A photo of Jennifer Huggins.

Fellowship Program Director, Division of Rheumatology

Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

513-803-0649

Board Certified

My Biography & Research

Biography

Before I became a rheumatologist, I worked as a primary care pediatrician. I completed a fellowship in allergy, immunology and rheumatology because I wanted to focus more on immunology. I have a special interest in caring for patients with complex medical needs, which I’ve done throughout my career.

My patients benefit from my diverse training and experience in:

  • Adult rheumatology
  • Allergy/immunology
  • Internal medicine
  • Pediatrics
  • Pediatric rheumatology

I specialize in the care of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and vasculitis.

I enjoy problem-solving and I take pleasure in learning. I’m efficient, organized and logical — all skills that are valuable in the care of patients with complex medical conditions.

Vaccine administration for immunocompromised patients is an area of focus for me. I’m working with a Pfizer grant to ensure children with complex medical needs receive appropriate vaccinations. This project builds logically on my previous primary care experience, clinical work and commitment to improving vaccination protection for immunocompromised patients.

I am passionate about patient care and strive to be thorough in the care I provide. As the pediatric rheumatology fellowship program director for the Division of Rheumatology, I encourage that same passion and attention to detail in my students.

When I’m not seeing patients or working with fellows, I enjoy outdoor activities, especially tennis.

Academic Affiliation

Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Clinical Divisions

Rheumatology, Lupus

Research Divisions

Rheumatology

My Locations

My Education

MD: University of Kansas Medical School, Kansas City, KS.

Residency: Baylor College of Medicine, 1986.

Residency: University of Rochester School of Medicine, 1988.

Fellowship: Allergy/Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Rochester School of Medicine, 2005.

Fellowship: Pediatric Rheumatology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 2007.

My Publications

The use of S100 proteins testing in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and autoinflammatory diseases in a pediatric clinical setting: A retrospective analysis. Aljaberi, N; Tronconi, E; Schulert, G; Grom, AA; Lovell, DJ; Huggins, JL; Henrickson, M; Brunner, HI. Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal. 2020; 18.

Feasibility and acceptability of an innovative adherence intervention for young adults with childhood-onset systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Harry, O; Crosby, LE; Mara, C; Ting, TV; Huggins, JL; Modi, AC. Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal. 2020; 18.

Immunome perturbation is present in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis who are in remission and will relapse upon anti-TNFα withdrawal. Leong, JY; Chen, P; Yeo, JG; Ally, F; Chua, C; Hazirah, SN; Poh, SL; Pan, L; Lai, L; Lee, ES C; et al. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2019; 78:1712-1721.

Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-Associated Lung Disease: Characterization and Risk Factors. Schulert, GS; Yasin, S; Carey, B; Chalk, C; Do, T; Schapiro, AH; Husami, A; Watts, A; Brunner, HI; Huggins, J; et al. Arthritis and Rheumatology. 2019; 71:1943-1954.

American College of Rheumatology Provisional Criteria for Clinically Relevant Improvement in Children and Adolescents With Childhood-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Brunner, HI; Holland, MJ; Beresford, MW; Ardoin, SP; Appenzeller, S; Silva, CA; Flores, F; Aydin, PO A; Wenderfer, SE; Levy, DM; et al. Arthritis Care and Research. 2019; 71:579-590.

Self-management and adherence in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: what are we missing?. Harry, O; Crosby, LE; Smith, AW; Favier, L; Aljaberi, N; Ting, TV; Huggins, JL; Modi, AC. Lupus. 2019; 28:642-650.

Serum S100A8/A9 and S100A12 Levels in Children With Polyarticular Forms of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Relationship to Maintenance of Clinically Inactive Disease During Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy and Occurrence of Disease Flare After Discontinuation of Therapy. Hinze, CH; Foell, D; Johnson, AL; Spalding, SJ; Gottlieb, BS; Morris, PW; Kimura, Y; Onel, K; Li, SC; Grom, AA; et al. Arthritis and Rheumatology. 2019; 71:451-459.

Measuring Disease Damage and Its Severity in Childhood-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Holland, MJ; Beresford, MW; Feldman, BM; Huggins, J; Norambuena, X; Silva, CA; Susic, G; Sztajnbok, F; Uziel, Y; Appenzeller, S; et al. Arthritis Care and Research. 2018; 70:1621-1629.

Validation of the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index and pSkindex27 for use in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus. AlE'ed, A; Aydin, PO A; Al Mutairi, N; AlSaleem, A; Sonmez, HE; Henrickson, M; Huggins, JL; Ozen, S; Al-Mayouf, SM; Brunner, HI. Lupus Science and Medicine. 2018; 5:e000275-e000275.

Risk, Timing, and Predictors of Disease Flare After Discontinuation of Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy in Children With Polyarticular Forms of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis With Clinically Inactive Disease. Lovell, DJ; Johnson, AL; Huang, B; Gottlieb, BS; Morris, PW; Kimura, Y; Onel, K; Li, SC; Grom, AA; Taylor, J; et al. Arthritis and Rheumatology. 2018; 70:1508-1518.