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Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD

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.

Articles by Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD

‘Battle for Health Justice’: Dr. Alakija Addresses Global Rheumatology Inequities

Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD  |  November 10, 2021

On Nov. 3, the inaugural, virtual Global Rheumatology Summit brought together specialists from all over the world to share critical expertise on global health issues related to rheumatology.

COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy & Safety Discussed at Town Hall

Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD  |  August 20, 2021

At a recent ACR town hall, panelists described immune responses and side effects of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with rheumatic disease, along with ways to leverage monoclonal antibody treatments, especially in light of virus variants.

Dusan Petkovic / shutterstock.com

COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients with Rheumatic Disease

Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD  |  August 11, 2021

With a large percentage of the U.S. population unsure whether they will get vaccinated against COVID-19, rheumatology patients remain vulnerable. On May 13, the ACR hosted a virtual town hall highlighting ways rheuma­tology providers might effectively approach their patients who have not yet decided to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Get the Slow Yes At the…

Sci Writers / shutterstock.com

FDA’s Arthritis Advisory Committee Narrowly Endorses Avacopan Approval

Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD  |  August 11, 2021

On May 6, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Arthritis Advisory Committee narrowly voted in support of avacopan, a C5a receptor inhibitor, for the treatment of adult patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis. Although the panelists were excited about the possibility of a steroid-sparing therapy, some raised questions about whether results from…

Researchers Explore Response to COVID-19 Vaccines in the Elderly

Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD  |  July 6, 2021

A delayed second dose of an mRNA vaccine may provide better protection against COVID-19 in elderly patients.

Town Hall Provides Tools to Guide Patients Unsure About COVID-19 Vaccination

Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD  |  June 21, 2021

The ACR’s May 13 virtual town hall highlighted effective approaches rheumatology providers can take to convince patients to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

ACR Quality of Care Committee Impresses with Its Recent Productivity

Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD  |  June 14, 2021

Over the past 18 months, the ACR’s Quality of Care (QOC) Committee has helped produce an impressive number of resources that will help rheumatologists deliver the best possible care. Working through specific projects supervised under its Criteria, Guideline, Guidance, and Quality Measure subcommittees, the QOC Committee has developed new sets of disease criteria, clinical guidelines,…

MDGRPHaCS / shutterstock.com

The ACR Releases an Updated Treatment Guideline for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD  |  June 14, 2021

In early June, the ACR released an updated guideline on the management of rheumatoid arthritis, which includes new recommendations for specific high-risk groups.1 The guideline includes 44 recommendations—seven of which are strong and 37 conditional. It underscores the role of methotrexate as a cornerstone therapy and emphasizes minimizing glucocorticoids, when possible. Guideline Development Process At…

Anze Furlan / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

How Immunosuppression May Affect COVID-19 Vaccine Response

Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD  |  June 13, 2021

Although we can expect to learn much more, preliminary data are now available on the potential safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in rheumatology patients. The picture is likely to be nuanced, with not all types of immuno­suppressive treatments having identical impacts on vaccine response. Rheumatologists should use caution in interpreting early reports, while continuing…

Study: Can Avacopan Replace Steroids in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis?

Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD  |  May 13, 2021

A phase 3 trial described in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) highlights the potential of a C5a receptor inhibitor, avacopan, for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis.1 Avacopan may potentially offer a steroid-sparing option for the treatment of this serious disease. Current Treatment of ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Morbidity and mortality from ANCA-associated vasculitis have…

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