Patricia Vega Fernandez, MD, MSc, RhMSUS

I am an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and a physician–scientist at Cincinnati Children’s. My research and clinical work focus on improving outcomes for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) through precision medicine approaches that integrate clinical assessment, imaging, and translational research.

During my pediatric rheumatology fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s, I developed a strong interest in the use of advanced imaging techniques to enhance clinical care and improve outcomes for children with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. I was among the first pediatric rheumatologists in North America to receive formal training in musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS), and my work has contributed to expanding the role of ultrasound in pediatric rheumatology. I co‑founded and currently co‑lead the Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) ultrasound subgroup, the only research‑driven pediatric rheumatology ultrasound network in North America. Through this collaboration, we developed a novel joint‑specific MSUS scanning and scoring system to improve the assessment of arthritis in children.

I serve as co‑director of the musculoskeletal ultrasound clinical service within the rheumatology division at Cincinnati Children’s. I am also involved in education and mentorship at the national and international level, serving as a mentor for the Ultrasound School of North American Rheumatologists (USSONAR) and as invited faculty for ultrasound courses at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting and other international meetings.

My current research focuses on developing imaging‑ and biologic‑based measures to support clinical decision‑making and improve outcomes for children with JIA. I am among the very few pediatric rheumatologists in the United States performing ultrasound‑guided synovial biopsy (US‑SB) in children, and I have developed and implemented these procedures as part of routine, ethically conducted translational research at Cincinnati Children’s. Our research is supported by funding from Cincinnati Children’s, the National Institutes of Health, and national rheumatology and arthritis foundations.

Through integrated clinical care and collaborative research, my goal is to improve the lives of children with autoimmune rheumatic diseases and to expand access to high‑quality pediatric rheumatology care locally and globally.