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 102 – Advocacy in Action: 2025 Progress Report
Episode 101 – Chronic Pain in Spondyloarthritis: Differentiating Active Disease from Fibromyalgia
Episode 100: Use of GLP-1 in Rheumatology
Episode 99 – The Role of AI in Rheumatology’s Workforce Challenges
Episode 98 – Emerging Therapies for IgG4-Related Disease
Browse previous episodes in the ACR on Air archive.
Episode Show Notes
In this episode, we deliver a critical update on the rapidly evolving legislative landscape impacting rheumatology. We explore the intense policy battles shaping the future of the field, including steep Medicare reimbursement cuts threatening the survival of many practices. We also examine the ongoing challenges posed by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and the growing uncertainty around research funding. Joining us is a special guest, Lennie Shewmaker McDaniel, JD, who brings a firsthand perspective from Capitol Hill, shedding light on what it truly takes to advocate for our patients and the profession in today’s complex policy environment.
Lennie Shewmaker McDaniel, JD – Lennie Shewmaker McDaniel, JD, is the Head of the ACR's DC Office and the Director, Congressional Affairs. Her political and public policy experience includes roles as legislative staff managing healthcare for a Member of the House majority leadership, representing a portfolio of healthcare organization clients for a private government relations firm, managing a PAC representing over 60 Members of Congress, and serving on the finance and policy teams of multiple political campaigns. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and holds a degrees in Political Science and Writing from Birmingham-Southern College and a Jurist Doctorate from the University of Georgia School of Law.
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In this episode, we examine the evaluation of pain in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis, with particular attention to spondyloarthritis and its clinical overlap with fibromyalgia. We explore why some patients continue to report persistent pain despite well-controlled inflammation, and the importance of distinguishing between active inflammatory disease and centralized pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia. Join us as we unpack the diagnostic nuances that can significantly impact patient care.
Liron Caplan, MD, PhD – Liron Caplan, MD, PhD, is a rheumatologist and health services researcher focused on understanding the impact of spondyloarthritis on patients’ lives and optimizing spondyloarthritis medical practice. He served as senior author or principal investigator for the original (2015), revised (2019), and ongoing (2025) American College of Rheumatology axial spondyloarthritis treatment guidelines. He is former Chair of the SPondyloArthritis Research and Treatment Network (SPARTAN)—the professional society to advance spondyloarthritis research and education in North America. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
His research aims to understand how therapeutic selection, adherence and delivery impact patient outcomes. He serves on the leadership of the Veteran Affairs Program to Understand the Longterm Outcomes in SpondyloARthritis (PULSAR) and is co-Director of the University of Colorado's Program to Advance Spondyloarthritis Treatment (C.U. PAST). He has performed patient-centered research for 20 years and has co-authored over 100 scientific manuscripts.
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This episode explores the evolving role of GLP-1 agonists in rheumatology, highlighting their potential to influence weight, inflammation, and overall disease activity. Our guest expert unpacks how adipose tissue contributes to systemic inflammation and why managing body weight is crucial in the treatment of rheumatic diseases. We delve into the underlying science, real-world clinical applications, and the exciting future of incorporating GLP-1 therapies into comprehensive rheumatologic care—offering fresh insight into a therapeutic class with game-changing potential.
Catherine J. Bakewell, MD – Catherine Bakewell, MD, is a rheumatologist practicing at Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.
Dr. Bakewell is active in research, including projects funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), focusing on musculoskeletal ultrasound. Alongside her research endeavors, she also teaches and lectures nationally. For over a decade, Dr. Bakewell has been an active mentor and a current member of the Board of Directors for the Ultrasound School for North American Rheumatologists (USSONAR). She serves as the co-lead for the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Guidance for the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound in inflammatory arthritis.
Dr. Bakewell has also been nominated for membership in several organizations, including the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA), Spondyloarthritis Treatment and Research Network (SPARTAN), Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Clinics Multicenter Advancement Network (PPACMAN), and the National Psoriasis Foundation among others. She was recently nominated to the Board of Directors for the Association of Women in Rheumatology (AWIR) and serves as the local chapter co-lead for Utah within AWIR.
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In this episode, we dive into the evolving role of AI in rheumatology—exploring how it's already reshaping workflows, enhancing diagnostic accuracy, optimizing treatment selection, and helping us monitor patients remotely. We tackle big questions around bias, control over critical data and whether we're truly ready to let AI serve as our assistants—or even gatekeepers. From addressing workforce shortages to revolutionizing medical research and education, we examine both the promise and the pitfalls of this powerful technology, and why caution must guide its integration into our clinical decisions.
Jeffrey R. Curtis, MD, MS, MPH – Jeffrey R. Curtis, MD, MS, MPH, is a distinguished Professor of Medicine in the Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where he holds the Harbert–Ball Endowed Professorship. Board-certified in both rheumatology and clinical informatics, he brings extensive training from institutions including Harvard, Stanford, and Oregon Health & Science University. He directs multiple research units at UAB, including the PharmacoEpidEmiology and phaRmcoeconomics (PEER) Unit and the Musculoskeletal Digital Health and Technology Laboratory. Dr. Curtis is internationally recognized for his work in comparative effectiveness and safety of treatments for rheumatic diseases, leading several large-scale NIH- and PCORI-funded initiatives, including the UAB-FASTER DAC and the PatientSpot research registry. He has spearheaded major clinical trials, such as the COVER trial during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has contributed to national guideline committees for the FDA, CDC, and ACR. A prolific researcher with over 700 publications and an H-index of 100, Dr. Curtis continues to innovate in digital health, real-world evidence generation, and the integration of big data with AI in rheumatology.
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In this episode, we dive into the complexities of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), a mysterious and multi-organ condition that continues to challenge both patients and physicians. John Stone MD, MPH introduced us to the emerging landscape of treatments for IgG4-RD, and today, Matthew C. Baker, MD, MS, joins us to provide an exciting update. With new therapies on the horizon, we explore the role of B and T cell pathogenesis, the limitations of traditional steroid treatments, and the off-label use of rituximab. We also take a closer look at the promising results from the Mitigate Trial, which offers hope for future strategies in managing this enigmatic disease. Join us as we discuss the evolving treatment landscape and what lies ahead for those affected by IgG4-RD.
Matthew C. Baker, MD, MS – Matthew C. Baker, MD, MS, is the Associate Division Chief in the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at Stanford University and the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Stanford Multidisciplinary Sarcoidosis Program. He received his bachelor's degree from Pomona College, his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, and his master's degree in Epidemiology and Clinical Research from Stanford University. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital and his Rheumatology fellowship at Stanford University. Dr. Baker has established a clinical research program that is focused on clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and bench-to-bedside translational research. He has designed and led investigator-initiated, and industry sponsored clinical trials with a focus on IgG4-related disease, sarcoidosis, Sjögren's syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis.
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