ACR Journals on Air Podcast
Welcome to ACR Journals on Air, the ACR’s newest podcast series featuring interviews, commentary, and analysis on research from our three peer-reviewed journals: Arthritis & Rheumatology, Arthritis Care & Research, and ACR Open Rheumatology. Join us each episode for engaging discussions with authors and independent experts about recently published studies, their implications for clinical care, and how they move the field of rheumatology forward.
Whether it’s an expert analysis of a manuscript or deep dive with an author—our goal is the same—to understand the impact of the science and bring it from the bench to the bedside.
Podcast Host
Victoria Shanmugam, MBBS, MRCP, CCD, has clinical expertise caring for patients with autoimmune diseases, vasculitis, and chronic wounds. She has led several research studies investigating scleroderma, hidradenitis suppurativa, and the interplay of the host immune response and the microbiome in chronic wounds. Dr. Shanmugam is a frequently invited speaker at professional meetings. Her work in wound healing, hidradenitis, and scleroderma has been published in high-impact peer-reviewed journals, such as Arthritis Care and Research, Current Opinion in Rheumatology, International Wound Journal, and Clinical Rheumatology. Connect with Dr. Shanmugam on Twitter (@VickiShanmugam).
Episodes
New episodes will be available twice a month on Tuesdays.
Episode 79 – Can Ultrasound Detect Aneurysms in Giant Cell Arteritis?
Episode 78 – Can Age-Related Assumptions Obstruct Rheumatic Care?
Episode 77 – How Megakaryocytes Shape Aging of the Immune System
ACR Convergence – When Cancer Therapy Triggers Autoimmunity
ACR Convergence – Screening/Diagnosis of Pulmonary Hypertension in Connective Tissue Disorder
Browse previous episodes in the ACR Journals on Air archive.
Episode Show Notes
In this episode, we speak with a leading investigator in large-vessel vasculitis, Anne Bull Haaversen, MD, to clarify the full spectrum of giant cell arteritis (GCA), including its aortic involvement. We reviewed the prevalence of GCA-related aneurysms, why the team compared ultrasonography with other imaging modalities, and how the ascending aorta can be assessed with ultrasound. Dr. Haaversen summarizes the study design, key findings, and limitations, and reflects on how these results may inform future guidelines. We close by discussing the evolution of their research focus on large-vessel imaging and how rheumatologists can balance advanced diagnostics with empathetic patient care.
Anne Bull Haaversen, MD – Anne Bull Haaversen, MD, is a rheumatologist at Martina Hansen Hospital, Norway, and a PhD candidate at the University of Oslo. Her PhD work, currently under evaluation, explores the utility of vascular ultrasound in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). She has a particular clinical and research interest in GCA and vascular imaging, and much of her daily practice involves caring for patients with this condition. Through her work, she aims to integrate vascular ultrasound as a practical and accessible tool for improving patient follow-up and long-term outcomes.
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In this episode, we sit down with Aaron Smith, MD, to explore why the rheumatology community urgently needs stronger grounding in aging principles and more adaptable care strategies for older adults living with rheumatic conditions. Dr. Smith walks us through his innovative research examining the attitudes and perspectives of healthcare professionals, explains how tools like the ERA-12 help illuminate key patterns, and shares what his team learned about how clinicians approach the care of aging patients. He discusses which findings surprised him, what limitations shaped the study, and how this work opens new directions for future investigation. Near the end, Dr. Smith offers practical takeaways clinicians can apply right away and reflect on his own early-career journey, including what he hopes to accomplish between fellowship and the far future stages of his career.
Aaron Smith, MD – Aaron Smith, MD, completed his medical school and internal medicine residency training at UT Southwestern in Dallas where his main research interests focused on the care of older adults with rheumatologic disease under the mentorship of Dr. Una Makris. He is currently a 2nd year rheumatology fellow at UNC Chapel Hill where, working with Dr. Saira Sheikh, his research currently focuses on improving care for lupus related fatigue and brain fog. He is also involved with state-level medical advocacy efforts with the North Carolina Medical Society and the North Carolina Rheumatologic Association.
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In this episode, we sit down with Sandra Pinho, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Chicago, to explore the fascinating intersection of stem cell biology, aging, and the bone marrow niche. From her early days studying biology in Portugal to groundbreaking research in London and New York, Dr. Pinho shares her scientific journey and the mentors who shaped her career. In a conversation that begins with Halloween monsters and ends with cutting-edge aging research, we uncover how megakaryocytes—cells best known for making platelets—play surprising roles in immune regulation and the aging process. Dr. Pinho discusses how changes in these cells can influence immune balance, contribute to age-related dysfunction, and even hint at new therapeutic strategies for healthy aging. Blending curiosity, science, and a touch of the spooky, this episode offers both personal insight and a deep dive into the hidden dynamics of our “spooky skeletons.”
Sandra Pinho, PhD– Sandra Pinho, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Regenerative Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine, where she leads the Pinho Lab. She earned a BSc in Biology from the University of Porto in Portugal and a PhD in Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology from Imperial College London. Following her doctoral work, she conducted post-doctoral research in the laboratory of Paul Frenette at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, investigating the cellular and molecular components of the hematopoietic stem cell niche. At UIC she spearheads cutting-edge research into how blood-forming (hematopoietic) stem cells and their microenvironment change with age and malignancy, with the goal of developing regenerative therapies and improving cancer treatment outcomes.
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In this episode, we talk with Elad Sharon, MD, PhD, about the complex intersection of oncology and autoimmunity through the lens of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)—therapies that have transformed cancer care but can also unleash immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Dr. Elad explains how ICIs work, why they can trigger autoimmune-like toxicities, and what distinguishes rheumatologic irAEs from classic autoimmune diseases. We explore the mechanistic overlaps between cancer immunotherapy and autoimmunity, the ethical and clinical dilemmas of balancing immune suppression with cancer control, and emerging biomarkers that may predict risk. Dr. Sharon also reflects on his career journey—from leading drug development efforts at the National Cancer Institute to returning to academia—and shares insights on collaboration, innovation, and the evolving partnership between oncologists and rheumatologists in managing these challenging conditions.
Elad Sharon, MD, PhD – Elad Sharon, MD, PhD, is the Clinical and Translational Director of the Immunotherapy Toxicity Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, roles he began in August 2023. Prior to his current positions, Dr. Sharon held pivotal roles at the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) and served as an attending physician in the NCI’s Developmental Therapeutics Clinic (DTC). During his time at the NCI, he helped co-direct the immunotherapy drug development portfolio for CTEP, overseeing clinical trials for which the NCI served as the sponsor in collaboration with industry and academic colleagues. CTEP is the largest government sponsor of clinical trials globally, enrolling around 20,000 patients on NCI-sponsored clinical trials, with trial sites throughout the United States and around the globe. His tenure at the NCI coincided with an explosion of interest in immunotherapy, and Dr. Sharon’s role involved complementing industry efforts with public health-oriented drug development, bringing novel clinical trials to both the academic and community oncology settings. Dr. Sharon helped shape innovative, practice-changing clinical trials, resulting in numerous FDA approvals for both rare and common tumors with a variety of agents under his purview. Dr. Sharon's focus on biomarker-driven, translationally-rich clinical trials is intended to leverage research into both efficacy and adverse events.
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In this episode, we sit down with Kristin B. Highland, MD, MSCR, to discuss her session at ACR Convergence on taking a personalized approach to pulmonary hypertension in connective tissue diseases. She shares why now is the critical moment for this shift and how “personalized” care extends beyond biomarkers and imaging to encompass clinical nuances, patient-reported symptoms, and multidisciplinary collaboration. We explore the key challenges in detecting pulmonary hypertension early, the promise of emerging technologies like AI-assisted imaging and molecular diagnostics, and the subtle red flags clinicians should recognize in at-risk patients. Dr. Highland also reflects on her unique dual training in rheumatology and pulmonology, the defining moments that shaped her career, and how mentorship continues to drive innovation and compassion in the care of patients with connective tissue lung disease.
Kristin B. Highland, MD, MSCR – Kristin B. Highland, MD, MSCR, is a professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and Vice Chair for Research of the Integrated Hospital Care Institute. She is board-certified in internal medicine, pulmonary disease, critical care, and rheumatology. Her clinical and research focus is on the pulmonary manifestations of rheumatic diseases, with particular emphasis on interstitial lung disease and pulmonary hypertension in scleroderma. Her research spans translational studies and multinational clinical trials aimed at improving the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of pulmonary vascular and interstitial lung diseases associated with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases. She has led and contributed to pivotal trials in pulmonary hypertension and systemic sclerosis–associated ILD, while also advancing biomarker discovery, patient-centered outcome measures, and registry-based research. Dr. Highland serves on the Scientific Steering Committee of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association and on the Medical & Scientific Advisory Board of the Scleroderma Foundation.
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