“When you get a good mentor, don’t let ’em be the one that got away.” Richard Brasington Jr., MD, FACP, MACR, told me this about a decade ago when I was a rheumatology fellowship applicant and first met him. It was clear the statement was influenced by his love of fishing. Dr. Brasington’s office was…
When she was 2 years old, Brittany A. Bettendorf, MD, MFA, a rheumatologist at the University of Iowa (UI) Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, was introduced to figure skating by her mother, a national roller-skating champion and amateur figure skater. “The first time I stepped on the ice, I loved it,” she says. Dr. Bettendorf…
I am often asked by medical students, resident physicians and—especially—patients, what is rheumatology? When students ask me why I chose to be a rheumatologist, I answer that I have never been in love with pathologies, such as rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, gout, osteoporosis, systemic lupus erythematosus or vasculitis. In fact, I chose rheumatology because I love…
The issue of the rheumatology workforce shortage is certainly vexing. Not only does it leave large segments of the population without adequate care for patients with serious rheumatic diseases, but it also increases the burden on the few rheumatologists who serve populous, underserved regions of the country. Solutions suggested in The Rheumatologist (“ACR Workforce Solutions…
Mistakes are a part of life. In fact, they are a large part of my life. Whether uncovering inborn errors of immunity, teaching about diagnostic errors, identifying systemic lapses in high-quality care or correcting spelling errors in manuscripts, my entire being is centered on studying and examining mistakes. To a certain degree, I feel like…
It’s easy for rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals to feel frustrated by burdensome administrative tasks, complicated insurance policies and other healthcare hurdles. Advocacy offers a way to channel those complaints into constructive action, says Belinda Birnbaum, MD.
Liana Fraenkel, MD, MPH, likes to fix things, and the dynamic and challenging field of rheumatology always has room for improvement. That mindset has led her down some interesting paths as a researcher and healthcare provider, and as vice president of the Rheumatology Research Foundation. Dr. Fraenkel was a rheumatologist and researcher at the Yale…
Editor’s note: We at The Rheumatologist are saddened to hear of the passing of Richard Brasington Jr., MD, FACP, MACR. Dr. Brasington leaves a legacy of excellence as an outstanding clinician, educator, scholar and more. One of the many ways that he contributed to our community was as the associate editor of The Rheumatologist between…
Editor’s note: We at The Rheumatologist are saddened to hear of the passing of Richard Brasington Jr., MD, FACP, MACR. Dr. Brasington leaves a legacy of excellence as an outstanding clinician, educator, scholar and more. One of the many ways that he contributed to our community was as the associate editor of The Rheumatologist between…
In January, Cecilia Pilar Chung, MD, MPH, began her new appointment as director of the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Miami. Previously, Dr. Chung was an associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., for more than 10 years. At Vanderbilt, Dr. Chung built a strong research portfolio, focusing on the comparative…