Faculty

Biographical Info

I have specialized in studies related to systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) for over 30 years and have vast experience in directing The Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center dedicated to patient care, clinical and translational research and mentoring trainees and faculty. I am an author on over 180 peer-reviewed manuscripts. I have been co-Editor of Arthritis and Rheumatology. I was given the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Distinguished Clinician Scholar Award in 2009 and was recognized as a Master by the ACR in 2011. I am a co-editor of two textbooks entitled “Scleroderma: from Pathogenesis to Comprehensive Management” and “Raynaud’s phenomenon: a Guide to Pathogenesis and Treatment”.

I formally established The Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center provides excellent patient care to patients with Scleroderma, Raynaud’s phenomenon and related disorders. Currently, the Center has over 3,800 patients in a comprehensive prospectively collected database. This population is a rich resource for both clinical investigations and basic science projects. I provide my clinical expertise to support both clinical and basic science research projects. My previous investigations with my colleagues include:

1. the first USA report introducing the use of calcium channel blockers into the treatment of the use of Raynaud’s phenomenon;
2. completion of a major clinical trial investigating the role of intravenous prostacyclin in the treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon;
3. participation in multicenter controlled trials investigating the treatment of scleroderma and Raynaud’s phenomenon;
4. involvement in several studies investigating clinical and laboratory features and risk factors for the disease including the discover of cancer as a trigger for scleroderma; and
5. initiating the Genome Research in African American Scleroderma Patients (GRASP).