Rheumatology giant Frederick Wolfe, MD, passed away Sept. 5, 2023, in Wichita, Kan. The rheumatology community mourns his loss. Fred was born July 1, 1936, in New York. He graduated from Queens College, N.Y., in 1958, and was a social worker for several years. He earned his medical degree in 1966 from the State University…
Roughly six years ago, Nigil Haroon, MD, PhD, MBA, division head of rheumatology at the University Health Network, Toronto, traveled almost 9,000 miles from his home to Papua, New Guinea. His plan was to photograph the Raggiana bird-of-paradise, which can only be found in the tropical forests of eastern New Guinea. He spent about two…
When she was 2 years old, Brittany A. Bettendorf, MD, MFA, a rheumatologist at the University of Iowa (UI) Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, was introduced to figure skating by her mother, a national roller-skating champion and amateur figure skater. “The first time I stepped on the ice, I loved it,” she says. Dr. Bettendorf…
It’s easy for rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals to feel frustrated by burdensome administrative tasks, complicated insurance policies and other healthcare hurdles. Advocacy offers a way to channel those complaints into constructive action, says Belinda Birnbaum, MD.
Liana Fraenkel, MD, MPH, likes to fix things, and the dynamic and challenging field of rheumatology always has room for improvement. That mindset has led her down some interesting paths as a researcher and healthcare provider, and as vice president of the Rheumatology Research Foundation. Dr. Fraenkel was a rheumatologist and researcher at the Yale…
Editor’s note: We at The Rheumatologist are saddened to hear of the passing of Richard Brasington Jr., MD, FACP, MACR. Dr. Brasington leaves a legacy of excellence as an outstanding clinician, educator, scholar and more. One of the many ways that he contributed to our community was as the associate editor of The Rheumatologist between…
Editor’s note: We at The Rheumatologist are saddened to hear of the passing of Richard Brasington Jr., MD, FACP, MACR. Dr. Brasington leaves a legacy of excellence as an outstanding clinician, educator, scholar and more. One of the many ways that he contributed to our community was as the associate editor of The Rheumatologist between…
In January, Cecilia Pilar Chung, MD, MPH, began her new appointment as director of the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Miami. Previously, Dr. Chung was an associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., for more than 10 years. At Vanderbilt, Dr. Chung built a strong research portfolio, focusing on the comparative…
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affects a substantial number of patients worldwide, with an estimated prevalence in North America of 241 per 100,000 people.1 The morbidity and mortality associated with the condition can be significant, and thus research on this disease continues to be of utmost importance. The story of one of the world’s leading experts…
We write to celebrate the life of Philip C. Robinson, MB ChB, PhD, FRACP, a beloved colleague and leader in rheumatology. Phil died in early January after an unexpected and short illness. He is survived by his wife, Helen, and his two young sons. We have witnessed an incredible outpouring of respect and affection for…