Access to world-class, patient-centered medical care, research, support and education
The goal of the Lupus and Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) Center of Excellence is to provide the highest quality of care to enhance our patients’ lives. Lupus and APS are autoimmune diseases that are highly variable from patient to patient and unpredictable over the course of any one patient’s life. We are here to help you manage your illness by providing individualized care and support to meet your specific needs.
Expertise in the most challenging areas
Complex cases - our rheumatologists and interdisciplinary team work closely with specialists in other medical disciplines including nephrology, obstetrics and gynecology, dermatology, psychiatry, neurology, cardiology, hematology/oncology, and pain management.
Lupus nephritis - a serious and relatively common complication of SLE that requires an integrated approach and collaboration from multiple departments and specialties. View our Lupus Nephritis Program
Pregnancy - mothers with lupus are at a higher risk to develop complications. Specialized care, education and precautions can lead to a successful birth. View our Reproductive Health Program
APS - blood clots from APS can lead to life threatening complications like deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, heart attacks and strokes. HSS is a leading center for APS research and treatment.
Unspecified disease - those who have too many symptoms, not enough symptoms, or abnormal blood tests with no symptoms can be left undiagnosed or untreated without help from an experienced rheumatologist.
Pediatric rheumatology - young children and teenagers affected by lupus and APS are treated by pediatric specialists until they reach the age where they can transition to adult care.
Lupus and APS Center videos
Director of the Center, Jane Salmon, MD discusses the Center's mission and goals in a quick one-minute video.
HSS Rheumatologist, Lisa Sammaritano, MD talks about reproductive health issues facing women with lupus.
Our HSS lupus and APS specialists have decades of experience caring for patients, compassionately applying their knowledge to each individual under their care. They coordinate care with specialists in other fields to help manage a patient's whole health status. Combining research advances from HSS scientists and other researchers with deep clinical expertise enables us to provide a tailored, evidence-based approach. Our non-clinical staff provides programming, education and support, while the research coordinators enable patients to partner with us in the pursuit of better medical outcomes.
Taylor Karren, RN
Nikki Sembrano, RN
Rachelle Williams, RN
Ludis Williams-Mitchell, RN
Kelly Wong, RN
Maria Corazon Roque, RN
Greg Tavani, RN
Multispecialty Collaborating Physicians
The HSS Lupus and APS Center of Excellence has established relationships with physicians across the spectrum of medical and surgical specialties as we work to provide our patients with comprehensive evidence-based compassionate care. Each specialist listed below has expressed a commitment to working with our patients and the Center.
Patients contacting any of these physicians should verify whether the physician participates in their health insurance plan prior to confirming an appointment.
Cardiology:
Rebecca R. Ascunce, MD
Weill Cornell Medical College
P: 646.962.5558
Evelyn M. Horn, MD
Weill Cornell Medical College
P: 646.962.5555
Maria Karas, MD
Weill Cornell Medical College
P: 646.962.5555
Irina Sobol, MD
Weill Cornell Medical College
P: 646.962.5555
Hooman Yaghoobzadeh, MD
Weill Cornell Medical College
P: 212.861.3222
Dermatology:
Joanna L. Harp, MD
Weill Cornell Medical College
P: 646.962.3376
Henry J. Lee, MD, PhD
Weill Cornell Medical College
P: 646.962.3376
Horatio F. Wildman, MD
Weill Cornell Medical College
P: 646.962.3376
Julie Zang, MD
Weill Cornell Medical College
P: 646.962.3376
Jillian A. Rose-Smith, PhD, MPH, LCSW, is the Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement, Diversity and Research at Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr. Rose-Smith provides operational leadership for HSS’ Ambulatory Care Center and The Department of Social Work Programs. Dr. Rose leads the implementation of innovative community programs to enhance health, access to care and self-efficacy of traditionally underserved communities, in collaboration with other health care organizations and government agencies. Dr. Rose-Smith is an officer for the HSS Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Office. She participates in research and quality initiatives to identify and address health disparities to ensure the highest quality care for all patients. Dr. Rose-Smith provides ongoing leadership and support for the Hospital’s collection of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity and preferred language data. In addition, Dr. Rose-Smith plays an integral role in the HSS Community Health Needs Assessment and Community Service Plan. Since August 2005, Dr. Rose-Smith has occupied a leadership position in managing Rheumatology programs at Hospital for Special Surgery.
Priscilla Calvache LCSW, is the Assistant Director for Lupus Programs & Community Engagement. She has operational oversight for LupusLine® and Charla de Lupus(Lupus Chat)® programs, national peer based support and education programs for people with lupus and their loved ones. She is responsible for the planning and operations of program initiatives, training and supervision of staff and volunteers, initial screening and psychosocial assessment and social work intervention with patients and their families. Mrs. Calvache also provides direct support and manages referrals from Rheumatology adult and pediatric providers, social workers, and other health team members regarding program services both at HSS and externally. Mrs. Calvache is integrally involved in the HSS Community Health Needs Assessment and Community Service Plan to enhance disease self-management and disparities. Additionally, she leads ongoing national trainings, especially focused on the peer health model and the unique national/international Lupus Support and Education Programs she oversees. Mrs. Calvache received a Master of Social Work degree from the Columbia University School of Social Work.
Giselle Rodriguez, LCSW is the Program Coordinator for the Charla de Lupus (Lupus Chat)® Program, a support and education program for people with lupus with an emphasis on Spanish-speaking communities. She coordinates all aspects of the program including the Teen, Young Adult and Parent Support Group, which takes place on a monthly basis. Ms. Rodriguez also provides support, education and resources to patients both in person at the HSS Pediatric and Rheumatology clinics and over the phone. Ms. Rodriguez received a Master of Social Work degree from Hunter Silberman School of Social Work. Ms. Rodriguez’s special interests include managing chronic illnesses, health care equality, patient-centered care and research.
Eliza Ngan-Dittgen - Senior Program Associate, LANtern® (Lupus Asian Network)
Eliza Ngan-Dittgen
Eliza Ngan-Dittgen, BA is the Senior Program Associate of LANtern® (Lupus Asian Network). LANtern® is the only national hospital-based bilingual support and education program dedicated to serving Asian Americans with lupus and their families. Eliza’s roles include providing direct patient support, developing community-based education programs for both patients and professionals, building collaboration capacity with community service providers, and conducting community outreach efforts. Eliza was a former Peer Health Educator of LANtern®.
Mary Rose Murray Carey, LCSW, joined HSS in May of 2022 as the Social Work Manager of the Rheumatology Division. She is responsible for the strategic direction, planning, and operational oversight of program initiatives related to advancing the highest level of service to this community. She manages all aspects of social work services, including patient care, program planning, and evaluation, and the development of procedures and protocols to address social work needs. She ensures that patients who are at high psychosocial risk are assessed and provided with appropriate resources and referrals, and advocates for patient needs through collaboration with the entire health care team. She is responsible for the supervision of social work staff in Adult Rheumatology and the Voices 60+ Program.
Mary Rose joined HSS after 8 years in the Mount Sinai Health System, where she spent time as a Palliative and Oncology Social Worker, as well as 3 years managing the inpatient Social Work Department at Mount Sinai West.
Mary Rose graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in English and received her Master of Social Work from the Graduate School of Social Services at Fordham University, where she was a recipient of the inaugural Fellowship in Palliative Care. Her professional interests include the development of emerging clinicians, psychosocial issues around terminal and life-limiting illness for patients and their families, and the improvement of health care access and disparities.
Nadia Murphy joined the Department of Social Work Programs at HSS in 2021 as the Manager for the VOICES 60+ senior advocacy program. She works with older adults in the community that are coping with arthritis and other orthopedic concerns. Nadia earned her Masters in Social Work from SUNY Albany in 2011.
She began her career working as a medical social worker in an inpatient setting and continued working as an inpatient social worker for 9 years, primarily with older adults and their family members. Nadia worked at Mount Sinai Queens in the ICU and on their stroke unit for 3 years. While there, she co-facilitated a stroke survivor and caregiver support group that offered a space for participants to receive emotional support, education, resources and guidance. She then worked at New York Presbyterian primarily in the emergency department for 6 years while continuing to also work on their inpatient units. Her last year at New York Presbyterian was spent in the role of Social Work Supervisor in the Care Coordination department at NYP Brooklyn Methodist. Concurrently, she also assisted with the development and was the coordinator of their Schwartz rounds.
Nadia understands that many older adults, especially members of marginalized groups, face challenges with accessing medical care. She is passionate about addressing these challenges in hopes of helping these patients to receive equitable and quality healthcare. Ursula Izquierdo-Cuya is a bilingual [Spanish] Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the VOICES 60+ Senior Advocacy Program. She provides concrete and emotional support to rheumatology patients, 60 years of age and older, in the Ambulatory Care Center and Private Practices. Ms. Izquierdo-Cuya has experience in various areas of the social work field including comprehensive care management for patients with chronic conditions and as well in psychotherapy specializing in the treatment and management of mood and trauma-based disorders. Ms. Izquierdo-Cuya received her graduate education at SUNY Stony Brook University where she was the recipient of the Dr. W. Burghardt Turner Fellowship.
Ursula Izquierdo-Cuya is a bilingual [Spanish] Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the VOICES 60+ Senior Advocacy Program. She provides concrete and emotional support to rheumatology patients, 60 years of age and older, in the Ambulatory Care Center and Private Practices. Ms. Izquierdo has experience in various areas of the social work field including comprehensive care management for patients with chronic conditions and as well in psychotherapy specializing in the treatment and management of mood and trauma-based disorders. Ms. Izquierdo received her graduate education at SUNY Stony Brook University where she was the recipient of the Dr. W. Burghardt Turner Fellowship.
Baptiste Nicolas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the Adult Rheumatology Program. Baptiste assists patients ages 18-59 in all needs related to navigating the health care system, and he provides concrete and emotional support patients who are struggling with their diagnosis and whose lives are impacted by rheumatological disorders.
Baptiste received his Master of Social Work from Hunter Silberman School of Social Work. Baptiste’s special interests include advocating for patients, providing patients with mental health resources and a patient-centered care approach.
Lupus and APS Clinical Research Coordinators and Assistants
Marta Guerra – IMPACT & PROMISSE Project Coordinator (Dr. Jane Salmon)
Haley Slosberg – Clinical Research Coordinator (Dr. Jane Salmon)
Emily Wu – Clinical Research Coordinator (Dr. Kyriakos Kirou & Dr. Mary Crow)
JoAnn Vega – Clinical Research Coordinator (Dr. Medha Barbhaiya, Dr. Doruk Erkan & Dr. Michael Lockshin)
The article links below are intended for those who have symptoms, have been diagnosed or have complications from lupus, lupus nephritis or APS. For professional health education, please see the Research & Professionals tab (on this page) and the HSS Education Institute.
Having access to high quality medical care and resources for social, emotional, and other support can empower you to care for yourself and improve the quality of your life. We offer the following resources and programs to patients and their families:
Scientists and clinicians at HSS are constantly working to advance understanding of the causes of disease and develop novel treatments for lupus and APS. In partnership with our patients, significant progress has been made.
Presentations (see our Webinars and Events tabs for more)
What's New in Lupus Research and How to Participate - Watch video
Patients have the right to stop participation in a research study at any time. If you would like to obtain more information or to see if you qualify for a study or trial, contact 1.877.SLE.CURE.
Grand Rounds: Management of Complex Cases: this publication profiles highly complicated cases at HSS in full detail with follow-up data and a discussion on clinical treatment.
