New Year, New Faces

In addition to educating readers on evidence-based medicine, Dr. Brasington also hopes TR will focus on disease states that aren’t as common: “There are so many things in rheumatology that are very important but not very well covered,” he says. “I’d like to address some of these conditions, such as skin problems in vasculitis and lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis, which are still important to know.”

Outside of academia, Dr. Brasington is a husband and father of four who spends his free time fishing. “I like fishing most of all because it’s a great way to be in touch with nature,” he says, having recently caught (and released) the “fish of a lifetime,” a 28-pound muskellunge.

Dr. Iversen’s vision for TR includes a focus on advocacy.

Dr. Iversen, currently professor and chair of physical therapy at Northeastern University and a behavioral scientist and senior researcher in the Section of Clinical Sciences, Brigham and Women’s, Harvard Medical School, rounds out the group with a focus in both academia and research. Dr. Iversen has a doctoral degree in physical therapy and a doctoral degree and masters in public health. She received her second doctorate from the Harvard School of Public Health and her postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School.

For her, TR is great resource for transitional researchers. “I love the idea of keeping clinical connections and encouraging clinicians to be involved with the organization, but also keeping us researchers in tune with what’s going on in the clinic,” she says. “[TR] is a great opportunity to have a publication that is a little more focused on clinical practice.” She would also like to see TR continue to place a strong focus on advocacy. As a past president of the ARHP, Dr. Iversen has spent significant time advocating for patients both locally and on Capitol Hill. “I have enjoyed my role in advocacy with the organization … this is one area where we could garner some greater interest,” she says. “Having some interesting clinical discussions and highlighting efforts of advocacy might encourage people to become involved in a way they haven’t thought of before.”

With a shared passion for teaching and education, the new editors’ diverse backgrounds promise a bright view for the future of TR. “Dr. Pisetsky and the rest of the staff have done a marvelous job, and the shoes to fill are gigantic,” Dr. Helfgott says, “but I hope we can enhance, and make [TR] even bigger and better.”