Rheum After 5: Embracing Their Inner Swiftie

Dr. Jean Liew

Favorite album: “It used to be 1989, then folklore; now it’s The Tortured Poets Department.”

Many people know Jean Liew, MD, MS, as a respected rheumatologist and a dedicated researcher. Her colleagues also know Dr. Liew as a Swiftie, a moniker given to devoted fans of singer-songwriter Taylor Swift.

Swifties can be found across a wide range of age groups and professions, including in the field of rheumatology. In addition to Dr. Liew, assistant professor of medicine in the Section of Rheumatology at the Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, and a board-certified rheumatologist at Boston Medical Center, we interviewed several rheumatologists, rheumatology professionals and ACR staff who identify as Swifties, marked by their passionate support of Swift, their in-depth knowledge of her music and active engagement in fan discussions and events.

Jean Liew (left) and Lacey Feigl-Lenzen at ACR Convergence 2023. (Click to enlarge.)

On X (formerly Twitter), Dr. Liew has established a following as @rheum_cat. Her timeline combines her work in rheumatology with her appreciation of Swift.

“I’ve been a fan of Taylor my entire adult life and have connected with a lot of Swifties online, as well as at rheumatology seminars and conferences,” Dr. Liew says.

Dr. Liew watched approximately 80 livestreams of Swift performing around the world before attending her first concert in Toronto Night 5 of the Eras tour, this past November.

Inspired by Taylor Swift’s current Eras tour, Dr. Liew made rheumatology-themed friendship bracelets to trade at ACR Convergence 2023 and 2024. The tradition of trading friendship bracelets was inspired by lyrics from a song on Swift’s 2022 album, Midnights, and her fans see it as a way of connecting with others on their shared experiences.

“I have a lot of outfits that are duplicates of Taylor’s concert wardrobe that I wore to the ACR conference,” says Dr. Liew. “One day, I donned the 1989 World Tour outfit, which is a colorful skater skirt and a sequin bomber jacket, and another, I wore the orange dress with a green cape from the Eras tour.”

Dr. Liew says the ACR annual meetings have allowed many of her rheumatology colleagues, who are also Swifties, to meet in person and exchange information.

“Cheryl Crow, an occupational therapist in Bellevue, Wash., told us about a woman in Utah who curates these livestreams where people record videos at Taylor’s concerts and stream the footage on their social media accounts,” Dr. Liew says. “She lets viewers know when Taylor is going to sing her surprise songs, which are always special and may have a hidden meaning.”