Living Rheum

Guest: Avery H. LaChance, MD, MPH, FAAD Cutaneous dermatomyositis has a distinct pattern of skin findings that, once recognized, can make diagnosis much more straightforward. Tune in to hear Dr. Avery H. LaChance walk through the key visual clues and exam tips that help bring this condition into focus. Dr. LaChance is Director of the Connective Tissue Disease Clinic, Director of the Advanced Psori...

Presenter: Louis Bessette MD, FRCP(C), MSc From early arthritis treatment pathways to emerging digital health tools, the 2026 Congress of Clinical Rheumatology East conference spotlights the clinical and scientific advances shaping the future of rheumatology care. Joining us to outline those key themes and sessions is Dr. Louis Bessette, Professor of Medicine at Université Laval and the Director o...

Guest: Avery H. LaChance, MD, MPH, FAAD Acute and subacute cutaneous lupus each have recognizable skin presentations that can help guide diagnosis, especially when distinguishing them from similar conditions. Join Dr. Avery H. LaChance as she breaks down their key diagnostic features, common mimics, and important considerations for clinical evaluation. Dr. LaChance is Director of the Connective Ti...

Presenter: Louis Bessette MD, FRCP(C), MSc What can nearly two decades of real-world data teach us about optimizing care in early inflammatory arthritis? Find out with Dr. Louis Bessette as he reviews key findings from the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort (CATCH), a national, multicenter study of nearly 4,000 patients enrolled within weeks of symptom onset. Not only is Dr. Bessette a Professor of M...

Guest: Laura Coates, MBChB, MRCP, PhD Managing psoriatic arthritis gets more complex when patients don’t respond to standard treatments or present with overlapping conditions. Hear Dr. Laura Coates' insights on difficult-to-treat and complex-to-manage psoriatic arthritis—highlighting how clear classification can guide more targeted therapies, research, and support strategies for these often-overlo...

Guest: Laura Coates, MBChB, MRCP, PhD Can treating psoriasis early with biologics help prevent psoriatic arthritis? The data’s promising—but it’s complicated. Join Dr. Laura Coates as she unpacks the latest research, explaining how early intervention may influence outcomes and what real-world challenges come with interpreting observational data. Dr. Coates is an NIHR Research Professor and Senior...

Guest: Laura Coates, MBChB, MRCP, PhD As our understanding of psoriatic arthritis deepens, we're starting to turn our attention toward intervention: preventing the disease before it progresses or is officially diagnosed. Tune in to hear Dr. Laura Coates discuss the evolving landscape of psoriatic arthritis prevention and interception, including the challenges and opportunities in identifying at-ri...

Host: Flavia Castelino, MD Guest: Benjamin Korman, MD Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is complex and often diagnosed late. Explore the vasculopathy-fibrosis axis as a key driver of disease progression and clinical manifestations. Learn to recognize phenotypic red flags for ILD, PAH, and renal crisis, and apply risk stratification strategies to guide earlier intervention. Check out the evolving evidence o...

Host: Steve Jackson, PharmD Guest: Marc Scherlinger, MD, PhD Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treatment is undergoing a transformative shift from broad immunosuppression to targeted, precision-based approaches. Dr. Marc Scherlinger joins Dr. Steve Jackson to provide a timely update on recent breakthroughs, including monoclonal antibodies, JAK and BTK inhibitors, and CAR T-cell therapies, as well...

Host: Ryan Quigley Guest: Luigi Adamo, MD, PhD Guest: Andrea Fava, MD Fatigue and exercise intolerance in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may persist even when disease activity is controlled, and preload deficiency could be an overlooked cause. In this expert-led discussion, Drs. Luigi Adamo and Andrea Fava share insights from their research, highlighting diagnostic clues, the rol...

Guest: Gary S. Firestein, MD While cadherin-6 may not yet shift clinical practice in rheumatoid arthritis, its role as a surface-expressed, actionable target opens the door to rapid therapeutic development—particularly with existing antibodies already in clinical trials for urologic cancers. Dr. Gary Firestein discusses the potential for cadherin-6 to become a useful target across multiple disease...

Guest: Gary S. Firestein, MD Despite advances in biologics, many patients with rheumatoid arthritis still experience persistent inflammation. However, cadherin-6 has recently been identified as a potential treatment target. Hear from Dr. Gary Firestein as he explains the discovery, function, and therapeutic potential of cadherin-6 in rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis. Dr. Firestein is a Distinguis...

Host: Ryan Quigley New research presented at the 2025 American College of Rheumatology Convergence highlights a critical link between adverse childhood experiences and mental health outcomes in adolescents with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE). In this AudioAbstract, Ryan Quigley explores the findings, the implications for trauma-informed care, and the need to assess psychosocia...

Guest: Joan Merill, MD Despite common misconceptions, lupus nephritis is part of a broader immune imbalance seen in systemic lupus, not a separate condition. This is why it's important to shift focus from organ-specific treatment to immune dysregulation targeting. Hear Dr. Joan Merrill, Professor at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation’s Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program in Ok...

Guest: Leonard Calabrese, DO Preventing serious infections should be a priority when treating patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, especially those receiving immunosuppressive therapies. By assessing patients’ level of immunocompetence, clinicians can better tailor vaccination strategies and optimize infection prevention. Hear Dr. Leonard Calabrese discuss how to evaluate immunosup...

Guest: Martin Cheatle, PhD Chronic pain is now recognized as a distinct disease that requires more than just a symptom-based approach. Lifestyle factors and psychological health are also important considerations for care, which is why a biopsychosocial approach can be key to better outcomes. Hear Dr. Martin Cheatle discuss the importance of this clinical mindset shift and practical strategies to h...

Diagnosing long COVID continues to pose challenges for clinicians and patients alike. While 2024 diagnostic criteria from the National Academies aimed to make navigating it easier, the framework may raise some concerns, particularly for rheumatologists. Hear Ryan Quigley break down a commentary on the criteria published in July 2025 in Arthritis & Rheumatology that outlines why it may cause pr...

Guest: Martin Cheatle, PhD A thoughtful, communicative, and compassionate approach to opioid use is essential for responsible patient use. Join Dr. Martin Cheatle as he explains the neuroscience of chronic pain, the psychosocial components often overlooked in these patients, and evidence-based strategies for evaluating risk and treatment response. Dr. Cheatle is the Director of Behavioral Medicine...

Guest: Michelle Kahlenberg, MD, PhD Our approach to lupus management is accelerating, with emerging results on targeted therapies in skin and renal disease showing promise. Dr. Michelle Kahlenberg shares insights on emerging biologics, CAR-T innovations, and potential barriers in translating treatment breakthroughs into real-world patient care. Dr. Kahlenberg is the Giles Boles and Dorothy Mulkey...

Guest: Laura Cappelli, MD, MHS,MS Patients who are receiving immunotherapy for cancer sometimes develop significant autoimmune complications, which can be fatal. Join Dr. Laura Cappelli, Associate Professor of Medicine and Oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, as she explains how multidisciplinary collaboration can help manage these rheumatic immune-related adverse events (i...

Guest: John Bridges, MD, MS For children with rheumatic diseases, early diagnosis, personalized care, and multidisciplinary collaboration are critical for optimal long-term management. Join Dr. John Bridges, Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, as he explains how access, timing, and collaboration shape...

Guest: Michelle Kahlenberg, MD, PhD Lupus arises from a complex interaction of genetics, environmental stimuli, and immune system errors. Dive into the pathophysiology behind the disease with Dr. Michelle Kahlenberg, the Giles Boles and Dorothy Mulkey Research Professor of Rheumatology and Professor of Internal Medicine and Dermatology at the University of Michigan, as she examines the mechanisms...

Guest: Robin Dore, MD Despite the challenges of managing rheumatoid arthritis—especially for patients with difficult-to-treat cases or a history of cancer—clinical trials, updated guidelines, and data-driven decision-making are helping to shape the future of care. Dive deeper into how rheumatoid arthritis treatment is evolving with Dr. Robin Dore, board-certified rheumatologist and Invited Lecture...

Guest: Robin Dore, MD Rheumatoid arthritis presents uniquely in every patient, which can make treatment decisions complex. As a result, it’s important to balance factors like symptom variations, patient concerns, and medical guidelines to find the right approach. Hear how risk-benefit discussions and evolving treatment strategies can shape care from Dr. Robin Dore, a board-certified rheumatologist...

Guest: Leonard H. Calabrese, DO With at least 4 percent of patients who experience COVID-19 developing long COVID, improving care for post-infectious chronic conditions is critical. By prioritizing research and education on the rheumatological effects of acute infections, we can address these patients’ unmet needs. Join Dr. Leonard Calabrese, Vice Chairman of the Department of Rheumatic and Immuno...