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A Peaceful Medical Mission in Guatemala, Days before COVID-19

Daniel F. Battafarano, DO, MACP, FACR  |  

My first-ever medical mission trip, after 37 years of medical practice, was to Teleman, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Prior to the trip, my excitement as an adult-trained rheumatologist was balanced against my apprehension about witnessing new diseases, caring for children and practicing in an austere environment with limited medical resources. As directed by the travel clinic,…

We Make a Difference

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“No!” she screamed. My niece just finished her first semester as a freshman at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. If the institution sounds familiar to you, it may be because you remember a particularly famous graduate—William Windsor, who sometimes goes by his formal titles: Duke of Cambridge and heir to the British throne….

Forging New Ways to Teach in Response to COVID-19: Q&A with Anisha Dua, MD, MPH

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Unable to connect with rheumatology fellows and patients in person, Anisha Dua, MD, MPH, and a team of rheumatologists have worked quickly to find new ways to communicate and share resources. Dr. Dua directs rheumatology medical education and the fellowship training program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH), Chicago. She spoke with The Rheumatologist about how…

Patients Need Psychosocial Support Now More Than Ever: Q&A with Adena Batterman, MSW, LCSW

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How are rheumatology professionals affected by the physical distancing and other challenges presented by COVID-19? The Rheumatologist interviewed Adena Batterman, MSW, LCSW, senior manager of inflammatory arthritis support and education programs at the Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, to discuss how the pandemic has changed the way she and her staff maintain continuity of…

2 Patients on Different DMARDs Experience Different COVID-19 Disease Courses

Luis A. Marcos, MD, MPH, Saika Sharmeen, DO, Jaime Gonzalez, MD, Qingping Yao, MD, PhD, Bettina Fries, MD, & Jack Fuhrer, MD  |  

In March 2020, an elderly married couple living on Long Island, N.Y., presented to our emergency department with symptoms suspicious for COVID-19 infection. The wife, a-76-year-old woman, presented with complaints of subjective fevers, minimal dry cough and headaches of one-week duration. She denied having any chills, rhinorrhea, diarrhea, abdominal pain or shortness of breath. Two…

Cannabinoids Show Potential in Pain Management

Mike Fillon  |  

ATLANTA—The potential of cannabis‐based medicines is a hot topic, particularly as pain management therapy for arthritis and other conditions. However, confusion abounds regarding its therapeutic potential, how it can be administered and even the correct terminology to use. David P. Finn, PhD, professor of pharma­cology and therapeutics, and founding co-director of the Centre for Pain…

Clinical Pearls for Diagnosing & Treating Sjögren’s Syndrome

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ATLANTA—Dry eyes and mouth are common symptoms in the general population. When patients report these symptoms to their primary care provider and other consultants, it may prompt a referral to a rheumatologist to rule out Sjögren’s syndrome. However, as discussed in the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting session, Sjögren’s Syndrome: Beyond the Dryness, evaluation of this…