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 68 – A Class Project
Episode 67 – PAs In Rheumatology: A Joint Effort
Episode 66 – The Weight of Lupus
Episode 65 – Improving Engagement and Access to Lupus Clinical Trials
Episode 64 – Pain Relief or Pill Regret: Examining Acetaminophen Safety in Older Adults
Browse previous episodes in the ACR Journals on Air archive.
Episode Show Notes
In this episode of ACR Journals on Air, host Victoria Shanmugam, MBBS, MRCP, CCD, returns to the mic and dives into the CLASS Project—an ambitious international study on anti-synthetase syndrome recently published in Arthritis & Rheumatology. Joined by Sara Faghihi Kashani, MD, MPH, Akira Yoshida, MD, and Giovanni Zanframundo, MD, PhD, they explore the clinical characteristics, antibody profiles, and skin and lung manifestations of this complex autoimmune condition. The conversation covers everything from global collaboration challenges to nuanced antibody testing and rare clinical features like hikers’ feet. With insightful perspectives from each guest, this episode sheds light on the evolving understanding of anti-synthetase syndrome and the future directions of the CLASS initiative.
Sara Faghihi Kashani, MD, MPH – Sara Faghihi Kashani, MD, MPH, was born and raised in Iran. She studied medicine at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and then for several years was at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences at the National Institutes of Health, where she served for several years on several NIEHS protocols contributing to the development and implementation of research studies aimed at advancing the understanding of inflammatory myopathies and other rheumatic disorders, including investigations into the natural history of the diseases, environmental risk factors, and pathogenesis. Sara subsequently completed her internal medicine residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and rheumatology fellowship at Stanford University. She is now a Clinical Informatics Fellow at the University of California, San Francisco, where she is learning to leverage technology and informatics to improve the care of people with rheumatic diseases.
Akira Yoshida, MD – Akira Yoshida, MD, is a rheumatologist and a postgraduate student at the Nippon Medical School Graduate School of Medicine in Tokyo Japan. He completed his medical degree at Tokyo Medical and Dental University School of Medicine in Tokyo and then completed internal medicine residency and rheumatology training at the Kameda Medical Center in Chiba Japan. He is a member of the Japan College of Rheumatology and a fellow of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.
Giovanni Zanframundo, MD, PhD – Giovanni Zanframundo, MD, PhD, is a consultant rheumatologist and assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. He completed his medical degree at the University of Rome and trained in rheumatology at the University of Pavia. He also received his PhD in Experimental Medicine from the University of Pavia in 2022.
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With the growing shortage of rheumatology specialists in the US, healthcare systems face increasing delays, clinician burnout, and inefficiencies. In this episode, we explore a promising solution: the integration of physician assistants/associates (PAs) into rheumatology practice. We’re joined by Benjamin Smith, PA-C, Associate Dean and Program Director at Florida State University, and first author of Profile and Attributes of Physician Assistants/Associates in Rheumatology, published in Arthritis Care & Research. He shares insights into the demographics, workload, satisfaction, and future potential of rheumatology PAs, highlighting their expanding role in addressing workforce gaps and enhancing patient care.
Benjamin J. Smith, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA – Benjamin J. Smith, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, is the Program Director and Associate Dean at the Florida State University College of Medicine School of Physician Assistant Practice in Tallahassee, Florida. He has worked as a rheumatology PA for 25 years in Thomasville, Georgia. He has served in numerous volunteer and leadership roles for PA and rheumatology organizations, including the American College of Rheumatology and the Association of Rheumatology Professionals. Ben has published and presented on clinical rheumatology, workforce, medical education and geriatrics topics. He is a 1999 graduate of the Medical College of Georgia PA program and completed additional graduate degrees at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Lynchburg.
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Laura Plantinga, PhD, joins us to discuss her recent work on the APPEAL study, which examines how lupus affects activities of daily living using patient-reported outcomes and validated measures such as IADLs, BADLs, SLAQ, and PROMIS. We explore her methodological approach, key findings, and implications for clinical practice—particularly how physicians can better support patients in managing functional limitations. Dr. Plantinga also shares insights on translating epidemiologic data into actionable strategies and maintaining scholarly productivity in academic medicine.
Laura Plantinga, PhD – Laura Plantinga, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She received her master’s in biostatistics from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and her PhD in Epidemiology from Emory University. She has >20 years of experience in epidemiologic and health services research, with a focus on improving the quality of care delivered to underserved populations with chronic diseases, particularly lupus and kidney disease. She has been funded by grants from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), among others; serves on the editorial board of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases; and is a member of the ACR/ARP Collaborative Initiative (COIN) Committee.
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In this episode, we explore a new approach to improving participation in lupus clinical trials by strengthening provider outreach and education. Our guest, Saira Z. Sheikh, MD, of UNC Chapel Hill, discusses the TIMELY study, which focuses on involving healthcare providers and community health workers to better connect patients with trial opportunities. From roundtable discussions to changes in provider behavior, we highlight practical strategies that could improve how clinical trials are conducted.
Saira Z. Sheikh, MD – Saira Z. Sheikh, MD, is the Linda Coley Sewell Distinguished Professor of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Sheikh is a nationally renowned physician, researcher, clinical trials investigator and educator. She is trained, and triple board certified in Internal Medicine, Rheumatology and Allergy/Immunology. She is the Director of the Clinical Trials Program at the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center, and Director of the UNC Rheumatology Lupus Clinic. She is Principal Investigator on numerous clinical trials and translational projects for new therapeutics and leads real-world, practical models to increase access and opportunities for patients to participate in lupus clinical trials. She is also the lead investigator of a large, federally funded project focused on utilizing machine learning models/AI for earlier diagnosis of lupus entitled Automated Reasoning and Interpretation for Early Lupus detection.
Dr. Sheikh also leads the UNC Lupus Multidisciplinary CAR-T and Cell Therapy Group, currently serves on the American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR’s) Board of Directors and is the Chair of the Lupus Clinical Investigators Network (LuCIN): the premier lupus clinical trials network in North America.
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In this episode, Jaspreet Kaur, BAMS, MPH, PhD, and Abhishek Abhishek, PhD, join us to discuss their recent study on acetaminophen, exploring how it compares to NSAIDs in safety and effectiveness. They break down their use of the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), key findings—especially in arthritis patients—and what this means for clinical practice. It's an insightful look at how big data can challenge assumptions about one of the most used pain medications.
Jaspreet Kaur, BAMS, MPH, PhD – Jaspreet Kaur, BAMS, MPH, PhD, is a Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham. She obtained a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery from Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Punjab (India), in 2006. She worked as a Resident Doctor for four years. Then, she completed her Master in Public Health from Oxford Brookes University (UK) in Merit in 2010. Dr. Kaur holds a postgraduate diploma in healthcare management and completed her PhD in Academic Rheumatology from the University of Nottingham.
While pursuing her PhD, Dr. Kaur won the oral presentation in the opening plenary session at the 2019 EULAR Congress in Spain, for which she also won a travel bursary. In the last year of her PhD, she started working as Research Assistant with Dr. Kaushik Chattopadhyay's research team. Currently, she is working with Professor Richard Hubbard, Professor David Baldwin and Dr. Emma O'Dowd.
Abhishek Abhishek, PhD – Abishek Abhishek, PhD, is a Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Nottingham, UK, and Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, UK. He qualified in 1999 from Seth GS Medical College in Mumbai (India) and completed residency in internal medicine from NSCB Medical College in Jabalpur (India). After initial medical training posts in Rhyl, Cardiff and Liverpool, he joined the Rheumatology and General Medicine Specialist Registrar training program in Nottingham, UK (2005–2013). Here he developed a clinical and research interest in crystal arthritis. He completed a PhD on Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition (CPPD) in 2012. He completed higher specialist training in February 2013, gaining dual Certification in General Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. His higher specialist training was interspersed with post-doctoral clinical research fellowship experience at The University of Birmingham.
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