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 88 – Sjögren’s Disease
Episode 87 – ACR Convergence 2024 Preview
Episode 86 – Insights into Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI)
Episode 85 – RDAM: The Importance of Self-Management
Episode 84 – How Should We Navigate Moral Dilemmas in Rheumatology?
Browse previous episodes in the ACR on Air archive.
Episode Show Notes
Sara McCoy, MD, rheumatologist and Sjögren’s specialist (a “Sjögrensologist”) joins us for an in-depth look at Sjögren’s disease. We address how the systemic nature of this disease can affect everything from the lungs to the kidneys, why traditional treatments may not always work, why a patient’s antibody profile may hold the key to their disease severity, the use of new biomarkers, the role of advanced diagnostics and ground-breaking developments in the use of stromal cells in treatment, and so much more.
Sara McCoy, MD – Sara McCoy, MD, is a rheumatologist, physician-scientist, and the Director of the University of Wisconsin Health Sjögren’s Clinic. Her goal is to critically inform the pathogenesis of Sjögren’s disease and dryness toward development of novel targeted therapeutics. Her bench research focuses on the immunobiology of mesenchymal stromal cells derived from salivary glands. Dr. McCoy is a co-chair for the Sjögren’s OMERACT working group, is on the board of directors for the Sjögren’s Foundation and manages monthly Sjö-Net meetings where clinical providers interested in Sjögren’s gather to network.
Contact Dr. Sara McCoy to be added to the Sjö-Net listserv.
Related Links:
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!
Our annual preview episode for ACR Convergence is here, and we have Annual Meeting Planning Committee (AMPC) Chair, Greg Gardner, MD, MACP, as our guest! Dr. Gardner walks us through this meeting’s focus and strategies, which are designed to make ACR24 even more engaging, delivering cutting edge science, more networking opportunities, improved educational experiences and new initiatives to better the lives of our patients. We’ll discuss how ACR Convergence has adapted to a post-pandemic era, get a glimpse of “must attend” sessions, and even hear about the new networking lounge and some insider tips to make the most of your stay in Washington. D.C.
Gregory C. Gardner, MD, MACP – Gregory C. Gardner, MD, MACP, is a rheumatologist and Emeritus professor of medicine at the University of Washington, where he previously served as Clinical Director of rheumatology and fellowship program director. He held the prestigious Bruce C. Gilliland-Lucille T. Henderson Endowed Professorship in Medicine and is affiliated with UW Medicine-Harborview Medical Center and UW Medicine-University of Washington Medical Center. Dr. Gardner earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and has over 20 years of experience treating conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!
What are Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI) and what should be done if you suspect them? Bharat Kumar, MD, MME, FACP, RhMSUS, clinical rheumatologist and allergy immunologist, joins us to lend his insights on what they are, how to identify them in our patients, the challenges in diagnosing them, and how they manifest in a clinical setting. Dr. Kumar also explains how IEI’s are caused, their overlap with rheumatic diseases and recent advancements in treatments.
Bharat Kumar, MD, MME, FACP, RhMSUS – Bharat Kumar, MD, MME, FACP, RhMSUS, is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Iowa, where he practices both Rheumatology and Allergy/Immunology. He completed his undergraduate degree in Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania and his medical degree at Saba University School of Medicine. He completed an Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Kentucky and fellowships in Rheumatology and Allergy-Immunology through the dual-certification pathway at the University of Iowa. During his fellowship training, he also completed a master's degree in medical education and the RhMSUS certification in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound. Currently, Dr. Kumar is the Physician Editor of The Rheumatologist and the Humanism-in-Research Associate Editor of the Gold Foundation’s Research Roundup. Most recently, he has become the program director for the University of Iowa’s Rheumatology Fellowship training program and is the co-Director of the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Services Research Fellowship. His interests include medical journalism, quality improvement and fostering humanistic practices, as well as the intersection of autoimmunity and immunodeficiency.
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!
In this episode, the ACR is kicking off Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month (RDAM), and our guest is Bhakti Shad, MD. Dr. Shah who introduces the concept of self-management, which can help improve the control of rheumatic disease beyond medication and empower our patients to take active roles in the management of them. Dr. Shah also spends time highlighting resources available for self-management and addresses how the ACR is advocating for improved healthcare polices and patient support and what you can do to take part in that process.
Bhakti Shah, MD – Bhakti Shah, MD, is a private practice rheumatologist in New York and serves as a member of the Communications and Marketing Committee for the American College of Rheumatology. She is also the New York City Chapter Leader for the Association of Women in Rheumatology. Dr. Shah treats a wide variety of autoimmune and rheumatic diseases and strives to incorporate wellness and mindfulness practices in her patient care.
Related Links:
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!
As physicians, ethical challenges are a certainty for us. Some can be spotted easily and avoided, but what do we do when the choices are not obvious, and a path isn’t clear? We must trust our tools to fashion a way forward. In this episode, we discuss some of today’s most relevant moral dilemmas with the Chair of the ACR Ethics Committee, Kelly Weselman, MD. We touch on the balance between patient autonomy and medical recommendations, navigating the complexities of access to care and treatment costs, and managing conflicts of interest. At the bottom of the show, we explore the evolving ethical landscape that is influenced by technological advancements and the increasing availability of information.
Kelly Weselman, MD – Kelly Weselman, MD, has provided high quality care to people with rheumatic diseases in the metro Atlanta area since 2001. After attending The College of William and Mary in Virginia, she completed medical school in 1996 and internal medicine residency in 1999, both at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. She completed her rheumatology fellowship in 2001 at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia and started a community private practice in rheumatology. She later worked in a large healthcare system in Atlanta for 14 years before joining Arthritis and Rheumatology of Georgia in July 2024.
She enjoys helping people live well despite rheumatic diseases. She has helped many women with rheumatic diseases through pregnancy and enjoys caring for patients with rheumatic diseases affecting a variety of organs such as eyes, lungs and kidneys. Dr. Weselman is also certified in musculoskeletal ultrasound which aids in diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Weselman previously served on the Executive Committee of the Georgia Society of Rheumatology, including as President. She has volunteered for the ACR in many roles since 2014, including on the Board of Directors and is currently the Chair of the Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest.
Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!