Department of Medicine
The HSS Department of Medicine serves our patients by providing expert medical care for nonsurgical musculoskeletal, autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, and supports HSS Orthopedic Surgery by providing pre-operative optimization and post-operative medical care for patients ongoing surgical procedures.
Our Division of Rheumatology is the highest ranked in the Northeast with physician-scientists that are internationally recognized and have academic appointments at Weill Cornell Medicine and hospital appointments at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. They provide care at our Main Campus in Manhattan and throughout the New York tri-state area in Brooklyn, New Jersey and Westchester County.
In addition to our rheumatologists, a multidisciplinary faculty including experts in heart disease, infectious disease, psychiatry, osteoporosis, and endocrinology provide comprehensive care to our patients and enrich the collaborative research that is advancing knowledge and improving the lives of patients.
Rheumatologists
Pediatric Rheumatologists
Perioperative Medicine Staff
Endocrinology and Metabolic Bone Physicians
Infectious Diseases Physicians
Psychiatrists/Psychologists
Divisions and Centers
Given the extraordinary medical advances that have occurred in the past few years, HSS physicians are poised to prevent many disorders, cure a significant portion of them, and universally improve the lives of patients who have rheumatic disease. Employing a multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic approach that is unique to this institution, you can be assured of the best and most up-to-date and caring treatment.
- Rheumatology
World leaders providing the highest levels of care and research for the treatment of rheumatic disease. - Pediatric Rheumatology
Providing complex and comprehensive diagnostic services for children with rheumatic diseases and related conditions. - Endocrinology / Metabolic Bone
The study and treatment of abnormalities of the bone or conditions that affect bone health such as osteoporosis and Paget's disease. - Perioperative Medicine
Focusing on optimizing the health of patients who plan to undergo surgery and the subsequent care for those patients after surgery. - Infectious Diseases
At the forefront of disease prevention best practices and protocols, as well as research and vaccinations.
Rheumatology Centers of Excellence
Our Centers of Excellence are multidisciplinary and innovative programs, established by our expert faculty with the goal of improving the lives of patients with chronic musculoskeletal, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Through their development of patient-oriented initiatives in quality of care, research and education, the Centers of Excellence enrich the clinical services offered by the hospital. The academic programs of the Centers of Excellence integrate the research advances of our scientists with the high level of care for patients seen at HSS.
- Lupus and APS Center
The Center centralizes patient care and research with the goal of improving the quality of life for all lupus and Antiphospholipid Syndrome patients. - Inflammatory Arthritis Center (IAC)
Through exceptional clinical care, research, and education, the mission of the IAC is to build a better future for patients with iInflammatory arthritis. - Scleroderma, Vasculitis and Myositis (SVM) Center
Our hope is to not only to bring these diseases to light, but to also bring this community of patients together in their fight. - Integrative Rheumatology and Orthopedics Center (IROC)
Seeks to improve the lives of patients with rheumatic diseases undergoing orthopedic surgery through research and patient care optimization. - Barbara Volcker Center for Women and Rheumatic Diseases
Focusing on research and clinical work devoted to women with various rheumatic conditions.
Research
We are committed to state-of-the-art on-going research which will advance the care of patients with rheumatic disease, now and in the future.
Our Division of Rheumatology is a world leader in the clinical care of patients with some of the most complex of all medical diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, and vasculitis. The Division's researchers have made important contributions to development of novel therapies that are improving patient outcomes every day. Learn more about the HSS Research Institute and our active Clinical Trials and Studies or see our recent publications below.
Recent Publications from HSS Rheumatologists and Scientists
Vaccination In Rheumatic Disease
2022 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for Vaccinations in Patients With Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases. Anne R. Bass, Eliza Chakravarty, Elie A. Akl, Clifton O. Bingham, et al in Arthritis Care & Research | January 2023
"Find out how to manage your patients’ immunosuppressive medications at the time of vaccination, and lots more, in the new 2022 ACR Guideline for Vaccinations in Patients With Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases." — Anne R. Bass, MD
Lupus And Assisted Reproduction
Infertility in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: What Rheumatologists Need to Know in a New Age of Assisted Reproductive Technology. Bessie Stamm, Medha Barbhaiya, Caroline Siegel, Sarah Lieber, Michael Lockshin, Lisa Sammaritano in Lupus Science & Medicine | December 2022
"Review the latest on infertility risk for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus - and how to guide patients towards appropriate and safe use of the newest assisted reproductive technologies." — Lisa R. Sammaritano, MD
Covid-19 Vaccination And Rituximab
B-cell Reconstitution is Associated with COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Responsiveness in Previously Seronegative Rituximab Treated Patients. Kaitlin Schultz, Deanna Jannat-Khah, Robert Spiera in The Journal of Rheumatology | December 2022
"What factors are associated with COVID-19 booster vaccine responsiveness in rituximab treated rheumatic disease patients that failed to seroconvert following the first two doses of the vaccine?" — Kaitlin Schultz, BA
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Induced Arthritis And Pmr
Identification of Outcome Domains in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Inflammatory Arthritis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica: A Scoping Review by the OMERACT irAE Working Group. Nilasha Ghosh, Nina Couette, Wouter H. van Binsbergen, Sophia C. Weinmann, Bridget Jivanelli, Beverley Shea, Anne R. Bass et al in Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism | October 2022
"The Omeract irAE Working Group presents a compilation of important outcome domains in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Inflammatory Arthritis and PMR that will help inform a core set of domains for future clinical trials." — Nilasha Ghosh, MD, MS, RhUSMS
Evaluating Cognitive Biases In Clinical Reasoning In Medical Students
Using an Experiential Learning Model to Teach Clinical Reasoning Theory and Cognitive Bias: An Evaluation of a First-Year Medical Student Curriculum. Justin J. Choi, Jeanie Gribben, Myriam Lin, Erika L. Abramson, Juliet Aizer in Medical Education Online | December 2022
"Learn how we created valuable experiences for medical students to develop their knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy related to clinical reasoning." — Juliet Aizer, MD, MPH
Disparities In Total Joint Arthroplasty
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Total Joint Arthroplasty Care: A Contemporary Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Samuel S. Rudisill, Nathan H. Varady, Aseal Birir, Susan M. Goodman, Michael L. Parks, Troy B. Amen in The Journal of Arthroplasty | January 2023
"This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that there are significant racial and ethnic disparities in TJA utilizations and outcomes, with minority patients often demonstrating lower rates of utilizations and worse postoperative outcomes than white patients. Learn more with the link above." — Susan M. Goodman, MD
> Subscribe to our RheumLink monthly newsletter to keep up to date with the latest publications.
Adult and Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Programs
Training the future clinical and academic leaders in rheumatology
As a top ranked hospital for rheumatology, HSS is a center of excellence and a leading research institution for musculoskeletal and autoimmune disorders. Our fellowships are multi-institutional with Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and The Rockefeller University.
The Adult Rheumatology Fellowship Program at HSS
S. Louis Bridges, Jr., MD, PhD, Physician-in-Chief, Chair, Division of Rheumatology
Juliet Aizer, MD, MPH, Program Director
Karmela Kim Chan, MD, Associate Program Director
The Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Program at HSS
Karen Onel, MD, Chair, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology
Alexa Adams, MD, Program Director
Learn more about Rheumatology Fellowship Training or see the most current information about this year's programs:
For any questions, contact Flaisa Roberts, Program Coordinator 212.774.2189, robertsf@hss.edu.
Continuing Medical Education
Education of medical students and physicians-in-training is a high priority of the Division. Clinical care and academic activities are organized around Centers of Excellence that coordinate medical management, research, and professional and patient education relevant to a specific disease area or rheumatic diseases of children.
eAcademy
HSS eAcademy offers CME- and CEU-certified activities, as well as non-accredited offerings, online, at your convenience. More than 550 courses, recorded webinars, and surgical videos are all available 24/7, and many are free of charge. View our rheumatology education
Grand Rounds from HSS: Management of Complex Cases
HSS rheumatologists document and discuss some of their most complicated cases, from the initial visit and diagnosis to the treatment and all available information.
November 2022 | Volume 11, Issue 3 | Rheumatology Issue
November 2022 | Volume 11, Issue 3 | Rheumatology Issue
Expecting the Unexpected in Rheumatology
It is my honor to present our annual rheumatology issue, 4 cases that highlight the vital importance of curiosity when a patient’s clinical course does not fit neatly into a physician’s expectations. They also illustrate how often rheumatologic care is a team endeavor, requiring multidisciplinary expertise.
In Case 1 from Jheel Pandya, MD, and Sarah Faith Taber, MD, a 4-year-old presents with a diagnosis of anti-synthetase syndrome, only for the diagnosis to be revised when an observant clinician notices that the child’s mother has the same unusual rash.
In Case 2 from Caroline H. Siegel, MD, MS, and Lisa R. Sammaritano, MD, a woman with recurrent amaurosis fugax and antiphospholipid antibodies, and prior late pregnancy loss, carries a pregnancy to term with anticoagulation and a tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor.
In Case 3 from Jeong Min (April) Yu, MD, David Pisapia, MD, and Kyriakos A. Kirou, MD, DSc, FACP, a presumed diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis is upended when the patient does not respond to high doses of glucocorticoids.
Finally, in Case 4 from Robert Spandorfer, MD, a patient with longstanding myeloperoxidase-positive vasculitis with seemingly small and large vessel involvement presents with new acute kidney injury and a surprising finding on renal biopsy.
Cases in the Current Issue
- POIKTMP in a 4-Year-Old with a History of Anti-Synthetase Syndrome
- Recurrent Amaurosis Fugax in a Pregnant Patient with “Triple Positive” Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Prior Late Pregnancy Loss
- Intravascular Lymphoma of the Brain Masquerading as Neurosarcoidosis in a 63-Year-Old Man
- Overlapping ANCA-Associated Vasculitis and IgG4-Related Disease in a 65-Year-Old Man with Acute Renal Failure
Consultants
Andrew D. Schweitzer, MD
Associate Professor of Clinical Radiology
Weill Cornell Medicine
Yaxia Zhang, MD, PhD
Associate Attending Pathologist
Associate Professor of Pathology and Clinical Laboratory Medicine
Weill Cornell Medicine
> View all Grand Rounds issues here
Department of Medicine In the News
Contact Us
Learn more about the services offered at the Department of Medicine by calling 646.797.8698