Announcements & News

David T. Felson, MD – Arthritis Foundation 2020 Lee C. Howley, Sr. Award

By Anne M Plunkett November 12th, 2020 in Awards

Please join us in congratulating David Felson as the 2020 Arthritis Foundation Howley Award recipient.

This is the second time Dr. Felson has received this distinguished award (he was also a 2004 Howley Award winner); and is well deserved, as a testament to his immense contributions to the field and in particular to the OACS Forum series and conference, through tireless efforts and vast knowledge. This award rightly celebrates how Dr. Felson's service and advice have been invaluable and unfailingly generous across all levels of the organization.

There will be an award presentation during the Dec 8-10 OACS Conference.

Priyanka Ballal in Healio

By Anne M Plunkett November 9th, 2020 in Fellows News

Warfarin linked to greater hip, knee replacement risk

“Warfarin use was associated with a higher risk for hip and knee replacement compared to [direct oral anticoagulant] use,” Priyanka Ballal, MD, said at a virtual press conference. “This risk appeared to increase with duration of use. This latter observation is extremely relevant, since people with atrial fibrillation often require lifelong anticoagulation.” Source: Adobe Stock

Treatment with warfarin is associated with a significantly greater risk for hip or knee replacement compared with direct oral anticoagulants, according to a speaker at ACR Convergence.

“Over the last decade, we have research from our group at BU that has demonstrated the importance of vitamin K in the adequate functioning of the bone and cartilage,” Priyanka Ballal, MD, a rheumatology fellow at Boston University Medical Center, said at a virtual press conference at the meeting. “Vitamin K deficiency has been associated with osteoarthritis, both incidence and progression, and recent research shows that vitamin K supplementation may reduce osteoarthritis progression.”

Read the full article

Boston University Rheumatology Fellowship Rotation

By Sharon Mary Tomlinson November 2nd, 2020

Please reach out to rheum@bu.edu to request a rotation date. Be advised that a minimum of 3 months is required to complete the rotation paperwork and complete the assigned courses.

In your email to the coordinator:

    1. Confirm the date of your rotation.
    2. Do you have a Medical License for Massachusetts? Yes or No.
    3. Have you had a previous rotation with BMC within another training program? If so what is the program?
    4. Are you a US citizen or do you have a Visa? If you have a visa, what type?

    Having the answers to the above questions will help with a smooth application process.

    Work with the coordinator to complete the below paperwork.

    Here is the list of paperwork that needs to be filled out in advance of your rotation.

    Rotator Immunization Form (PDF)

    Requirements for All Rotators

    All rotators are required by the Massachusetts Medical Board to have a valid Massachusetts Medical License. If you do not have a Massachusetts License, you must apply for one on our website. The application can be found here. Download the appropriate application (Limited License) and mail all forms directly to the program you are proposing to rotate at BMC. Please note: license applications can take up to 8 weeks for Board approval once submitted, and will cost you $100.00.

    Boston Medical Center requires all rotators to submit:

    • A completed Application Form (DOC)
    • Reference letter from home PD
    • BMC Program Letter of Agreement signed by home institution
    • CORI Verification from home institution
    • Valid MA Medical License

    Limited License - submit copy of certificate
    OR
    Full License - submit copy of application, wallet card, Federal DEA and State Controlled Substance Certification

    • Malpractice Facesheet [minimum of $1 million/$3 million]
    • Immunization History Form (PDF)
    • Current CV
    • Signed IS Usage Agreement (PDF)
    • Completion of all assigned courses in Healthstream
    • If applicable, ECFMG Certificate, proof of US Work Authorization

    Priyanka Ballal, MD recipient of the Marshall J. Schiff, MD Memorial Fellow Research Award

    By Anne M Plunkett October 13th, 2020 in Fellows News

    Congratulations to Priyanka Ballal, MD as the recipient of the Marshall J. Schiff, MD Memorial Fellow Research Award!

    The purpose of the Marshall J. Schiff, MD, Memorial Fellow Research Award recognize outstanding scholarship in the field of rheumatology and provide fellows-in-training who are authors or co-authors of abstracts submitted to the ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting an opportunity to attend the meeting to present their abstract. The award is given by the American College of Rheumatology.

    Study: Why people with knee osteoarthritis experience different kinds of pain

    By Anne M Plunkett September 17th, 2020

    Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis worldwide, affecting more than 300 million people. It causes substantial pain, functional limitations, and disability in patients.

    "Our findings support the clinical relevance of neurobiological mechanisms that affect the pain experience in knee osteoarthritis, including not only the severity of pain, but whether the pain is intermittent or constant, and whether the pain is unpredictable," said senior author Tuhina Neogi, MD, Ph.D., professor of medicine and epidemiology at Boston University School of Medicine.

    Read the news article

    Read the published article

    The Association of Pain Sensitization and Conditioned Pain Modulation to Pain Patterns in Knee Osteoarthritis

    First published: 03 September 2020
    https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.24437

    Tuhina Neogi, MD, PhD, National Leader in Gout Management, on New ACR Guidelines

    By Anne M Plunkett September 14th, 2020

    Coauthor of the first guidance update since 2012 talks about new recommendations

    AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RHEUMATOLOGY Reading Room

    by Scott Harris
    Contributing Writer, MedPage Today
    MedPage Today and the American College of Rheumatology

    For the first time in eight years, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has updated its guidelines for the effective management of gout.

    Tuhina Neogi, MD, PhD, chief of rheumatology at Boston Medical Center, served as a coauthor of the 2020 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Management of Gout, which was simultaneously published in Arthritis & Rheumatology and Arthritis Care and Research. She recently spoke with MedPage Today about the document and its recommendations.

    Read the article

     

    In the News: Relation of Oral Bisphosphonates to Bone Marrow Lesion Volume among Women with Osteoarthritis

    By Anne M Plunkett August 7th, 2020

    In the News - Tuhina Neogi publication - Bone drug may be beneficial in the treatment of OA

    Ballal, P., et al. (2020) The Relation of Oral Bisphosphonates to Bone Marrow Lesion Volume among Women with Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage.

    "When we looked at those who had bone marrow lesions at baseline, we found that the women who started bisphosphonates had had more bone marrow lesions that decreased in size than the women who did not start bisphosphonates. These results suggest that bisphosphonates do not appear to be harmful, at least over one year, and perhaps may even help decrease bone marrow lesions in those that have them."

    Tuhina Neogi, MD, PhD, corresponding author, Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at Boston University Schools of Medicine and Public Health