Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD, was born and raised in eastern Kentucky, where she first cultivated her love of literature, writing and personal narratives. She attended Kenyon college, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy, summa cum laude. She worked with individuals with psychiatric conditions and later in a neuroscience lab at the University of Illinois, Chicago, before graduating from Indiana University Medical School in 2011. Instead of pursuing clinical medicine, Ruth opted to build on her strength of clearly explaining medical topics though a career as a freelance medical writer, writing both for lay people and for health professionals. She writes across the biomedical sciences, but holds strong interests in rheumatology, neurology, autoimmune diseases, genetics, and the intersection of broader social, cultural and emotional contexts with biomedical topics. Ruth now lives in Bloomington, Ind., with her husband, son and cat. She can be contacted via her website at ruthjessenhickman.com.
Many rheumatology researchers share concerns about the landscape for future opportunities, given recent pressures from the current presidential administration. These may make an already challenging environment even more difficult for academic physicians to successfully navigate. But many in the field will persevere despite obstacles, driven by the need to deepen understanding of these conditions and…
Over 50% of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) develop interstitial lung disease (ILD), and rheumatologists have long recognized this major cause of morbidity and mortality.1 Sindhu R. Johnson, MD, PhD, professor of medicine at the University of Toronto, Canada, and director of the Toronto Scleroderma Program, notes that more recent studies have increased our awareness…
Reproductive health, biosimilars, IgG4-related disease and much more—five speakers give us a sneak peek into important topics being addressed at the ACR’s 2025 State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium, April 4–6.
At a Great Debate session, speakers discussed whether mixed connective tissue disease is a distinct disease entity in rheumatology.
At this ACR Convergence 2024 session, Sonye Danoff, MD, PhD, discussed many factors that need to be considered before referring patients with SARD-ILD for lung transplantation.
At a ACR Convergence 2024 session, experts discussed key characteristics, diagnostic challenges & treatment considerations for neurosarcoidosis.
Screening recommendations, triple therapy and more—here are insights into the upcoming ACR guideline for the care and treatment of patients with lupus nephritis.
Washington D.C.—At a Sunday, Nov. 17, Pediatrics Great Debate session of ACR Convergence, speakers argued whether patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) should continue their interleukin (IL) 1/IL-6 biologics if lung disease is suspected. Randy Q. Cron, MD, PhD, the director of the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham,…
Experts shared insights into their work on building consensus for the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound for the diagnosis and management of RA and PsA.
Dr. Khaled Elsaid discussed synovial macrophages/monocytes and monosodium urate crystal interactions at a session during ACR Convergence, exploring potential new gout pharmacology targets via the lubricin/CD44/protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) pathway.