Clinical & research fellows in programs from New York to California & points between recognized
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Each year, the ACR honors up to 10 clinical and research fellows who have performed meritoriously. Meet this year’s Distinguished Fellows, who are bridging the gap between research and patient care and who were recognized at ACR Convergence 2024 in November. We asked: What does recognition as an ACR Distinguished Fellow mean to you?
Dr. Bayefsky
Sarah Bayefsky, MD
Adult and Pediatric (Med-Peds) Rheumatologist, Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey; Assistant Professor, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, New Jersey
“I am incredibly honored to be among the recipients of the 2024 ACR Distinguished Fellow Award,” says Dr. Bayefsky. “I’m grateful to my mentors, colleagues, friends and family, who have supported my dual missions to care for patients of all ages with rheumatic disease and to pursue a career in medical education. Thank you also to my patients, who are my greatest source of inspiration.”
Dr. Bracken
Sonali J. Bracken, MD, PhD
Research Fellow, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Duke University, Durham, N.C.
“I am deeply honored to receive the ACR Distinguished Fellow Award,” says Dr. Bracken. “Earning this award would not have been possible without the resolute dedication of my outstanding mentorship team at Duke. I am particularly grateful to Drs. Stefanie Sarantopoulos, Ankoor Shah, Scott Palmer, Bill St.Clair, David Pisetsky and my program director, Dr. David Leverenz, for their unwavering commitment to my success. Being a physician-scientist is the utmost privilege, and I would especially like to thank my patients for the motivation to continue on this incredibly rewarding career path.”
Dr. Braverman
Genna Braverman, MD, MS
Assistant Attending, Division of Rheumatology, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York; Assistant Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York
“It is a tremendous honor to have been recognized as an ACR Distinguished Fellow,” says Dr. Braverman. “I would like to thank my program and division leaders for their steadfast support throughout my training. I am also incredibly grateful to the Hospital for Special Surgery faculty and my co-fellows; it has been a privilege to work with such an inspiring group of physicians. I am thrilled to be joining the faculty at Hospital for Special Surgery as an academic rheumatologist, where I look forward to advancing the mission of excellence in patient care, research and education.”
Dr. Gordon
Rachael A. Gordon, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
“I am deeply honored to receive the ACR Distinguished Fellow Award,” says Dr. Gordon. “This recognition reflects the invaluable support and inspiration that I have received from my mentors and patients, who have shaped my journey as a physician-scientist. Together, we are advancing the understanding and treatment of Sjögren’s disease, and I remain committed to pushing the boundaries of research and care in this field.
Dr. Huizar
John P. Huizar, MD
Adjunct Professor of Rheumatology, University of California, San Francisco
“Looking at the impressive list of individuals who have won this award in past years, it’s easy to feel out of place! I understand the ACR to be telling us, ‘You have done some wonderful things, and we believe you will do many more,’” says Dr. Huizar. “There are many to thank: my wife, Erin, and my daughters, Fern and Rosemary, for imbuing my life with purpose; my program directors, Lianne Gensler, MD, and Sarah Goglin, MD, for teaching me to care for our patients; and my stellar research mentor, Greg Barton, PhD, who was willing to embark on a bidirectional gambit with me as our lab’s first physician-scientist trainee.”
Dr. Jaros
Brian Jaros, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine; Associate Program Director, Rheumatology Fellowship; and Associate Director, Vasculitis Center, Northwestern University, Chicago
“I am honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award from the ACR,” says Dr. Jaros. “I would like to thank my incredible mentors at Northwestern University, including Drs. Anisha Dua, Eric Ruderman, Christine Hsieh, Yvonne Lee and Harris Perlman, who have provided me with the support, wisdom and camaraderie that have guided the start of my career. For me, this award embodies the beginning of a lifelong service I hope to contribute to our rheumatology community, particularly within vasculitis and medical education.”
Dr. Karacabeyli
Derin Karacabeyli, MD
Rheumatologist and Research Trainee, Arthritis Research Canada and University of British Columbia, Vancouver
“Being a recipient of the 2024 ACR Distinguished Fellow Award is an incredible honor,” says Dr. Karacabeyli. “I feel grateful to have such a wonderful network of friends, family and mentors, who have supported me as I have pursued my passion for research and health promotion in rheumatology. Having the opportunity to celebrate this award alongside one of my mentors, Dr. Diane Lacaille (see p. XX), who was recognized this year for her outstanding mentoring contributions, has been truly special.”
Dr. Kuchinad
Kamini Kuchinad, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, Ore.
“I am greatly honored to receive the ACR Distinguished Fellow Award and humbled to be recognized within the community of exceptional and deserving rheumatology fellows,” says Dr. Kuchinad. “The award speaks to the incredible support and guidance within the Johns Hopkins Medicine Division of Rheumatology and the Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center, Baltimore. I am especially grateful for my mentors, including Ami Shah, MD, MHS, Myma Albayda, MD, and Phil Seo, MD, for their inspiration and encouragement. I am excited to continue this journey in rheumatology with the goal of improving care for individuals with complex rheumatic disease through excellent clinical care, research and education.”
Dr. Nestor
Jacquelyn Nestor, MD, PhD
Rheumatologist, Assistant in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston
“It is an incredible honor to receive the ACR Distinguished Fellow Award, and to follow in the footsteps of prior awardees,” says Dr. Nestor. “This award recognizes the tremendous mentorship and support system within the Division of Rheumatology at Massachusetts General Hospital, especially our program director, Marcy Bolster, MD. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue to practice rheumatology in this wonderful environment.”
Dr. Wobma
Holly Wobma, MD, PhD
Pediatric Rheumatology Fellow, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Stem Cell Transplantation/Advanced Cellular Therapies Fellow, Boston Children’s Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
“This award speaks to the joy I feel from finding pediatric rheumatology as a field of medicine,” says Dr. Wobma. “I am honored to have this recognition and am deeply grateful to all my mentors who guided me along this path and who helped me to develop as a clinician and researcher.”
Patrice Fusillo is a writer and editor based in Oakland, Calif.
