ACR Journals On Air

Hosted by American College of Rheumatology

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Episodes

101

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Welcome to "ACR Journals on Air," the ACR's newest podcast series featuring interviews, commentary, and analysis on research from our three peer-reviewed journals. Join us each episode for engaging discussions with authors and independent experts about recently published studies, their implications for clinical care, and how they move the field of rheumatology forward. Whether it's an expert analysis of a manuscript or deep dive with an author – our goal is the same – to understand the impact of the science and bring it from the bench to the bedside

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60 recent

September 29, 2026Episode 10221 min

The Gut-Heart Axis in Systemic Sclerosis

What does the gut have to do with the heart in scleroderma? Quite a lot, as it turns out. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Zsuzsanna McMahan about new findings from the GENISOS cohort exploring the relationship between gastrointestinal and cardiac manifestations in systemic sclerosis, including the striking timing and strength of these associations and what they might reveal about shared disease mechanisms. Then we shift gears to the realities of academic medicine: Dr. McMahan shares lessons from moving from Johns Hopkins back to UT Houston, rebuilding clinical and research programs, forging new collaborations, and, perhaps most importantly, deciding what to say yes to and what to leave on the table The Gut–Heart Axis in Systemic Sclerosis: Evidence From a Large Prospective Early Disease Cohort

September 15, 2026Episode 9832 min

Measuring the Impact: MRI Response of SI Joints in Youth with Axial SpA

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Pamela Weiss, pediatric rheumatologist, epidemiologist, and physician-scientist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, about axial juvenile spondyloarthritis ( axJSpA ). Dr. Weiss discusses her study examining MRI findings in children and young adults receiving TNF inhibitors, including changes in sacroiliac joint inflammation, the relationship between imaging and patient-reported outcomes, and implications for clinical care and future research. She also shares her career journey, the mentors who shaped her path, and advice for the next generation of pediatric physician-scientists. Measuring the Impact: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Response of Sacroiliac Joints to Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors in Youth With Axial Disease

September 1, 2026Episode 9730 min

Risk Factors for Relapse in ANCA Vasculitis

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Ellen Romich about her post hoc analysis of the RITAZAREM trial, exploring factors associated with relapse in ANCA-associated vasculitis. She discusses the study design, key findings—including the roles of rituximab, azathioprine, CD19 positivity, ANCA status, and immune reconstitution—and the clinical implications and limitations of the work. Dr. Romich also shares her path into rheumatology, how she became involved in the analysis, and what questions she hopes to tackle next. Risk Factors for Relapse in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody–Associated Vasculitis Among Patients With Relapse After Induction of Remission With Rituximab

August 18, 2026Episode 9630 min

Significance of a Positive ANA in Patients Without Autoimmune Diseases

Dr. Vivian Kawai and Matthew Chung discuss their research on the clinical significance of high-titer antinuclear antibodies (ANA) using electronic medical record data and PheWAS analysis. They explore the study's design, key findings, clinical implications, and limitations, while also discussing how an undergraduate research experience evolved into a successful mentorship and publication. Clinical Conditions Associated With a High Antinuclear Antibody Titer in Individuals Without Autoimmune Disease

August 4, 202641 min

RA Inference in EHR

In this episode, we explore how artificial intelligence and machine learning are advancing the use of electronic health record data in rheumatology. Dr. Kat discusses the development and validation of a natural language processing–based model to infer rheumatoid arthritis disease activity from structured and unstructured clinical data, its application in studying cardiovascular outcomes, and the challenges of deploying predictive models across different health systems. The conversation also examines the future of real-world evidence generation, the practical limitations of AI in clinical research, and Dr. Kat's career journey, offering insights and advice for the next generation of physician-scientists.

July 21, 2026Episode 9433 min

Distilling Still Disease: Interstitial Lung Disease and Still

In this episode, Michael J. Ombrello, MD, explores how our understanding of Still's disease has evolved, from recognizing interstitial lung disease as a key manifestation to uncovering the immunologic and genetic factors that may shape disease severity. He discusses insights from a National Institutes of Health natural history study, including interferon signatures, HLA associations, drug-associated immunologic reactions, and exome sequencing, and explains what these findings could mean for future diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment. The conversation also turns to Dr. Ombrello's own career path, the personal experiences that inspire his research, and the mentors who helped shape his journey as a physician-scientist. Type I Interferon Signature is Associated With Lung Disease, Drug-Associated Immune Reactions, and Genetic Variation in Interferon-Linked Pathways in Still Disease

July 7, 2026Episode 9336 min

GLP-1 receptor agonists in the RISE registry

In this episode, Nicholas P. McCormic discusses new real-world research from the RISE registry examining the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. He explains the motivation behind the study, its design, and key findings on medication use, weight loss, and differences between semaglutide and tirzepatide, while highlighting important considerations for clinicians and patients. Nick also shares insights into the strengths and limitations of using registry data before reflecting on his journey from psychology and sociology to earning a Ph.D. focused on chronic disease management and rheumatology, offering advice for aspiring researchers and a look at his future work.

June 23, 2026Episode 9228 min

VAT: A Visualization and Analysis Tool for Scleroderma

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Ji Soo Kim about a new tool designed to help people with scleroderma better understand and manage their disease. Using information collected over many years from patients receiving routine care, Dr. Kim developed an interactive platform that turns complex medical data into easy-to-understand charts and predictions. We discuss how the tool can help patients and doctors track disease progression, compare experiences with similar patients, and make more informed treatment decisions together. Dr. Kim also shares insights into the challenges of working with real-world health data, the future of personalized medicine in rheumatology, and the career path that led to this innovative work. Development of a Personalized Visualization and Analysis Tool to Improve Clinical Care in Complex Multisystem Diseases With Application to Scleroderma

June 9, 2026Episode 9133 min

Late-Onset Scleroderma Renal Crisis

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Swati Mehta and Dr. Lee Schulman Shapiro about their study examining early- and late-onset scleroderma renal crisis using data from three patient cohorts. They discuss key clinical findings, including important differences related to sex, autoantibodies, presentation, dialysis outcomes, and long-term prognosis, as well as the implications for patient care. The conversation also explores the personal journeys of both guests—from Dr. Mehta's path from northern India to a career at the intersection of nephrology and rheumatology, to Dr. Shapiro's reflections on nearly five decades in clinical practice and life after retirement.

May 26, 2026Episode 9044 min

AI for Nonpharmacologic Management of Chronic Rheumatic Diseases

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Nirali Shah about the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare and rehabilitation. Drawing from her recent scoping review, Dr. Shah discusses the evidence behind AI-driven health apps for education, exercise, gait retraining, clinical decision support, remote patient monitoring, and pain management. The conversation also explores the challenges, risks, and ethical considerations surrounding AI in clinical care, as well as the future relationship between digital health tools and healthcare professionals.

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