2025: A YEAR IN REVIEW​
DRIVING INNOVATION AND IMPROVING OUTCOMES

For the Northwestern Medicine Division of Rheumatology, the past year has been defined by innovation and progress. From FDA-approved therapies and comparative treatment insights to breakthroughs in diagnostics and global consensus guidelines, these milestones reflect our commitment to advancing patient care and shaping the future of rheumatology. Explore the highlights below.

Clinical advances and insights

Vagus Nerve Stimulation Offers an Innovative Approach to Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
Eric Ruderman, MD, discusses the recent FDA approval of vagus nerve stimulation for rheumatoid arthritis. The approval was based on the findings from the RESET-RA trial, which involved multiple locations, including Northwestern Medicine.
JAK Inhibitors vs. Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs for RA Pain
Despite disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy, pain continues to be a problem for many patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recognizing the unmet need for effective pain relief in RA, Yvonne C. Lee, MD, shares insights on the use of JAK inhibitors versus biologic DMARDs in managing RA pain.
CME: Clinical Perspectives on Vasculitis, Scleroderma and Lupus Trials
Eric Ruderman, MD, leads a Northwestern Medicine panel discussion with Irene Blanco, MD, ​Anisha Dua, MD, and ​Carrie Richardson, MD. Together, they dive into the latest advances in clinical trials and treatment strategies for scleroderma, vasculitis and lupus.
Scleroderma Diagnosis and Management: Insights From a Multidisciplinary Team
In this episode of Better Edge, a multidisciplinary team including Pulmonologist Anthony Esposito, MD, Rheumatologist Carrie Richardson, MD, and Domenico Farina, MD, a gastroenterologist with a focus on scleroderma-related esophageal diseases, gets into the intricacies of diagnosing and managing scleroderma.
Sleep Strategies for Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in patients with rheumatic disease, affecting 55% to 80% of people. Yvonne C. Lee, MD offers effective sleep management strategies to help your patients improve their sleep quality. 
International Expert Taskforce Reaches Consensus on Management of Rare SLE Manifestations
An international taskforce has developed the first consensus-based treatment recommendations for 24 rare manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This landmark review, published in The Lancet Rheumatology, was a collaborative effort by major SLE networks, including the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC). Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman, MD, DrPH, contributed to this global initiative.
Case Report: IL-1 Inhibitors for TRAPS-Associated Recurrent Pericarditis
A 26-year-old woman of Hispanic descent presented to Northwestern Medicine with persistent fever, rapid heart rate and pleuritic chest pain. She was diagnosed with recurrent pericarditis linked to TRAPS and achieved significant clinical improvement after transitioning from canakinumab to rilonacept.
Early Clinical Manifestations of Systemic Sclerosis
Recognizing early symptoms associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment. Carrie Richardson, MD, and Duncan Moore, MD, highlight the variability of SSc's early presentation, specifically in cases where the initial clinical manifestation is not Raynaud’s phenomenon.
Enhancing Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis and Treatment With Synovial Biopsy
In this two-part video series, Arthur M. Mandelin, MD, PhD, provides updates on the RhEumatoid Arthritis SynOvial tissue Network (REASON) study, which is using synovial biopsy to advance rheumatoid arthritis care. 

News and updates

ACR Convergence 2025 Recap: Northwestern Medicine Rheumatology
The Division of Rheumatology at Northwestern Medicine was proud to showcase its leadership at the Annual Convergence Meeting, held October 24 to 29 in Chicago. Our expert faculty shared their research and advancements in the treatment of rheumatic diseases, reinforcing our commitment to innovation and patient care.
Women Leaders and Innovators in Rheumatology
“The women in our field serve as role models and mentors for the next generation of physicians, encouraging more women to enter and thrive in the field of rheumatology. Our women faculty members help drive the field of rheumatology forward through their research, leadership and commitment to better care,” says Harris R. Perlman, PhD, chief of Rheumatology at Northwestern Medicine. 
Research Labs at Northwestern Medicine Addressing Rheumatic Disease
​Northwestern Medicine Rheumatology is dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of rheumatic diseases through innovative research. Our leading labs focus on the essential roles of immune cells in various rheumatic conditions, aiming to enhance patient outcomes and inform precision medicine approaches. 

Appointments and recognitions

Laura C. Arneson, MD
Director of Musculoskeletal and Rheumatology Skills, Feinberg School of Medicine Center for Bedside Medicine
 
Irene Blanco, MD
Appointed Member, Feinberg School of Medicine Curriculum and Health Equity Committees
Invited Mentor, Lupus Research Alliance Forum for Discovery
Chair, Lupus Research Alliance, Representative Participation and Recruitment Working Group
Member, American College of Rheumatology Nominations and Awards Committee
 
Anisha B. Dua, MD
Appointed Chair, American College of Rheumatology Committee on Training
 
Arthur M. Mandelin, MD, PhD
Elected Member and Vice-Chair, Epic National Specialty Steering Board for Rheumatology
 
Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman, MD, DrPH
Member, American College of Rheumatology Executive Committee
Member, American College of Rheumatology Research Committee
Appointed American College of Rheumatology Representative, Lupus Accelerating Breakthroughs Consortium
 
Eric Ruderman, MD
Elected Member, American College of Rheumatology Executive Committee
Treasurer, American College of Rheumatology
 
Deborah Winter, PhD
Awardee of the Hevolution/AFAR New Investigator Awards in Aging Biology and Geroscience Research
Named to the 2025 Highly Cited Researcher list
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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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