BREAKTHROUGHS IN RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY
2024: A YEAR IN REVIEW​

The Northwestern Medicine Division of Rheumatology celebrates notable advances in patient care, research and community engagement. This year has seen significant strides in understanding rheumatic diseases, culturally competent care and efforts to tackle workforce challenges. We remain dedicated to improving patient outcomes and advancing the field of rheumatology. Browse our accomplishments below. 

RESEARCH discoveries

Adverse Social Determinants of Health Linked to Poor Outcomes in Lupus Nephritis
Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman, MD, contributed to a study that revealed the multidimensional impact of adverse social determinants of health on the outcomes of lupus nephritis.
Biomarkers May Help Predict Rheumatoid Arthritis Changes During Pregnancy
Investigators, including Damini Jawaheer, PhD, identified pre-pregnancy gene expression signatures that may represent biomarkers in predicting improvement or worsening of RA during pregnancy according to a study published in Arthritis Research & Therapy. 
Link Between EMR Inbox Volume and Physician Gender, Burnout
​This first-of-its-kind Northwestern Medicine study explored the association between EMR message volume, physician gender and burnout among rheumatologists during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Defining Rheumatoid Arthritis Subtypes May Improve Treatments
​By profiling the inflammatory cell types in joint tissue biopsy samples, Arthur M. Mandelin, MD, PhD, Harris Perlman, PhD, and other scientists have characterized six subtypes of rheumatoid arthritis, which could help physicians tailor treatment strategies to specific disease types, according to findings published in Nature.

​CLINICAL ADVANCES

Providing Culturally Competent Care to Spanish-Speaking Patients
Irene Blanco, MD, discusses the lupus clinic at Northwestern Medicine focused on patients who prefer to speak Spanish. She provides an overview of the clinic and how she aims to improve health outcomes among the Spanish-speaking population.
Innovative Approaches to Managing Sleep Disturbance in Rheumatic Disease Patients
Yvonne C. Lee, MD, shares key takeaways from her ACR Convergence presentation on sleep disturbances in patients with rheumatoid diseases.
Leflunomide: An Overlooked Drug for Your Treatment Toolkit?
At the 2024 Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposium, Eric Ruderman, MD, highlighted overlooked clinical trial data on leflunomide, suggesting it still has a role in treating rheumatoid arthritis.
Vasculitis Diagnosis, Treatments and Research
​Anisha B. Dua, MD, discusses how to navigate vasculitis and its mimics, as well as advances in research and emerging therapeutic options in vasculitis.
Tackling the Rheumatology Provider Shortage: Solutions for the Future
​A publication featured in the American College of Rheumatology, co-authored by Brian D. Jaros, MD, and Anisha B. Dua, MD, examines the workforce shortage of rheumatology providers in the U.S. and the role of clinician-educators in addressing this issue.
Navigating the Dual Challenge of Plaque Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
Eric Ruderman, MD, discusses challenges dermatologists and rheumatologists face in diagnosing and treating patients with concurrent skin and joint disease.

news, HONORS AND RECOGNITIONS​

Harris R. Perlman, PhD, Joins Arthritis National Research Foundation Board
The ANRF has been funding arthritis research for over 50 years, aiming to better understand the causes, prevention and development of treatments for arthritis-related diseases. As a member of the board of directors, Dr. Perlman will help guide this research.
Brian D. Jaros, MD, Receives 2024 ACR Distinguished Fellow Award
This honor is granted to up to 10 clinical and research fellows who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to improving patient care by bridging the gap between research and practice.
National Psoriasis Foundation Honors Arthur M. Mandelin, MD, PhD
Arthur Mandelin, MD, PhD, joins a diverse group of professionals honored for playing a crucial role in advancing the care, research and medical education needed to effectively manage and treat psoriatic disease.
Northwestern Medicine Rheumatology: A Roadmap to Excellence in Research, Education and Clinical Care
Over the past decade, the Division of Rheumatology at Northwestern Medicine has made significant strides in our ability to treat patients and understand the complexities of rheumatic diseases. Here’s an overview of the division’s accomplishments and its vision for driving change in the field.
Northwestern Medicine Welcomes Two New Rheumatologists
​Brian D. Jaros, MD, and Laura C. Arneson, MD, have both completed their fellowships with Northwestern Medicine and are joining the organization as full-time rheumatologists. 

Awards and physician recognitions 

Rowland W. Chang, MD
Lifetime Champion of Yes! Award, Arthritis Foundation Greater Chicago Unit
 
Brian D. Jaros, MD
Distinguished Fellow Award – American College of Rheumatology
Distinguished Educator Award – Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Fellow-in-Training Scholarship – Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposium
Leadership Program for Chief Fellows – Northwestern University Center for Leadership
 
Arthur M. Mandelin, MD, PhD
Provider of the Year – Rheumatology, National Psoriasis Foundation, Midwest Region
Member, Rheumatology Specialty Steering Board, Epic Systems Corporation
Chair, Community on High-Frequency Clinical and Preclinical Imaging, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
 
Carrie L. Richardson, MD
Co-director, Scleroderma Program, Feinberg School of Medicine
Executive Committee of the CONQUER Study
Medical and Scientific Advisory Board, National Scleroderma Foundation

Northwestern Medicine Rheumatology

The Division of Rheumatology promotes prevention, cure and relief of suffering caused by arthritis and rheumatic diseases through research, education and patient care. Our rheumatologists and physicians are dedicated to breakthrough discoveries and innovative treatments for conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system and immune system. Our diverse faculty and physicians are world-renowned experts in all spectrums of rheumatic disease including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, gout, myositis and vasculitis. Our scleroderma and vasculitis clinical programs are among the largest in the nation.

We are one of the few rheumatology programs in the country that has a dedicated ultrasound-imaging clinic, which maintains state-of-the-art equipment and serves as the center for experimental procedures such as ultrasound-guided synovial biopsies. The central focus of our clinical research is predicated on being transformative, translational and collaborative. Our projects center on providing better medical treatments for our patients, identifying new therapeutics or the underlying basis of disease, and establishing a precision medicine approach.

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