ACR on Air Podcast

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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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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