ACR on Air

This week, our guest is Assoc. Prof. Of Medicine in Rheumatology at Loma Linda Univ. And board certified from the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and Chair of ACR’s Government Affairs Committee, Dr. Christina Downey. Dr. Downey discusses and shares with us how to counsel and provide small and practical steps for patients to improve their wellness as well as tips on staying healthy while juggling clinical practice, administrative responsibilities and family life. We’ll learn all about empathy: what it is, how to get it and why you want it. And finally, Dr. Downey shares with us her work in advocacy for her patients and what motivates her to continue that work and fighting burnout 

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the life of a researcher.  We’ve invited Dr. Jeffrey Sparks to share with us how he ended up as an R01 independent researcher. We’ll learn how the sausage is made, as they say, of a successful grant submission.  Jeff will share with us how he became interested in research, the skills he gained along the way, how mentors were necessary for his success, and he explains the alphabet soup of NIH grants.  He also discusses the 20 medals that he has hanging on the wall of his office. 

This week, Dr. Alfred Kim joins Dr. Hausmann for a reflective episode, highlighting memorable moments and key learning takeaways from ACR Convergence 2022, in our final episode of the year. Have a happy and healthy new year.   

Join us this week as we welcome American College of Rheumatology Master, Dr. Herbert S. Baraf who is the founder and, up until his retirement this year, managing partner of “Arthritis & Rheumatism Associates” (one of the largest private rheumatology practices in America). Today, Dr. Baraf shares with us why he went into private practice, the risks and benefits of doing so, and his invaluable lifetime experience for those looking to enter and those within private practice. Currently, Dr. Baraf is a Special Volunteer at National Institue of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. He holds appts as Clinical Professor of Medicine at George Washington University and is an Associate Clinical Professor at The University of Maryland 

This week we invited Dr. Stacy Ardoin, pediatric and adult rheumatologist, to discuss all the challenges of ushering children into adult care and (more importantly) how to facilitate the transition. Dr. Ardoin led the American College of Rheumatology’s participation in the American College of Physicians Pediatric to Adult Care Transition Toolkit Project and has published several research studies and reviews on the topic. Today, she offers her advice, processes at her own practice, and resources for both patient and parents to help your pediatric patient successfully navigate this critical period in their care. 

Welcome to ACR Convergence 2022! Today, Dr. Vicki Shanmugam (host of ACR Journals on Air) joins Jon to tackle three, pivotal trials, that will be presented at our annual meeting this year! Join us as they dive into the objectives, the science behind them and their incredible results. You can find each one of the manuscripts discussed on this episode here: Deucravacitinib, a Tyrosine Kinase 2 Inhibitor, in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Phase II, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase III Extension Trial of the Long-Term Safety and Tolerability of Anifrolumab in Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Genicular Nerve Block for Pain Management in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial  

ACR Convergence 2022 is almost here, and with that, new trials, new medications and new results. We’re preparing a very HOT episode for you, to be released along with the opening ceremony at ACR Convergence 2022, this Saturday, November 12th. In this preview of Saturday’s full episode, we’ve invited host of “ACR Journals on Air” Dr. Vicki Shanmugam, to briefly discuss all the exciting science that is just a few days away! 

Excited for ACR Convergence 2022? So are we! This week Jon catches up with AMPC Chair, Dr. Sharon Kolasinski! It's been two years since we’ve gathered physically, and when we meet up at The Philadelphia Convention Center, you won’t be disappointed. Dr. Kolasinski dives into this year’s program, new features at Convergence and even the delicious dining to be had in this historic city of brotherly love. See you soon! 

In this episode we discuss how pain syndromes occur, what's happening in the brain, how to diagnose and explain these syndromes in our patients and (most importantly) how to help patients on the road to recovery. Our guest, Dr. Schubiner, has decades of experience in treating patients with these syndromes and uses randomized controlled studies to inform his approach. These studies have shown that a specific type of treatment leads to a nearly complete elimination of pain in a large majority of patients with chronic pain.  Psychophysiologic Disorders Association Non-profit professional organization and clearinghouse for information, lists of practitioners, bibliography of research articles, and an online training course The Tension Myositis Syndrome Wiki A peer-run support group organization for people looking for help with chronic pain, plus a list of practitioners, and online support groups UnlearnYourPain.com Six animated videos for educating patients on pain and the brain, plus lists of training programs, and other videos/lectures; and an online program for patients Stress Illness Recovery Practitioner’s Association A site in the UK with training & online programs Books written by our colleagues for patients: John Sarno—The Mindbody Prescription, Healing Back Pain, The Divided Mind Alan Gordon—The Way Out, pain reprocessing therapy for patients Howard Schubiner—Unlearn Your Pain and Unlearn Your Anxiety and Depression; books for patients with self-guided recovery programs Other books: David Hanscom—Back in Control and Should you have spine surgery? David Clarke—They can't find anything wrong David Schechter—Think away your pain Georgie Oldfield—The key to chronic pain recovery Books for professionals: Lisa Feldman Barrett—How Emotions are Made; on predictive processing Schubiner and Allan Abbass—Hidden from View PPD Association—Clarke, Schubiner, Abbass, Clark-Smith—Textbook on psychophysiologic disorders

During “The Great Debate” at ACR Convergence 2020, the question: “Should JAK inhibitors be started before TNF inhibitors in people with rheumatoid arthritis who failed methotrexate?” was asked. However, in 2021, results from the oral surveillance trial showed an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in cancers among patients with rheumatoid arthritis taking tofacitinib as compared to those on TNF inhibitors. These findings led to the FDA updating their black box warning on JAK inhibitors. Today, we’ve invited one of the speakers on the great debate, Dr. Vibeke Strand, to speak on her position on JAK inhibitors given these new results and shed some more light on the subject.