Rheumatology Awards, Appointments and Announcements for January 2017

“I originally worked in oncology and hematology. The rheumatology department needed help with the methotrexate injection clinics and asked me if I would help out for a few weeks. I became really interested in rheumatology and started my own research about the disease process, organ involvement and the other diseases that our rheumatology team covers. I felt a new surge of excitement and found learning fun again.”

When asked what might have led patients to rate her Highly Commended, she says, “It’s the small things that patients like, that they feel I am listening to them and that I am interested in them as individuals and not their disease. It’s about giving the right care at the right time to the right patient.”

HSS Rheumatologist among Newest National Academy of Medicine Members

Jane Salmon, MD

Jane Salmon, MD, rheumatologist and the Collette Kean research professor at Hospital for Special Surgery, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). “Exceptional professional achievement and commitment to service” are recognized as qualifications for one of the top honors in the medical and health fields.

Dr. Salmon said that she was humbled and gratified “that the organization values translational work in my field of research.” Her research focuses on mechanisms of organ damage in rheumatic diseases, particularly pregnancy among lupus patients. She says, “Not enough is known about what causes problems in pregnancy, and less is known about how to prevent them. Lupus affects predominantly women, and they want to know if pregnancy is safe and if we can intervene if they get into trouble. We must find answers to these questions.”

She and her team have completed a multi-center, multi-racial prospective study of lupus pregnancies involving 700 patients followed monthly. The understanding they gained about clinical predictors and biomarkers of poor outcomes has allowed them to initiate the first interventional trial to prevent preeclampsia in lupus patients identified as high risk, a study with implications for pregnancy complications in all women.

NIH Physician Recognized for Cytokine Research

John O’Shea, MD

John O’Shea, MD, is one of three recipients of this year’s Seymour and Vivian Melstein Award for Excellence in Interferon and Cytokine Research given by the International Cytokine and Interferon Society (ICIS). The award recognizes “premier scientists who have translated basic research findings into clinical benefit for thousands of patients,” according to the Society’s award announcement.