Schroeder Arthritis Institute Newsletter December 2024

Sent on behalf of Dr. Mohit Kapoor and Dr. Robert Inman, Co-Directors of the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, UHN

SPECIAL FEATURES

The special features included in each newsletter highlight some of the outstanding individuals who have contributed immensely towards the success of each division of the Schroeder Arthritis Institute. Our October newsletter feature highlighted Rosa Tavares and Marsha Alvares. If you have missed this feature, please follow this link.

Kimberly Mak

 

Kimberly (Kim) Mak is a Project Coordinator at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute. She joined the Institute in early Spring this year, and has been supporting strategic projects within the Schroeder Arthritis Institute Quality Committee under the leadership of Silvi Groe, Clinical Director of the Institute. Kim has a dynamic role where she coordinates improvement initiatives on the inpatient Orthopedics unit and drives implementation of the Schroeder Arthritis Institute Quality Dashboard across the Division of Orthopedics, the Division of Rheumatology, the Hand Program and the Osteoporosis Program, to measure and evaluate quality and safe care delivery within the Institute. Being involved in diverse projects, Kim collaborates with multidisciplinary stakeholders and strives to bring different perspectives together to leverage and drive quality work forward at the Institute.

Over the last few months, Kim also had the opportunity to support Silvi with the expansion of Joy in Work to UHN Acute Care Programs and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-West Park Healthcare Centre. She coordinated a series of Joy in Work retreats that aims to foster a joyful and engaged environment for teamUHN. This project excites Kim as she believes that everything is interconnected, from patient care to ensuring that staff feel healthy, safe, and joyful.

Kim's motivation stems from her passion in healthcare innovation and human-centered design. "I find joy in bringing people together and co-creating patient-centric solutions. To me, it is important to understand what people need in order to do their best and to feel their best." In her work, Kim leads with empathy and strives to create a positive impact on patients and healthcare professionals.

When asked about her Mantra of Success, Kim said, "Do not shy away from failure, obstacles and challenges. Instead, be resilient and persevere. Have a growth mindset and setbacks are good learning opportunities. Just keep swimming and stay focused on your goals." Kim expressed that she is very grateful to work alongside the team at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute and is looking forward to achieve even greater accomplishments as we move into the new year.

A fun fact about Kim is that she really enjoys travelling and learning new cultures. She has always been curious and inquisitive, with a deep fascination for exploring the world and broadening her perspective on life. Some of the countries she has been to include Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Portugal and France. Kim has a passion for language and tries to learn a few words from local people in every country she visits. She is also a self-proclaimed foodie and is always eager to discover unique flavors from around the world.

On behalf of the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, we are thankful for Kim's outstanding contributions to the growth and success of the Institute.

Vaidehi Bhatt

 

Vaidehi Bhatt is a Project Coordinator for Patient Experience within the Division of Orthopedics at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute. She first joined the Institute in October 2023 and has been involved in numerous projects since then. Vaidehi is responsible for coordinating, leading and managing a variety of ongoing quality improvement projects within the division, working alongside Dr. Raj Rampersaud, Dr. Christopher Nielsen and the strategy team at the Institute.

Her work involves everything from planning and methodology development to overseeing data collection in clinics, consulting with surgeons, and securing approvals. Currently, Vaidehi is working on two exciting projects: one aims to expand spine education through educational videos for patients, while another focuses on the implementation of a communication tool to help align surgical expectations between patients and their surgeons. Reflecting on her role, she shares, "I enjoy working on these projects, collaborating with surgeons, and knowing that my efforts directly influence the advancement of patient care."

Vaidehi's biggest motivation stems from having the chance to make a positive and impactful difference in patient care. "I'm passionate about using project management to identify areas where we can enhance patient interactions, experiences and streamline processes. I'm excited by the potential to make a measurable difference through each project I coordinate, ultimately helping create a more compassionate and efficient patient experience."

When asked what her Mantra of Success is, Vaidehi expressed, "Approach everything with an opportunity to learn and adapt. Working at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, I have learned that small and large initiatives have the potential to improve the patient care journey, and this is a driving factor. I believe that success comes from staying open to feedback, learning from successes and setbacks, and constantly adapting to optimize processes involved in project execution."

Vaidehi is very creative and this shows within her work as she is always bringing new ideas and solutions to the table. She enjoys taking on challenges, she is determined to use each challenge as an opportunity for learning and growth and she approaches all situations with a can-do attitude which is reflected very well in her work. In everyday situations, Vaidehi is very thoughtful, understanding and supportive of others around her. She is also detail-oriented and considers the human side of every decision made, as she understands that small details can make a significant impact.

A fun fact about Vaidehi is that she enjoys diving into the world of visual arts. Creating something from scratch through water-colour, oil and acrylic painting, and sketching, helps her unwind and keep her mind creative.

Vaidehi is grateful for the chance to work with the multidisciplinary team at the Institute and appreciates the opportunity to contribute to projects that improve patient care.

On behalf of the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, we are thankful for Vaidehi's exceptional contributions to the growth and success of the Institute.

NEW APPOINTMENTS & PROMOTIONS

Specialist for Spatial Sequencing

 

Brandon Vaz recently joined as Specialist for Spatial Sequencing, where he will be supporting the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, Krembil Brain Institute and Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute with spatial sequencing projects. Brandon Vaz has over 10 years of hands-on experience working in RNA Biology, including 5 years of Industry experience where he led assay development efforts for Discovery programs in the Rare Disease space. Outside of work, Brandon is passionate about art — he attends figure drawing classes in the evenings and can be found at a random gallery on the weekends.

Administrative Assistant III

 

Sam Kalra recently joined the Schroeder Arthritis Institute as an Administrative Assistant III, supporting Silvi Groe, Clinical Director of the Schroeder Arthritis Institute. Sam brings over five years of expertise in healthcare administration and executive support, most recently employed as an Administrative Officer with the Government of Manitoba. In this role, he excelled in executive scheduling, payroll administration, and complex reporting, enhancing operational efficiency and supporting process improvements. Proficient in healthcare software systems like EPIC and Cerner PowerChart, Sam is also skilled in Microsoft Office Suite, leveraging these tools to manage projects and ensure compliance in dynamic healthcare environments. Outside of work, Sam is dedicated to continuous learning, currently focusing on new programming languages and certifications. He is also an active volunteer, contributing his time to Sikh cultural centers, where he supports community initiatives. Sam's commitment to growth and community involvement, combined with his administrative expertise, make him a valuable asset to UHN's Schroeder Arthritis Institute.

Research Clerk

 

Kaavya Dua recently joined the Schroeder Arthritis Institute as a Research Clerk, working under research on the ReAlign project. Kaavya graduated with a BSc. in Health Sciences (Honours) with specialization in Pre-Clinical Studies from the University of Waterloo. She currently works as a Research Clerk in the Orthopaedic Surgery Department at Toronto Western Hospital where she supports clinical research initiatives and ensures regulatory compliance. Kaavya has extensive experience in clinical research, including participant recruitment, data management, and applying laboratory techniques. She has contributed to various cardiology and orthopaedic clinical trials. Passionate about advancing healthcare, Kaavya combines her technical skills with a strong commitment to impactful research.

Project Coordinator

 

Hasmik Nazaryan recently joined the Schroeder Arthritis Institute as a Project Coordinator for the Rapid Access Clinic Low Back Pain Program. Hasmik graduated with a Bachelor's (Honours) degree in Health Sciences and a Master's degree in Global Health from McMaster University. What she enjoys most about her role at the Institute is the opportunity to collaborate with incredible people. Outside of work, she has recently been enjoying yin yoga as a relaxing after-work activity.

Clinician Investigator

 

Dr. Laura Whittall-Garcia was recently appointed as a Clinician Investigator within the Division of Rheumatology at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute and as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

Appointed to the Order of Canada

 

Dr. Dafna Gladman, Senior Scientist within the Division of Rheumatology at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, has been appointed as an Officer to the Order of Canada. Dr. Gladman has received this honour for her foundational contributions to the field of psoriatic arthritis.

Teaching Excellence Award - University of Toronto MD Program

 

Dr. Christopher Kim, Surgeon Scientist within the Division of Orthopedics at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, was recently awarded the Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Toronto MD Program, for showing excellence in undergraduate medical education.

GRANTS

Translational Bridge Award Grant - Lupus Research Alliance

 

Dr. Zahi Touma, Director of the Toronto Lupus Program within the Division of Rheumatology at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, recently received a Translational Bridge Award grant from the Lupus Research Alliance for his project title "Serum analytes differentiate between SLE patients with and without CI."

Grant - Ontario Research Fund in partner with CFI-JELF

 

Dr. Andy Wong, Scientist within the Osteoporosis Program at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, recently received a grant from the Ontario Research Fund in partner with CFI-JELF for his project titled "Sarcopenia and Musculoskeletal Interactions (SaMI) Collaborative Hub."

HONORARY PROFESSORSHIPS & LECTURES

Distinguished Speaker

 

Dr. Sindhu Johnson, Director of the Toronto Scleroderma Program and Clinician Scientist within the Division of Rheumatology at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, was a Distinguished Speaker at the 14th Advanced Academic Rheumatology Review Course in Dubai, United Emirates, in October 2024.

Invited Host

 

Dr. Sowmya Viswanathan, Scientist within the Division of Orthopedics at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, was invited to be a Host for the Workforce Development/ISCT Institute of Training and Development - ISCT North American Regional Virtual Town Hall on November 21, 2024.

TRAINEE/FELLOW SPOTLIGHT

Wils Nielsen

 

Wils Nielsen is a fourth year PhD student in the Lupus Program within the Division of Rheumatology at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, supervised by Dr. Zahi Touma. He first started joined the Institute for his Master's research, and has since then continued his research project into his PhD to get well established in the field of rheumatology. When he first heard about this opportunity to work with Dr. Zahi Touma, he was fascinated by the work environment at the Institute and realized that this would be a great project to work on as it exposed him to a variety of research opportunities. Wils is now working on developing a core outcome set for Lupus, that will help standardize the most important outcomes for clinics trials and for research. He works closely with patients by conducting focus groups, surveys and interviews to discuss the importance of research and gain their insights, opinions and to receive patient perspectives.

Also, Wils works with the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) group which consists of numerous members internationally as well as a lupus working group. He has been attending numerous conferences and meetings with his team and he continues to be fascinated by how his research is helping impact patient care. Wils was also recently awarded a PhD Salary Award from the Arthritis Society Canada for his project "Updating the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Core Outcome Set."

Wils's motivation to do this work stems from being able to work with patients and have an impact in advancing patient care in the field of Lupus, a complex heterogenous disease that has immense room for research advancement.

Looking towards the future, Wils is hoping to attend medical school after he completes his PhD. "I've always been a science student. My favourite subjects have always been math, physics, chemistry and biology. In my undergraduate program, medical classes really fascinated me and drove my interest to pursue a career in this field." He feels tremendous support from his colleagues at the Institute to pursue medical school and he hopes to continue working in both clinical and research areas.

A fun fact about Wils is that he was on the fencing team at Queen's University.

Wils is very grateful to have had this amazing journey at the Institute and to have gained excellent experience in this field. "My team is wonderful, very helpful and they are always supportive and there to provide guidance."

You can connect with Wils and follow his research updates on LinkedIn and X.

On behalf of the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, we are grateful that Wils is a part of our team and wish him all the success in his future.

Laura Saenz Mesen

 

Laura Saenz Mesen is a Clinical Fellow within the Hand Program at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, supervised by Dr. Heather Baltzer and working closely with the Hand Program team. Laura joined the Institute in July 2024, and has a background as an orthopedic surgeon with a specialization in paediatrics. She decided to pursue this fellowship to advance her knowledge in this field and gain more experience in both clinical and research sectors. Laura's role varies from helping staff in the operating room, conducting research to also working in a clinical setting with patients. In the clinical setting, Laura meets with a wide range of patients. She helps assess trauma patients before and after their surgery, she helps with neurological injuries and offers treatment in clinic or helps plan for the best care pathway for each patient. In the operating room, Laura does rotations with the staff and she also participates in research.

Laura's biggest motivation stems from having this great opportunity to advance her knowledge and research expertise and being able to take it back to her home country, Costa Rica, where she will be able to help her country advance in research and in the medical field. "The Institute's impact is not only local, but it is international, and I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to take part in the amazing research being done here."

Looking towards the future, Laura hopes to be able to bridge the gap between health care for children and for adults. "I'm specialized in pediatrics, and this fellowship will help me get more knowledge on the journey from youth to more senior patients." She is hopeful that her fellowship will give her the right experiences to continue having a positive impact in the medical and healthcare field.

A fun fact about Laura is that she has enjoyed reading from a very young age. Her favourite genre to read would be mystery books. Laura also loves spending time with her family and feels grateful to have family both in Canada and in Costa Rica.

Laura is very thankful to have this opportunity with the Institute. "The Schroeder Arthritis Institute is doing such an amazing job, not only here in Canada, but their impact is international. The impact of patient care, research and discoveries being done at the Institute is not small, it is very big, and I am so glad to be part of this Institute."

You can connect with Laura and follow her research updates on LinkedIn.

ARTHRITIS IN THE NEWS

Portraits of Giving: A Photo Series by Christopher Wahl

 

The Schroeder Arthritis Institute was mentioned by grateful patients in UHN Foundation's debut of Portraits of Giving, a photo essay by acclaimed Canadian portrait photographer Christopher Wahl. This celebrates the generosity of people from Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area who are transforming health care at University Health Network (UHN). Portraits of Giving serves as a thank you to all supporters who help make UHN the #1​ hospital in Canada.

Read more here.

View the portraits here.

Know Your Heroes - University Health Network Foundation

 

Dr. Raja Rampersaud, Director of the Osteoarthritis Research Program within the Division of Orthopedics and Spine Surgeon within the Division at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, was recognized through the Know Your Heroes program at the University Health Network Foundation.

Read more here.

Improving Early Autoimmune Diagnosis

 

Research led by Dr. Sindhu Johnson and a team at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute was highlighted by UHN Research in the article titled "Improving Early Autoimmune Diagnosis."

Read more here.

EDUCATION CORNER

Schroeder Arthritis Institute Education Committee Update

The SAI Education Committee continues to meet regularly to discuss all things education within SAI. There will be an exciting announcement in January 2025. Stay tuned!

De Gasperis Education Grant Recipients

 

 

 

We are very pleased to announce the most recent recipients of the De Gasperis Education Grant!

Congratulations to Dr. Katerina Oikonomopoulou, Research Education Lead at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, who will be launching another exciting and valuable set of Internship opportunities for Schroeder Arthritis Institute Trainees and Research Staff.

Congratulations to Dr. Kevin Zuo, Staff Surgeon within the Hand Program at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, for his grant to build a point of care ultrasound education program within the Hand Program at Schroeder Arthritis Institute.

We are looking forward to the implementation of these important endeavours, which will further advance educational excellence at Schroeder Arthritis Institute.

Schroeder Arthritis Institute Education Committee Contacts

If you have any questions regarding Education at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, please contact your division education lead (see listing below) or feel free to reach out to Dr. Lori Albert and Laura Passalent, SAI Education Leads.

• 9A Inpatient Orthopaedics: Halima Mohidin, Indira Gobin
• Fracture Clinic: Lucio Chiovitti, Jean Nisbet
• Hand Program: Barbara Jemec, Fiona Fitzpatrick
• Orthopaedics: Chris Nielsen, Andrew Courchene
• Osteoporosis: Miranda Boggild
• Research: Katerina Oikonomopoulou
• Rheumatology: Meg Himmel
• Spine: Marcia Correale

RECENT EVENTS & LECTURES

Research Trainee & Staff Career Development Seminar

The Schroeder Arthritis Institute organized a panel seminar as part of the Research Trainee and Staff Career Development Seminar series on November 5, 9-10:30 am. The seminar hosted world-leading mentors and trainees that participated in the Institute's "Internship Program 2023-2024: Beyond and Around Academia".

During this seminar, mentors and trainees had the opportunity to present their unique background and perspective of the internship experience. Through a moderated and an audience-guided discussion, the panel got the opportunity to answer questions and cover topics related to the specifics of career trajectories around academia, the advantages of gaining expertise outside of academia, and the outsourced skills one can leverage to grow as a scientist. Mentors also shared their words of wisdom to inspire trainees to think critically, creatively and in an innovative way, while maintaining a balanced career path.

We would like to extend our warm appreciation to our mentors Dr. Signe Holm Nielsen (Nordic Bioscience), Olivia Landon and Dr. Khosrow Adeli (Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences), and our trainees/staff Dr. Darshini Ganatra, Dr. Amit Sandhu, Dr. Behdad Ravarian and Selvin Leenus for sharing their valuable input.

 

Schroeder Arthritis Institute Investigators at the Krembil Science Jam

The Krembil Research Institute hosted its inaugural Krembil Science Jam: Spotlight on Discovery, a celebration of impactful science and innovation, on November 14th.

10 researchers and clinicians from the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, Krembil Brain Institute and Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute captivated an audience of donors, media, and stakeholders with dynamic, TED Talk-style presentations on their work.

Presenters from the Schroeder Arthritis Institute included Dr. Joan Wither, Senior Scientist within the Division of Rheumatology, Dr. Sowmya Viswanathan, Scientist within the Division of Orthopedics, and Dr. Nigil Haroon, Head of the Division of Rheumatology.

Learn more here.

Watch the full recorded event here.

 

Annual Ralph T. Manktelow Lectureship in Hand Surgery

The Schroeder Arthritis Institute Hand Program and University of Toronto Hand and Upper Limb Program hosted the Annual Ralph T. Manktelow Lectureship in Hand Surgery and Toronto Western Hospital Hand Therapy Day on November 22, 2024, at the BMO Education and Conference Center in Toronto.

This year's lectureship emphasized a holistic approach to hand surgery, integrating advanced imaging, innovative pain management techniques and cutting-edge nerve regeneration strategies. The event fostered collaboration and knowledge among hand surgeons, researchers, and healthcare professionals.

 

International Scientific Symposium on Psoriatic Disease

The International Scientific Symposium on Psoriatic Disease was a two-day education event held at the University Health Network (UHN) on December 5th and 6th 2024. This symposium was organized to also honour and commemorate the retirement of Dr. Dafna Gladman who has made significant scientific contributions and remained at the forefront psoriatic disease research throughout her remarkable career.

Organizers brought together international experts from around the world to present and share insights into genetic factors of psoriatic disease, innovations in patient management tools, therapeutic advancements, biomarker discovery, statistical methodology in complex studies and many more topics in an ambitious two day program. This event welcomed over 150 live attendees and was also broadcast virtually.

The program concentrated on addressing the challenges of early diagnosis and intervention in psoriatic disease around the globe, highlighting recommended best practices for psoriatic disease management and improving outcomes for patients living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. This event was an incredible success and united renowned experts together opening the door for future collaborations to target unmet needs in psoriatic disease.

 

Dr. Dafna Gladman Celebration Dinner

On Thursday December 5th 2024, a memorable gala event was held to celebrate the remarkable career of Dr. Dafna Gladman, a true legend in the field of rheumatology. The evening brought together colleagues, family, friends, patients, and donors for a special occasion filled with heartfelt speeches, shared memories, and a celebratory dinner honouring Dr.Gladman's groundbreaking contributions as both a physician and scientist.

The event highlighted Dr. Gladman's extraordinary accomplishments and her indelible impact on the global rheumatology community. Over her stellar career, she authored over 1,000 peer-reviewed publications, 143 book chapters, and five books, while mentoring over 90 clinical fellows and more than 100 students. Her research has earned her numerous prestigious accolades, including the University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine Dean's Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award, the Carol Nachman Prize, and the Distinguished Investigator Award from the American College of Rheumatology. Most notably, she was ranked 2nd in Canada and 88th globally on Research.com's list of Top Female Scientists in 2024.

A significant announcement during the gala was the establishment of the Dafna Gladman Chair in Psoriatic Arthritis at the University Health Network and the University of Toronto. In addition, the PsA program will now be known as the Gladman Krembil Psoriatic Arthritis Program, recognizing Dr.Gladman's transformative work and the enduring support of the Krembil Foundation.

Dr. Gladman's career has redefined rheumatology, advanced patient care, and inspired generations of clinicians and scientists. The evening served as a fitting tribute to a trailblazer whose legacy will continue to shape the future of medicine for years to come.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS & LECTURES

LUPUS 2025 - 16th International Congress on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

The 16th International Congress on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (LUPUS 2025), is happening from May 21st to May 24th, 2025, in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Zahi Touma, Director of the Lupus Program within the Division of Rheumatology at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, will be chairing this international event.

LUPUS 2025 will continue its tradition of exploring the latest developments in Lupus research, with a focus on personalized approaches to diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Themed "LUPUS 2025: Gateway to the Future", the congress will serve as a platform for researchers worldwide to collaborate, exchange ideas, and drive innovations in the field. Join us in shaping the future for Lupus research and improving outcomes for those affected by SLE. Your participation is vital in making LUPUS 2025 a success.

To learn more and stay up to date on the latest news about LUPUS 2025, please visit the website: lupus2025.kenes.com

We look forward to welcoming you in Toronto for this exciting event!

 

ARTHRITIS WEB SEMINAR SERIES - RECENT LECTURE

Arthritis Web Seminar Series - Lecture 71

 

The Schroeder Arthritis Institute hosted the 71st Arthritis Web Seminar Series Lecture on October 22, 2024. Our guest speaker, Dr. Huji Xu, Executive Associate Director at National Key Laboratory for Immunity & Inflammation, gave a seminar on "Allogenic universal CAR-T therapy in refractory autoimmune diseases."

Click here to watch the recorded seminar.

Arthritis Web Seminar Series - Lecture 72

 

The Schroeder Arthritis Institute hosted the 72nd Arthritis Web Seminar Series Lecture on November 26, 2024. Our guest speaker, Dr. Joel Boerckel, Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, gave a seminar on "Mechanobiology of skeletal development and repair."

Click here to watch the recorded seminar.

UPDATES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TO CURE ARTHRITIS

Campaign to Cure Arthritis

The Campaign to Cure Arthritis is a consortium of clinicians and scientist, grateful patients, volunteers and supporters that all work together with the UHN Foundation to improve the lives of people suffering from arthritis.

Excellence in care, education and research at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute has led to many partnerships with individuals and families who has joined the hub of arthritis innovation as philanthropic supporters. Philanthropic support is imperative to kick-start innovative research ideas and to bridge the funding gap between peer reviewed grants and the actual cost of accelerating discoveries that lead to transforming people's lives.

Schroeder Arthritis Institute Celebration hosted by Tony Fell and Bryce Douglas

On October 17, the dynamic duo of Tony Fell and Bryce Douglas, founding Co-Chairs of the Campaign to Cure Arthritis hosted a unique celebration of the Schroeder Arthritis Institute and discoveries made possible by philanthropy.

Even though the host wanted all staff to attend, space restrictions made it possible to include some clinicians, scientists, associates, administrators, allied health professionals and trainees representing the four divisions of the institute. Apart from staff, UHN leadership attended as well as some of our donors. The objective with the event was to celebrate the accomplishments of the first four years of the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, an opportunity for representatives from all four division to come together, and for UHN leadership and donors to hear about the many exciting discoveries and developments underway.

The guests enjoyed a wonderful dinner and an impactful story from patient Stafford Lawson about his journey with arthritis. Anette Larsson served as Master of Ceremonies with remarks by Kevin Smith, Walter Schroeder and other members of the Schroeder Arthritis Institute.

A new video for the Schroeder Arthritis Institute was presented at the event.

In addition to hosting the dinner, Tony Fell and Bryce Douglas made it possible to produce the video as well as full page ads in the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail and the National Post promoting the Schroeder Arthritis Institute.

 

The Gladman Krembil Psoriatic Arthritis Program

The Krembil Family has generously supported the Schroeder Arthritis Institute for more than 25 years. The Krembil Foundation is committed to enhancing our understanding of the immune system's impact on disease through fundamental research. They prioritize supporting basic science initiatives that explore the complex mechanisms behind psoriatic arthritis and other immune-related conditions. To date, the Krembil Foundation has supported psoriatic research at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute with more than $20M. In conjunction with Dr. Dafna Gladman's retirement and in recognition of their outstanding support, the program is now named the Gladman Krembil Psoriatic Arthritis Program. The naming was announced at the Celebration of Dafna Gladman on December 5th, with the whole Krembil Family present.

 

New Banner in the East Wing

The UHN Foundation has updated the banner to promote the Campaign to Cure Arthritis and the Schroeder Arthritis Institute.

 

Campaign to Cure Arthritis Staff Upda​te

 

 

 

April Kwak, Development Associate, who has been an integral part of the Campaign to ​Cure Arthritis team for 3.5 years, has received a promotion. She is now Development Officer for the Surgical Tower Campaign. We are grateful for all her work on the arthritis campaign and we look forward to continuing to work with her in arthritis fundraising with a Tower component.

On January 6th, Jena Wu will be joining Bob Hall and Anette Larsson in the role as Major Gifts Administrator. She comes with more than 20 years of administrative experience primarily in a healthcare setting. We look forward to introducing her to Schroeder Arthritis Institute staff.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Improvement in Surgical Outcome

Congratulations to our Schroeder Arthritis Institute's Division of Orthopaedics team along with UHN-Toronto Western Hospital (TWH) surgical programs at the Sprott Centre for Quality and Safety for earning Toronto Western the prestigious ACS NSQIP Meritorious Hospital designation for the second consecutive year! This remarkable achievement recognizes excellence in surgical care and was awarded to 77 of 609 member hospitals across North America. Through strong collaboration and dedication, Toronto Western Hospital's Surgical Program has led in numerous exemplary categories, excelling in key areas such as mortality, cardiac complications, and surgical site infections.

In particular the Division of Orthopaedics has consistently over the past 4 years performed in the ‘Expected' or ‘Exemplary' categories across Pneumonia, SSI, Morbidity, UTI, Unplanned Reoperation and Unplanned Readmission; and leads TWH surgical programs with exemplary SSI performance from 2020 to present.

Successes have also been acknowledged by Ontario Health and the Ontario Surgical Quality Improvement Network with the SQUIPPY award for demonstrating the greatest improvement in post-operative outcomes through a 64% reduction in SSI rates, 53% reduction in pneumonia rates, and 56% in UTI rates.

We would like to congratulate our Orthopaedic team and partners on their years of hard work to achieve these outstanding results! These awards highlight our team's exceptional commitment to providing the highest quality and safest care for our patients. Thank you for your remarkable dedication and effort!

 

SPOTLIGHT ON PiPER

Spotlight on PiPER: Advancing Patient Engagement in Research at UHN

 

RETIREMENT

Dr. Dafna Gladman Retirement

 

Dr. Dafna Gladman, a distinguished Senior Scientist at UHN's Schroeder Arthritis Institute, will retire from clinical duties on December 31, after almost 5 decades of exceptional service and groundbreaking research. Since joining UHN in 1995, Dr. Gladman has been instrumental in advancing the understanding and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

As the first Director (currently Co-Director) of the University of Toronto PsA Program, now called the Gladman-Krembil Psoriatic Arthritis Research Program and Toronto Lupus program at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, she has made significant contributions to research on disease prognosis, genetic markers, and outcome measures. Her achievements include founding the International Psoriasis and Arthritis Research Team (IPART), serving as Co-Principal Investigator and Treasurer of the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC), and founding member of international collaborations such as the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) and the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC).

Dr. Gladman's remarkable achievements have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Carol Nachman Prize for innovative research in inflammatory arthritis and the Distinguished Clinical Investigator Award from the Canadian Rheumatology Association and the American College of Rheumatology. With over 1,000 publications, her influence on rheumatology research is profound. She has been ranked 2nd in Canada in the 2024 ranking of Best Female Scientists by Research.com.

Although stepping down from clinical duties, Dr. Gladman will remain actively involved in research as Professor Emerita and will continue as Scientist Emerita with the Krembil Research Institute. We thank Dr. Gladman for her unparalleled dedication and contributions and wish her a fulfilling retirement brimming with continued discovery and mentorship.

NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS

Advances in the management of psoriatic arthritis in adults

Kharouf F, Gladman DD. BMJ. November 2024. Click here for publication.

An atypical nail lesion in a patient with psoriatic disease

Kharouf F, Billick K, Smith SM, Chandran V. Clin Rheumatol. November 2024. Click here for publication.

Bimekizumab provided rapid improvements in patient-reported symptoms and health-related quality of life in patients with active psoriatic arthritis: looked 16-week results from two phase 3 studies

Husni ME, Mease PJ, Merola JF, Tillett W, Goldammer N, Ink B, Coarse J, Lambert J, Taieb V, Gladman DD. RMD Open. September 2024. Click here for publication.

Candidate Biomarkers for Response to Treatment in Psoriatic Disease

Offenheim R, Cruz-Correa OF, Ganatra D, Gladman DD. J Rheumatol. December 2024. Click here for publication.

Cell and transcriptomic diversity of infrapatellar fat pad during knee osteoarthritis

Peters H, Potla P, Rockel JS, Tockovska T, Pastrello C, Jurisica I, Delos Santos K, Vohra S, Fine N, Lively S, Perry K, Looby N, Li SH, Chandran V, Hueniken K, Kaur P, Perruccio AV, Mahomed NN, Rampersaud R, Syed K, Gracey E, Krawetz R, Buechler MB, Gandhi R, Kapoor M. Ann Rheum Dis. October 2024.

Characterisation of myeloid cells in circulation and synovial fluid of patients with psoriatic arthritis

Fine N, Glogauer M, Chandran V, Oikonomopoulou K. RMD Open. October 2024. Click here for publication.

Chronic kidney disease in patients with psoriatic arthritis: a cohort study

Kharouf F, Gao S, Al-Matar S, Cook RJ, Chandran V, Gladman DD. RMD Open. November 2024. Click here for publication.

Comparative early effectiveness across 14 PsA drugs and 5 classes of PsA treatment: 3-month results from the PRO-SPIRIT study

Kristensen LE, Ng KJ, Ngantcha M, Morel J, Lubrano E, Tillett W, Alten R, Chandran V, Martinez Ferrer À, Zhu B, Kennedy D, Holzkämper T, Gullick N, Kronbergs A, Fakhouri W, de la Torre I, McGonagle DG. RMD Open. September 2024. Click here for publication.

Delphi-driven consensus definition for MSCs and clinical reporting guidelines for MSC-based therapeutics.

Renesme, L, Cobey, K, Lalu, M, Bubela, T, Chinnadurai, R, De Vos, J, Dunbar, R, Fergusson, D, Freund, D, Galipeau, J, Horwitz, E, Lê, M, Matthay, M, Moher, D, Nolta, J, Parker, G, Phinney, D. G, Rao, M, Rasko, J, Rocco, P, Rossi, F, Rosu-Myles, M, Viswanathan, S, Thébaud, B. Cytotherapy. October 2024. Click here for publication.

Early improvements with Guselkumab associate with sustained control of psoriatic arthritis: Post hoc analyses of two phase 3 trials

Curtis JR, Deodhar A, Soriano ER, Rampakakis E, Shawi M, Shiff NJ, Han C, Tillett W, Gladman DD. Rheumatol Ther. December 2024. Click here for publication.

Efficacy and safety of Tofacitinib in patients with psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis by cigarette smoking status

Ogdie A, Kristensen LE, Soriano ER, Akar S, Sun Y, Gruben D, Fallon L, Kinch CD, Gladman DD. Rheumatol Ther. December 2024. Click here for publication.

Evaluation of progression from preclinical to systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease: Novel use of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology/American College of Rheumatology Systemic Lupus Erythematosus classification criteria as an outcome measure

Johnson SR, Alahmari H, Bonilla D, Ahmad Z, Bookman A, Hiraki LT, Silverman E, Touma Z, Movahedi M, Wither JE. ACR Open Rheumatol. September 2024. Click here for publication.

Explainable biology for improved therapies in precision medicine

Jurisica I. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. December 2024. Click here for publication.

Guidelines for reporting systematic reviews of outcome measurement instruments (OMIs): PRISMA-COSMIN for OMIs 2024

Elsman EBM, Mokkink LB, Terwee CB, Beaton D, Gagnier JJ, Tricco AC, Baba A, Butcher NJ, Smith M, Hofstetter C, Lee Aiyegbusi O, Berardi A, Farmer J, Haywood KL, Krause KR, Markham S, Mayo-Wilson E, Mehdipour A, Ricketts J, Szatmari P, Touma Z, Moher D, Offringa M. J Clin Epidemiol. September 2024. Click here for publication.

How I do It: High flow EC-IC bypass for complex middle cerebral artery aneurysms using the lateral circumflex femoral artery as interposition graft

Greuter L, Baltzer H, Radovanovic I, Barazarte HA. Acta Neurochir (Wien). November 2024. Click here for publication.

How safe are COVID-19 Vaccines in individuals with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases? The SUCCEED Study.

Tsyruk O, Kaplan GG, Fortin PR, Hitchon CA, Chandran V, Larché MJ, Avina-Zubieta A, Boire G, Colmegna I, Lacaille D, Lalonde N, Proulx L, Richards DP, Boivin N, DeBow C, Kovalova-Wood L, Paleczny D, Wilhelm L, Lukusa L, Pereira D, Lee JL, Bernatsky S, On Behalf Of The Succeed Investigative Team. Vaccines (Basel). September 2024. Click here for publication.

Impact of baseline proteinuria level on long-term outcomes in lupus nephritis

Kharouf F, Li Q, Whittall Garcia LP, Gladman DD, Touma Z. Rheumatology (Oxford). October 2024. Click here for publication.

Intraoperative Detection of Screw Penetration Following Solar Plating of the Distal Radius: A Cadaveric Study Comparing Fluoroscopic Imaging and Ultrasound

Persitz J, Essa A, Shor R, Faye Matthies N, von Schroeder H, Chan A, Paul R. J Wrist Surg. November 2024. Click here for publication.

MatrixDB 2024: an increased coverage of extracellular matrix interactions, a new Network Explorer and a new web interface

Samarasinghe KW, Kotlyar M, Vallet SD, Hayes C, Naba A, Jurisica I, Lisacek F, Ricard-Blum S. MatrixDB 2024: an increased coverage of extracellular matrix interactions, a new Network Explorer and a new web interface. Nucleic Acids Res. November 2024. Click here for publication.

Molecular landscape of kidney allograft tissues data integration portal (NephroDIP): A curated database to improve integration of high-throughput kidney transplant datasets

Boshart A, Petrovic S, Abovsky M, Pastrello C, Farkona S, Manion K, Neupane S, Allen M, Jurisica I and Konvalinka A. Front. Immunol. September 2024. Click here for publication.

Molecular landscape of kidney allograft tissues data integration portal (NephroDIP): A curated database to improve integration of high-throughput kidney transplant datasets

Boshart A, Petrovic S, Abovsky M, Pastrello C, Farkona S, Manion K, Neupane S, Allen M, Jurisica I and Konvalinka A. Front. Immunol. September 2024. Click here for publication.

OMERACT systemic lupus erythematosus domain survey

Nielsen W, Strand V, Simon L, Pinsker E, Bonilla D, Morand E, Thumboo J, Aringer M, Mosca M, Bruce I, Parodis I, Kim A, Desai M, Enman Y, Shea B, Wallace DJ, Chaichian Y, Navarra S, Aranow C, Mackay M, Trotter K, Tayer-Shifman OE, Duarte-García A, Shan Tam L, Ugarte-Gil MF, Pons-Estel GJ, Reynolds JA, Nikpour M, Hoi A, Romero-Diaz J, Aggarwal A, Mok CC, Fujio K, Ramsey-Goldman R, Gladman DD, Arnaud L, Bultink IEM, Ruiz-Irastorza G, Inês LS, Appenzeller S, Dobrowolski C, Clarke AE, Kamen DL, Barraclough M, Tani C, Gómez-Puerta JA, Werth VP, Katz P, Nowrouzi-Kia B, Johnson SR, Drucker AM, Touma Z; OMERACT SLE Working Group. Semin Arthritis Rheum. October 2024. Click here for publication.

Patient-Reported Experiences of Musculoskeletal Virtual Carer Delivered by Advanced Practice Physiotherapists

Soever L, Courchene A, Correale M, Gotal T, Alvares M, May E, Veillette C, Rampersaud YR. . Physiotherapy Canada Journal. November 2024. Click here for publication.

Persistent patient-level effect of Guselkumab at consecutive 8-week dosing visits and over time in patients with active psoriatic arthritis: Post hoc analysis of a 2-year phase 3, randomized, controlled study

Mease PJ, Baraliakos X, Chandran V, Soriano ER, Nash P, Deodhar A, Rampakakis E, Shiff NJ, Chakravarty SD, Shawi M, Merola JF, McInnes IB. ACR Open Rheumatol. October 2024. Click here for publication.

Phytoglycogen nanolubricants with extended retention time in joints

Ma Y, Nouri S, Pham DA, Ziyaeyan A, Chen Z, Morozova S, Chekini M, Banquy X, Adibnia V, Viswanathan S, Kumacheva E. Advanced Functional Materials. October 2024. Click here for publication.

Primary headache in SLE-systematic review and meta-analysis

Feld J, Tayer-Shifman OE, Su J, Anderson M, Touma Z. Semin Arthritis Rheum. October 2024. Click here for publication.

Proximal and Classic Epithelioid Sarcomas are Distinct Molecular Entities Defined by MYC/GATA3 and SOX17/Endothelial Markers, Respectively

Sigalotti L, Frezza AM, Sbaraglia M, Del Savio E, Baldazzi D, Valenti B, Bellan E, De Benedictis I, Doni M, Gambarotti M, Vincenzi B, Brunello A, Baldi GG, Palmerini E, Pasquali S, Ciuffetti ME, Varano V, Cappello F, Appolloni V, Pastrello C, Jurisica I, Gronchi A, Stacchiotti S, Casali PG, Dei Tos AP, Maestro R. Mod Pathol. November 2024. Click here for publication.

Sportomics Analyses of the Exercise-Induced Impact on Amino Acid Metabolism and Acute-Phase Protein Kinetics in Female Olympic Athletes.

Muniz-Santos R, Bassini A, Falcão J, Prado E, Martin L 3rd, Chandran V, Jurisica I, Cameron LC. Nutrients. October 2024. Click here for publication.

The effect of alcohol consumption on clinical outcomes and structural damage in patients with axial Spondyloarthritis: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis

Gendron E, Maguire S, Anderson M, Johnson SR, Chandran V, Inman RD, Haroon N. Joint Bone Spine. January 2025. Click here for publication.

The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) celebrates its 20th anniversary

Gladman DD, Helliwell PS, Mease PJ. J Rheumatol. October 2024. Click here for publication.

The major vault protein integrates adhesion-driven signals to regulate collagen remodelling.

Coelho NM, Riahi P, Wang Y, Ali A, Norouzi M, Kotlyar M, Jurisica I, McCulloch CA. Cell Signal. December 2024. Click here for publication.

The use of a novel chimeric flexor carpi ulnaris and ulnar artery flap for elbow coverage

Shafarenko MS, Baltzer HL. Hand (N Y). October 2024. Click here for publication.

Treatment controversies in spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis: focus on biologics and targeted therapies

Kharouf F, Gladman DD. Expert Rev Clin Immunol. November 2024. Click here for publication.

Unfavorable outcomes associated with glucocorticoid use in current standard-of-care management of systemic lupus erythematosus in Canada.

Touma Z, Kayaniyil S, Parackal A, Bonilla D, Su J, Qian C, Miller SD, Johnston A, Gahn J, Hille ED, Ohsfeldt R, Chandran S. ACR Open Rheumatol. September 2024. Click here for publication.