The Division of Rheumatology & Immunology has a long tradition of providing outstanding care to patients of all ages and from all walks of life who suffer from rheumatic diseases. This commitment to patient care extends to active engagement in research designed to understand the pathogenesis and to improve outcomes for patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Together with patient care and clinical research, a third mission of the Division is to train the next generation of physicians and investigators who will study and care for rheumatic disease patients. Patient visits continue to increase at each of the locations staffed by clinical faculty members. Nearly 2000 new patients were seen last year, together with more than 10,000 return patient visits. Patients are seen in specialized clinics located at Rutldege Tower, East Cooper Medical Office, North Area Specialty Clinic and West Ashley Bone & Joint Center. Patients are also seen at the Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital, the Medical University Hospital and the MUSC Children’s Hospital. A wide range of services is provided, including comprehensive consultative care, infusion therapies and bone density assessments. Our faculty is growing with the recruitment of two Pediatric Rheumatologists. We continue to strive to better serve patients of all ages and at locations accessible to a larger number of SC residents. The Division is strongly committed to provide high quality patient care which, in today’s world, demands a multidisciplinary approach. In addition to the multidisciplinary Bone & Joint Center, the Division is intensely involved in the Pulmonary Hypertension Center and is working with colleagues in the Division of Endocrinology and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery to develop an Osteoporosis Center.  The scope and volume of clinical and basic research continue to increase. Division research funding continues to grow (see Figure). During the past fiscal year our faculty successfully competed for over $5 million in research funding (total costs). Active NIH research awards include funding for a T32 training grant, 4 RO1’s, an R21, 3 K-awards for junior faculty, and subprojects on several multicenter projects. In addition, members of the Division receive funding from the American College of Rheumatology, Arthritis Foundation, Lupus Foundation, Scleroderma Foundation and Kirkland Foundation.
More than 30 articles were authored by Division faculty last year, including papers in leading medical and scientific journals, e.g. Science, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Arthritis & Rheumatism, and the Journal of Rheumatology. Faculty members serve on numerous federal and private scientific review committees, editorial boards, and as officers of state and national organizations. Dr. Jim Oates, Associate Professor of Medicine, was elected to President of the American Federation of Medical Research (AFMR) and Secretary/Treasurer of the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (SSCI) for the coming year. Dr. Diane Kamen was elected Secretary/Treasurer of the AFMA, Southern Section. Training the next generation of physicians and scientists is another important mission of the Division of Rheumatology & Immunology. All members of the Division actively participate in educating medical and graduate students, residents, clinical fellows and postdoctoral research fellows. Division faculty members are regularly nominated for departmental and institutional teaching awards. The Rheumatology Training Program, under the outstanding leadership of Dr. Marcy Bolster, Professor of Medicine, is fully accredited and comprised of 6 clinical and research fellows selected from an increasingly competitive pool of candidates. Fellows are supported in part by an NIH Training Grant (Professors Gary Gilkeson and Maria Trojanowska, PI’s), and a Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program offers fellows the opportunity to see a wide array of rheumatic disease patients in a variety of clinical settings, to participate in clinical and basic research, and to obtain advanced training leading to a Master’s Degree in Clinical Research. |
