AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show

Every year, the AiArthritis team returns from EULAR with new research, expert interviews, and important conversations. This year, they also gathered lived experience data from the community to better understand how the topics discussed at the conference compare with what patients experience every day. In this episode, host Leila P.L. Valete is joined by patient representative James Hollen to revis...

AiArthritis was built by listening to patients. For more than 15 years, conversations within the community have shaped programs, resources, research initiatives, and advocacy efforts designed to improve the patient journey. In this episode, Leila and Tiffany discuss AiArthritis' next chapter and how the organization is expanding its commitment to collecting, analyzing, and acting on lived experien...

Vagus nerve stimulation has been a hot topic in the AiArthritis community, and for good reason. In this episode, host Tiffany sits down with Dr. Vibeke Strand, Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Division of Immunology/Rheumatology at Stanford University, to explore what VNS actually is, what the research shows, and why it could be a game changing option for people who have not found success with tr...

Sleep problems are one of the most common and most frustrating experiences for people living with AiArthritis diseases. In this episode, Eileen Davidson breaks down why getting a good night's rest can feel nearly impossible when you're living with an AiArthritis disease, and shares what has actually helped her along the way.   Eileen explores the many reasons sleep is so disrupted by AiArthritis d...

A new diagnosis can bring relief, fear, and uncertainty all at once. In this episode, Leila and Deb share advice from the AiArthritis community on what they wish they had known right after being diagnosed with an autoimmune or autoinflammatory arthritis disease. Leila and Deb  explore the importance of trusting your body, especially when tests are inconclusive or symptoms are dismissed. This episo...

Oral health is often treated as optional or cosmetic, but for people living with AiArthritis diseases, it can have a real impact on pain, fatigue, nutrition, and quality of life. In this episode, Leila and Bridget explore why oral health deserves a place in routine disease management and why so many patients are never told their symptoms are disease related. The episode looks at how autoimmune con...

As we close out 2025, this special episode looks back on some of the most impactful conversations from this year. This episode reflects on key moments that captured the real experiences of people living with AiArthritis diseases and the topics patients told us mattered most. Listeners will hear powerful conversations exploring what it means to parent while managing chronic illness, the often overl...

Remission is no longer an abstract idea for people living with AiArthritis diseases. Thanks to earlier diagnosis, better treatment options, and growing global awareness, more patients are reaching remission and staying there. In this episode of AiArthritis Voices 360, Health Education Manager Leila P. L. Valete sits down with Neil Betteridge of the Global Remission Coalition to explore what remiss...

Cannabis has come a long way since we last covered it in 2020. With more patients using CBD and medical cannabis to help manage chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety, and sleep issues, it is time for an important update. In this episode, AiArthritis Health Education Manager Leila P. L. Valete is joined by co-hosts and patient advocates Eileen Davidson and Bridget Seritt for a real conversation about...

We have all had those moments where the healthcare system leaves us throwing up our hands and asking, WTH?! From outrageous medical bills and denied prescriptions to hours on the phone with insurance companies, people everywhere share the same frustrations. That is why AiArthritis launched the global #WTHellth?! campaign, a place to rant, connect, and turn stories into change. In this episode, Co-...

Due largely to a really complex healthcare system, prescription drug affordability is a growing challenge in the United States. Good news! Efforts are happening RIGHT NOW by several government representatives to try and address it. But improvements are moving forward without asking patients what prescriptions THEY can or cannot afford - and they aren’t asking WHY this is.  In this 360it spin-off e...

CAR-T Therapy is one of the most talked about advances in autoimmune research today, offering new hope for people living with AiArthritis diseases such as lupus, myositis, scleroderma, and Sjögren’s. In this episode, co-hosts Leila P.L. Valete, AiArthritis Health Education Manager, and Tiffany Westrich-Robertson, CEO and Original Founder of AiArthritis, explain what CAR-T is, how it works, and why...

In this follow-up episode, AiArthritis Health Education Manager Leila reflects on her personal pregnancy journey with lupus and Sjögren’s, while sharing key fertility and pregnancy insights from EULAR 2024. She highlights emerging research and clinical recommendations on preconception planning, navigating medication decisions, and coordinating care between rheumatologists and high-risk OB-GYNs. Le...

AiArthritis is bringing you along for the journey as part of our Go With Us! Program, this time straight from the EULAR 2025 in Barcelona. In this episode, we’re spotlighting key research updates that matter most to patients living with AiArthritis diseases. Our 'co hosts, Leila, Tiffany, Deb, and Eileen, are on the ground at EULAR, reporting back with fresh insights into patient-prioritized topic...

Managing AiArthritis diseases are challenging but what if the entire model of care could change for the better? In this episode, Leila is joined by Dr. Jin Lee, co-founder and CEO of IMIDeology, a virtual and in-person clinic dedicated to diagnosing and treating immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) like spondyloarthritis, lupus, Crohn’s, and more. Dr. Lee shares her journey from caregiver...

AiArthritis diseases can be difficult enough to manage—but what happens when the symptoms don’t fit neatly into a diagnosis? In this episode, AiArthritis Health Education Manager Leila shares her perspective on the “mystery patient” experience, those living with serious, ongoing symptoms but still searching for answers. Leila revisits key conversations from past episodes and introduces new resourc...

Autoimmune diseases like lupus and Sjogren’s disease are often associated with joint pain, fatigue, and organ involvement, but their impact on the nervous system is less commonly discussed. In this episode, Dr. Julius Birnbaum, a leading expert in neuro-rheumatology, joins us to explore the neurological manifestations of these conditions and what patients need to know. From brain fog and memory is...

Parenting is challenging, but adding a chronic illness like rheumatoid arthritis brings unique obstacles. In this episode, co-host Eileen shares her journey of raising a child while managing RA, from coping with fatigue and pain to adjusting expectations. She’s joined by her 12-year-old son, Jacob, who offers his perspective on growing up with a parent who has a chronic illness. Together, they dis...

What does it mean to be diagnosed with undifferentiated disease (UD)? In this episode, Tiffany Westrich-Robertson, AiArthritis CEO and founder, unpacks this complex diagnosis, sharing her personal journey from being a mystery patient to receiving a UCTD diagnosis. Tiffany explains how undifferentiated disease fits into the autoimmune.autoinflammatory spectrum, its implications for treatment, and w...

Join us for a special episode where we reflect on the top three most-listened episodes of 2024! Leila revisits these engaging conversations that resonated deeply with the AiArthritis community, covering mental health, navigating the patient journey, and reproductive health. These episodes highlight the challenges and triumphs of living with autoimmune diseases, offering practical strategies and he...

In this episode, our co-hosts share key takeaways and important updates from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence 2024. Leila, Tiffany, Cristina, and Deb discuss cutting-edge therapies, chronic pain management strategies, and groundbreaking research on conditions like lupus, Sjögren’s, and psoriatic arthritis. Join us for an insightful and empowering conversation that highlights...

In this episode, co-hosts Leila and Brittany dive into the power of patient voices in transforming the healthcare experience for the AiArthritis community. They bring empathy and validation to stories submitted by listeners, highlighting real struggles with insurance, pharmacy issues, and the emotional toll of chronic illness. Brittany also shares key takeaways from the recent Autoimmune Community...

In this episode of AiArthritis Voices 360, co-hosts Leila and Eileen discuss a project focused on organizing essential resources for patients navigating the AiArthritis journey, from undiagnosed symptoms to remission. They share their personal experiences living with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, exploring the complexities of managing chronic illness and the challenges of early diagnosis. Tune i...

In this episode, our co-hosts bring you an exclusive look into the AiArthritis “Go With Us!” to Conferences program. We dive deep into EULAR 2024, the European Rheumatology Research Conference, where patients and co-hosts reveal groundbreaking advancements in AiArthritis research. Discover the latest on CAR-T therapy, innovative pain management tailored for patients, the role of opioids in address...

Welcome to a milestone episode of AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show! Join us as we celebrate our 100th episode by revisiting three of our most impactful discussions that have resonated deeply with our listeners. Episode 73: "Arthritis" Awareness - It’s Complicated! Dive into the complexities of arthritis awareness with our co-hosts as they share personal stories of delayed diagnosis and the profoun...