Faculty Clinical Initiatives
Faculty Clinical Initiatives
Our team of experts has developed several programs to support the varied needs of our patients. Two of our programs, RA-CHAMP and IQ-LUPUS, take a patient-centered approach to address the many challenges of living with an autoimmune disease, providing a library of educational materials. Lupus Education Day is an annual event hosted by our rheumatologists for our patients and families, providing them information about living with their disease and the latest research updates. Our musculoskeletal ultrasound program provides patients with on-site, state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options.
RA-CHAMP
The RA CHAMP program, developed by Allen Anandarajah, MD, MSc, helps people with RA and their families navigate and overcome some of the barriers they face every day. Our team assists in finding the care they need in a timely manner, bringing together and sharing information with all their care providers. The program also provides practical information on the disease, treatment, and living with RA, including a physical activity program. Extensive informational handouts and videos were developed for patients and their families and can be accessed from our patient care site. The RA-CHAMP program is supported by Nurse Coordinator, Marsha Jackson, RN.
IQ-LUPUS
The IQ-LUPUS program, developed by Allen Anandarajah, MD, MSc, was designed to help people with lupus and their families navigate and overcome some of the barriers they face every day, assisting them in finding the care they need in a timely manner and bringing together and sharing information with all their care providers. The program also provides patients with practical information on the disease, treatment, and living with lupus. Extensive informational handouts and videos were developed for patients and their families and can be found on our patient care site. The program is currently directed by Ummara Shah, MD. Additional faculty include Illana Y. Abeles, MD, PhD, Allen Anandarajah, MD MSc, and Jennifer Anolik, MD, PhD. The IQ-LUPUS Program is also supported by Nurse Coordinator, Jennifer Coglitore, RN-BC.
This program was made possible by the support from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation Grant and the New York State Legislative Grant.
Lupus Education Day
Developed by Jennifer Anolik, MD, PhD, this free symposium has been brought to the Rochester community yearly since 2007 to provide state-of-the-art information to individuals with lupus and their families. Topics have included treatment updates, presentations on how lupus effects the body and discussion on managing the day-to-day life with lupus.
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
Ralf Thiele, MD brought his expertise in musculoskeletal ultrasound to the Division, and with the assistance of Darren Tabechian, MD, developed the AIR Musculoskeletal Ultrasound program. Ultrasonography is a valuable clinical tool for diagnosis, monitoring, and intervention in Rheumatology. It is being routinely used in the Rheumatology out-patient clinic for early detection of erosive disease; assessment of synovial tissue, effusions, treatment response and crystal arthropathy; detection of enthesitis in seronegative spondyloarthritis and needle guidance in aspiration, injection and biopsy. Additional faculty include Bethany Marston, MD and Norman Madsen, BMBS, Msc.