I went into the field of Rheumatology because I felt I could make a difference. I first encountered “Lupus” when I met an African American girl during medical school and we became friends. She was diagnosed with Lupus and passed away from complications. She didn’t feel like she had a good relationship with her physician Read More…
Dear Med Student & Resident, This past month so many medical students and residents graduated early and many of them have expedited their journey into medicine as they help fight against COVID-19. I can still remember the official start to med school with the White Coat ceremony. I felt so eager to have a faculty Read More…
Can I get pregnant? I see many females of childbearing age with autoimmune diseases like Lupus, Sjorgren’s Syndrome, Scleroderma, Autoimmune Thyroid Disease (Hashimoto Thyroiditis) and RA that express worry and fear that their disease will prohibit them from having a family. They worry about infertility like so many women in this world. I empathize. Becoming Read More…
Autoimmune thyroid disease is a disease of the thyroid gland due to autoimmunity in which the patient’s immune system attacks and damages their thyroid. Hashimoto thyroiditis is a form of autoimmune thyroid disease. With this disease, your immune system attacks your thyroid. In this disease, thyroid-reactive T cells are formed that infiltrate the thyroid Read More…
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient that plays an essential role in immune function by affecting numerous cells that regulate the immune system response. It specifically enhances the fighting or defense response of certain types of white blood cells which results in decreased inflammation. The T cells of the immune system or “killer cells” will not Read More…
Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that involves the hardening and tightening of the skin, connective tissues, and other organs such as the lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal system, and heart. This is a result of abnormal and excessive collagen (fibrous protein) production. Scleroderma affects women more often than men and most commonly occurs between the ages of Read More…