potential paradigm shift in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. For years, pharmacologic interventions have been the cornerstone of management, but now a groundbreaking approach is emerging. John Tesser, MD, FACP, FACR, MACR, principal investigator in a pioneering study, discusses the use of an implantable device that stimulates the vagus nerve. By tapping into the body’s nervous system to reduce inflammation, this novel approach offers a promising alternative to traditional drug treatments. Tune in to learn how this innovative technology could reshape the future of rheumatoid arthritis care.
John Tesser, MD, FACP, FACR, MACR – John Tesser, MD, FACP, FACR, MACR, is actively involved in performing multiple clinical research studies, including all rheumatic diseases, emphasizing rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. He has been the principal investigator on over 600 clinical research trials. He has published over 100 articles and abstracts in peer-reviewed medical journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and Arthritis & Rheumatology. He actively serves as a speaker and consultant for many groups. Prior to joining AARA, Dr. Tesser was Chief of Rheumatology at Maricopa Medical Center between 1982 and 1992.
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In this episode, we explore the unique challenges and considerations in treating older adults, focusing on the need for a different approach to care due to polypharmacy and multimorbidity. We delve into the complexities of managing these patients, emphasizing the importance of understanding frailty—how to assess, prevent, and address it. The discussion also covers late-onset rheumatoid arthritis, its distinction from rheumatoid arthritis, and why it often goes underdiagnosed and undertreated. We introduce the 5M’s framework; a geriatric care model that helps clinicians focus on what truly matters to older adults. Additionally, we address the role of palliative care in rheumatology, highlighting its importance beyond end-of-life care, and provide guidance on shared decision-making with older adults and their families to ensure patient-centered outcomes.
Namrata Singh, MD, MSCI, FACP – Namrata Singh, MD, MSCI, FACP, is a board-certified adult rheumatologist in the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Washington. Before moving to Washington, she was a faculty at the University of Iowa where she completed her Master of Science in Clinical Investigation. Dr. Singh is an "onco-geri-rheumatologist" with her research focusing on the care of patients, especially older adults, with rheumatic diseases who develop cancer or those with cancer who develop complications of cancer therapies. She is currently funded by the NIAMS K23 and the GEMSSTAR award from the NIA to build an evidence base for this patient population. Besides working on her projects, she enjoys mentoring the next generation of physicians.
Related Links:
- Advancing Rheumatologic Care in Older Adults: Highlights from the 2024 American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting
- Frailty integration in medical specialties: Current evidence and suggested strategies from the Clin-STAR frailty interest group
- Understanding the multiple dimensions of ageing: 5Ms for the rheumatologist
- Frailty and rheumatic diseases: evidence to date and lessons learned
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If you're a healthcare provider or a storytelling enthusiast, you'll enjoy this episode featuring Jason Liebowitz, MD, FACR. A practicing rheumatologist and accomplished writer, Dr. Liebowitz discusses his journey toward becoming a physician-writer, how writing helps him process his experiences, and the art of storytelling in medicine, especially for a wider audience in today’s complex healthcare landscape.
Jason Liebowitz, MD, FACR – Jason Liebowitz, MD, FACR, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed his rheumatology fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital and was nominated for the 2019 Distinguished Fellow Award from the American College of Rheumatology. His research and writings have been published in The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, JAMA Internal Medicine, Arthritis Care & Research, and The Journal of Graduate Medical Education, among other journals. He participated in fellowships with the American Federation for Aging Research (Medical Student Training in Aging Research), the American Austrian Foundation (Max Kade Clinical Clerkship in Vienna, Austria), and the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (through Yale School of Medicine).
Dr. Liebowitz is a co-editor of the textbooks Clinical Innovation in Rheumatology: Past, Present, and Future and Masterclass in Medicine: Lessons from the Experts and he is a co-editor of the textbook series Interdisciplinary Rheumatology. He is also a staff writer for The Rheumatologist, a periodical that reaches over 10,000 readers.
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