Continuity Clinic
These clinics allow rheumatology trainees to enhance their medical knowledge of the pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis and management of a wide breadth of rheumatologic conditions, from mechanical to basic and rare rheumatologic diseases. They enable trainees to become competent in the longitudinal care of rheumatologic patients and to recognize how to diagnose and manage disease flares, maintain disease remission, and actively monitor for common and serious side effects. A significant portion of clinic patients are those who were seen for inpatient consultations, many of whom were previously in the critical care unit. Albany Medical Center is a large tertiary care center with a large catchment area; referrals often come from providers as far as two hours away. Serious rheumatologic disease complications like corneal melt, pulmonary hypertension, interstitial lung disease, renal crisis or glomerulonephritis, cardiomyopathy, and cerebritis are among many that are co-managed with other specialists.
Inpatient Consultations
The rheumatology inpatient consultation services provide a vital educational experience in the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients who range from the moderately to critically ill. Rheumatology patients require comprehensive care provided by their physicians. These rounds, completed under the direct supervision of an attending rheumatologist, are intended to provide the basic exposure, clinical knowledge, set of exam skills, and professional attitude needed in the care of patients with rheumatologic diseases. Specifically, fellows will be expected to demonstrate competency in the evaluation and diagnosis of suspected autoimmune and soft tissue diseases. Emphasis is placed on sharpening physical exam acumen as well as building robust differential diagnoses. Fellows are encouraged to take an eventual leadership role in their interaction with other providers, with guidance from a rheumatology attending.
Scleroderma Clinic
The Scleroderma Foundation, headed by Dr. Lee Shapiro, has the largest scleroderma database in upstate New York and offers exceptional grounds for both research and clinical experience.
Research
Fellows are involved in basic science and translational research in collaboration with the Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease. An Introduction to Immunology course with PhD candidates is part of the first year of training. Research opportunities are available with rheumatology attendings, in collaboration with basic science immunology, and in collaboration with other specialties (historically nephrology, pulmonology and ophthalmology). Ample opportunities for case reports are available due to rare case presentation inpatients.
Simulation Center
In keeping with contemporary training standards, we offer education in musculoskeletal ultrasonography by certified faculty at Albany Medical Center. Additionally, in the Patient Safety and Clinical Competency Center, we have multiple models (including a large, life-sized interactive simulator, smaller models for injection purposes and cadavers) for detailed review in anatomy and training for physical exam enhancement and practice for procedures.
Conferences/Didactics
Scholarly activities are offered year-round, following the ACGME-guided curriculum requirements. They are presented in different formats, including journal clubs, seminars, grand rounds, morbidity-mortality and multi-disciplinary conferences (e.g. Vasculitis conferences with Pulmonology/Nephrology/Pathology; Interstitial Lung Disease conferences with Pulmonary/Pathology/Radiology), one-on-one sessions with Pathology for inpatient cases and other services. Fellows have an opportunity to teach daily and present conferences to faculty, residents, students, pharmacy residents and physician assistants. Extramural academic activities are encouraged and promoted. Fellows are encouraged to actively participate in activities and present their work at the New York State Rheumatology Society and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) meetings. National and international conference attendance is strongly encouraged. Our fellows have consistently participated in the ACR Knowledge Bowl and have won medals on numerous occasions.
Research Initiatives
2024
Arifa Javed, Lilit Grigoryan, Alex Luta, Sumbal Wajid, Lee Shapiro, Virgina Steen, Swati Mehta. Distribution of Proteinuria in Scleroderma Renal Crisis: A Multi-Center Study. ACR Convergence 2024, Washington, DC; November 14-19, 2024.
Jessica Farrell, Michael Allen, Lee Shapiro, Victoria Michaels, Arifa Javed, Nabiha Quresh6, Summia Matin Afridi, Shahad Almahmoud8, Getzabeth Bosques Gomez, Khoa Richard Ngo. Clinical Practice Patterns, Rilonacept Appropriate Use for Recurrent Pericarditis. ACR Convergence 2024, Washington, DC; November 14-19, 2024.
Javed A, Javed SA, Ostrov B, Qian J, Ngo K. Bing-Neel Syndrome: An Unknown GCA Mimicker. Case Rep Rheumatol. 2024 Aug 12;2024:2043012. doi: 10.1155/2024/2043012. PMID: 39161396; PMCID: PMC11333131.
Javed A. Bing Neel: An Unknown GCA Mimicker. Podium Presentation presented at: EULAR 2024, EULAR, Vienna, Austria; June 2024.
Javed, A, Shapiro, L., Steen, V., Domsic, R, Mehta, S. Descriptive Analysis of TMA- Scleroderma renal crisis in a Multi-Center Study. Poster presented at: Clinical Congress of Rheumatology 2024, Destin, Fl.; May 2024.
Qureshi, N, Ngo, K. Unveiling the Spectrum of a Rare Small Vessel Vasculitis in Common Rheumatologic diseases: A case series of HUVS. Poster presented at: New York State Rheumatology Society Poster Competition; NYC, NY; May 2024.
Dr. Arifa Javed presented at the NYSRS Thieves Market with her submission “More Than Meet the Eyes” and won a place among the final three (no first/second/third). She presented on a GCA mimicker, where Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia can infiltrate the temporal artery causing headaches and blindness.
Arifa Javed MBBS, Sumbal Wajid MBBS, Lee Shapiro MD, Virginia Steen MD, Robyn Therese Domsic-Degazio MD, Swati Mehta MBBS. Descriptive analysis of TMA Scleroderma renal crisis in a Multi-Center Study. Congress of Clinical Rheumatology; Destin, FL; March 2024.
2023
S. Afridi, A. Raja, M. Daniyal. A Survey on Fibromyalgia-Related Knowledge Among Internal Medicine Residents. ACR Convergence 2023, San Diego, CA. November 2023.
Maharjan, M. Abdullah, S. Afridi, A. Osman, A. Sammar, A. Raja. A Survey on Giant Cell Arteritis-Related Knowledge Among Internal Medicine Residents. ACR Convergence 2023, San Diego, CA. November 2023.
M. Faiz, A. Javed. L. Farrukh, N. Qureshi, S. Wajid, K. Ngo. Use of Anakinra in Rheumatoid-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease Fare Refractory to Tocilizumab and Steroids: A Case Report. CHEST, Volume 164, Issue 4, A3321 - A3322. October 2023.
Wajid, M. Faiz, L. Farrukh, L. Rosenberg, A. Javed, G. Singh. Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage: A Rare Manifestation of High-Output Heart Failure. L. Farrukh, L. Rosenberg, S. Wajid, M. Faiz, R. Peredo-Wende. “I Got It from My Mama”: Familial Case of Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis in a Caucasian Family. CHEST, Volume 164, Issue 4, A3364-A3365. October 2023.
Javed A., Rosenberg L., Ngo K., Michaels V., Sieburth R. GCA: A Mimicker to Reveal. Poster presented at: Congress of Clinical Rheumatology; Destin, FL; May 2023.
Tehzeeb J, Divilov V, Htoo A, Sajjadi F, Chopra A. A 21-Year-Old Hispanic Woman Presenting with Cutaneous and Pulmonary Nodules. Chest. 2023 Apr;163(4):e167-e171. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2022.10.035. PMID: 37031988.
2022
Mehta V, Peredo-Wende R. Association Between Vitamin D and Minor Salivary Gland Inflammation. Cureus. 2022 Dec 3;14(12):e32160. doi: 10.7759/cureus.32160. PMID: 36601215; PMCID: PMC9807185.
Felix M, Farrukh L, Modi S, Peredo-Wende R. Rapid Resolution of Post-COVID-19 Inflammatory Syndrome in an Adult With Targeted Inhibition of Interleukin-1B. Cureus. 2022 Nov 30;14(11):e32078. doi: 10.7759/cureus.32078. PMID: 36600829; PMCID: PMC9803587.
Faye Sajjadi, MD, Khoa Ngo, DO, Ruben Peredo, MD. mRNA vaccines: A Double Edged Sword. ACR Convergence, Philadelphia, PA; November 10-15, 2022.
Faye Sajjadi, MD, Khoa Ngo, DO. Tunnel Vision and the Great Masquerader. ACR Convergence, Philadelphia, PA; November 10-15, 2022.
Faye Sajjadi, MD. Double Edged Sword: Inflammatory Myopathy with Abundant Macrophages. Thieves Market at Congress of Clinical Rheumatology, San Diego, CA; October 20-23, 2022.