The field of rheumatology presents a unique challenge because of the thought processes involved in making decisions and diagnoses. During my fellowship training and as part of obtaining my master’s degree, I discovered a profound lack of high-quality research studies in pediatric uveitis. Now, I dedicate my research to improving the visual outcomes of children with chronic, noninfectious uveitis using interventions that decrease vision loss and blindness.
In the past, there were no valid measures of uveitis outcomes, which led to my development of the only questionnaire that assesses vision-related function and quality of life in children with the condition. The Effects of Youngsters’ Eyesight on QOL (EYE-Q) is now part of clinical outcome measurements used to characterize the impact of uveitis on children’s lives.
Through my research, I identify risk factors for uveitis development, specifically in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. I accomplish this by discovering biomarkers in tears and by using genetic associations.
I work to standardize the approach clinicians use to evaluate uveitis outcomes, including assessments of the impact of uveitis on quality of life and functioning. This information then helps improve treatment outcomes.
Throughout my career, I have received several grants from organizations like Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the National Institutes of Health, and other ophthalmology and rheumatology foundations. In my continuing work, I lead initiatives to improve screening, monitoring and treatment of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and uveitis.
MD: University of Santo Tomas.
Residency: University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Fellowship: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY.
MS in Clinical Investigation: Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis; juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis; chronic pediatric non-infectious uveitis
Rheumatology, Lupus
Uveitis; juvenile idiopathic arthritis; biomarkers; visual outcomes; quality of life
Rheumatology
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Implementation study of the CARRA Uveitis Consensus Treatment Plans: feasibility for clinical practice and applicability for research. Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal. 2024; 22:88.
Clinical outcomes in paediatric tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome (TINU). Eye. 2024; 38:3318-3324.
Interleukin (IL)-1/IL-6-Inhibitor-Associated Drug Reaction With Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DReSS) in Systemic Inflammatory Illnesses. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: in Practice. 2024; 12:2996-3013.e7.
Ultrawidefield Fluorescein Angiography and OCT Findings in Children and Young Adults with Autosomal Dominant Neovascular Inflammatory Vitreoretinopathy. Ophthalmology Retina. 2024; 8:1107-1112.
Comparative Effectiveness of a Second Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Versus a Non-Tumor Necrosis Factor Biologic in the Treatment of Patients With Polyarticular-Course Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Arthritis Care and Research. 2024; 76:1090-1098.
Therapeutic potential of JAK inhibitors in juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis. Expert Review of Clinical Immunology. 2023; 19:689-692.
New and Updated Recommendations for the Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-Associated Uveitis and Idiopathic Chronic Anterior Uveitis. Arthritis Care and Research. 2023; 75:975-982.
Screening, Monitoring, and Treating Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-associated Uveitis: Visualizing Better Outcomes. The Journal of rheumatology. 2023; 50:300-303.
Alternative Biologic Therapy in Children Failing Conventional TNFα Inhibitors for Refractory, Noninfectious, Chronic Anterior Uveitis. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2022; 244:183-195.
Relapse and Remission in Children With Chronic Noninfectious Uveitis Treated With Methotrexate. The Journal of rheumatology. 2022; 49:1289-1291.
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