ACR on Air Podcast

In this episode, we're joined by Dana DiRenzo, MD, MHS, to explore groundbreaking developments in the treatment of Sjögren’s Disease. For the first time, therapies like BAFF blockade, CD40 ligand inhibitors, and FcRn antagonists appear poised to change the course of the disease—moving beyond symptom management to potential disease modification. We delve into the underlying science, current clinical trials, and tackle the big question: how early is early enough to begin treatment? Dr. DiRenzo also shares her expert perspective on holistic symptom management through what she calls the "4 Pillars of Health," offering practical strategies for improving quality of life for those living with Sjögren’s Disease.

Dana DiRenzo, MD, MHS – Dana DiRenzo, MD, MHS, is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Penn Sjögren's Center. She received her undergraduate medical degree from Temple University and completed residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Maryland. She then went on to complete a fellowship in Rheumatology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital with additional obtainment of a Masters of Health Science (MHS) in the Graduate Training Program in Clinical Investigation from The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

After fellowship, Dr. DiRenzo was on faculty at Johns Hopkins (2019–2021) and a member of their Sjögren's Center and subsequently joined faculty at the University of Pennsylvania in July 2021. Her research interests in Sjögren's Disease include health related quality of life (HRQoL) and she is on the steering committee for the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) for the Sjögren's Disease working group. She leads the Prospective Longitudinal Study to Understand Sjögren's (PLUS). She additionally has expertise in inflammatory arthritis and musculoskeletal ultrasound with a RhMSUS certification.

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!

Submit Show Feedback

In this episode, we take the leap from the structured world of rheumatology fellowship into the dynamic, often unpredictable landscape of private practice. J. Thomas Berry, DO, shares his personal journey, offering an honest and insightful look at the transition. From the practical differences between academic and private settings to the business learning curve, patient care dynamics, and how he stays clinically sharp, this conversation is a must-listen for fellows preparing to enter independent practice.

J. Thomas Berry, DO – J. Thomas Berry, DO, received his medical degree from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, ME. Dr. Berry completed his residency at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital where he was also Chief Resident. Dr. Berry completed his rheumatology fellowship at the University of Illinois in Chicago. He is in private practice at Arnold Arthritis and Rheumatology in Skokie, IL. His wife is also a physician, and they have a son.

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!

Submit Show Feedback

In this episode, we examine Behçet’s disease (BD) – a rare, multisystem inflammatory disorder that continues to challenge traditional frameworks of autoimmunity and vasculitis. Johannes Nowatzky, MD, joins us to discuss the disease’s hallmark features, including recurrent mucocutaneous ulcers and ocular involvement, as well as its geographic distribution and genetic associations. We explore the diagnostic difficulties posed by its heterogeneous presentation and symptom overlap with other conditions, and the rationale behind individualized, often multidisciplinary treatment strategies. This conversation offers valuable insights into a condition that remains as enigmatic as it is clinically significant.

Johannes Nowatzky, MD – Johannes Nowatzky, MD, is a rheumatologist physician-scientist, Associate Professor of Medicine and of Ophthalmology at Stanford University.

He received his MD at Freie Universität Berlin in Germany and then moved to Israel where he completed his internal medicine residency at Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem. This where he got exposed to large numbers of Behcet’s disease patients and acquired his clinical expertise in BD.

Dr. Nowatzky subsequently moved to the US to pursue rheumatology fellowship training at NYU where he ultimately became the director of the Behçet’s Disease Center and received national and international referrals for BD and BD-related problems. He won two R01 grants, including the first R01 primarily focused on Behçet’s in more than 35 years of NIH extramural funding history and set up an independent immunology research program.

At Stanford, he leads the Behçet’s Program – BD-PRO – a unique multidisciplinary diagnostic, treatment, and research effort completely dedicated to Behçet’s disease. He is also the director of the Human Ocular Autoimmunity Program (HOAP), which intersects with BD-PRO, the immunology community at Stanford, and his lab which is focused on the biology of BD, mechanisms of antigen presentation and HLA class I restriction as well as other aspects of human inflammatory diseases.

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!

Submit Show Feedback

In this episode, we deliver a critical update on the rapidly evolving legislative landscape impacting rheumatology. We explore the intense policy battles shaping the future of the field, including steep Medicare reimbursement cuts threatening the survival of many practices. We also examine the ongoing challenges posed by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and the growing uncertainty around research funding. Joining us is a special guest, Lennie Shewmaker McDaniel, JD, who brings a firsthand perspective from Capitol Hill, shedding light on what it truly takes to advocate for our patients and the profession in today’s complex policy environment.

Lennie Shewmaker McDaniel, JD – Lennie Shewmaker McDaniel, JD, is the Head of the ACR's DC Office and the Director, Congressional Affairs. Her political and public policy experience includes roles as legislative staff managing healthcare for a Member of the House majority leadership, representing a portfolio of healthcare organization clients for a private government relations firm, managing a PAC representing over 60 Members of Congress, and serving on the finance and policy teams of multiple political campaigns. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and holds a degrees in Political Science and Writing from Birmingham-Southern College and a Jurist Doctorate from the University of Georgia School of Law.

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!

Submit Show Feedback

In this episode, we examine the evaluation of pain in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis, with particular attention to spondyloarthritis and its clinical overlap with fibromyalgia. We explore why some patients continue to report persistent pain despite well-controlled inflammation, and the importance of distinguishing between active inflammatory disease and centralized pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia. Join us as we unpack the diagnostic nuances that can significantly impact patient care.

Liron Caplan, MD, PhD – Liron Caplan, MD, PhD, is a rheumatologist and health services researcher focused on understanding the impact of spondyloarthritis on patients’ lives and optimizing spondyloarthritis medical practice. He served as senior author or principal investigator for the original (2015), revised (2019), and ongoing (2025) American College of Rheumatology axial spondyloarthritis treatment guidelines. He is former Chair of the SPondyloArthritis Research and Treatment Network (SPARTAN)—the professional society to advance spondyloarthritis research and education in North America. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

His research aims to understand how therapeutic selection, adherence and delivery impact patient outcomes. He serves on the leadership of the Veteran Affairs Program to Understand the Longterm Outcomes in SpondyloARthritis (PULSAR) and is co-Director of the University of Colorado's Program to Advance Spondyloarthritis Treatment (C.U. PAST). He has performed patient-centered research for 20 years and has co-authored over 100 scientific manuscripts.

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!

Submit Show Feedback