- Our focus in rheumatology
is basically to provide the best care
to patients with complex diseases
and with complicated problems.
- The patients are usually exhausted
and they are suffering
from their symptoms,
and there's no clear diagnosis,
so when they come to us,
we are able to find an exact diagnosis,
and we are able to find a
treatment regimen that helps them.
- We are providing what
we call multidisciplinary
specialty care.
So, if we have a patient that comes in
with a rheumatic disease,
that disease effects
several organ systems.
And so, what we're aspiring
to do is have patients come in
so that on a single day they
can see, not only rheumatology,
but any associated specialists.
- Since my arrival at Yale,
I've been coordinating
research with dermatologists
and pulmonologists and cardiologists.
We plan to be on the cutting edge
where we're not just doing clinical trials
of existing therapies,
but also identifying novel treatments
that can really propel the field forward.
- Rheumatology is a complex field
where it can effect any part of the body.
So, history is really the cornerstone
of making a diagnosis in rheumatology.
- And so, we aim to most closely define
the disease in that patient,
and to apply the most specific therapies
which will be effective
and with least toxicity.
- Rheumatology as a specialty
is becoming very scientific.
On the treatment side,
there's a lot of research
that is identifying new molecules
that can target the immune system.
- We're trying to find a way
into that black box of immunology,
and the techniques that
have come to us recently
are just a tremendous
advantage for profiling cells.
So, I like to make sure
that all of my colleagues
are using the most advanced technology
in support of their questions
that they're trying to answer.
- The, kind of, the industry
of science is changing in a way
where more and more people
are working together
to try to tackle big problems.
That's really nice to see.
And it really mirrors how patient care
is being done now, too,
which is this, kind of, team approach.
- Part of what we do here at Yale,
part of what I'm interested
in, is education,
which is why I do the program direction.
And so this way we can
teach the newer generations,
what are the signs,
symptoms, clinical clues
that should make you take the next step?
- We wanna provide the best training
for young physicians and
young rheumatologists
so as they step into practice,
they're in the best possible position
to address the growing problem
of rheumatologic disorders.
- Yale is full of people
with so much creativity.
I like to say that if you
walk up any hallway here,
you can find people passionate
about what they're doing.
- So, there's a rich
opportunity for interaction
between the primary
clinicians, researchers,
and translational physicians.
The fact that we're all on one campus,
and we're all working together, I believe,
toward the same effort,
I think makes this a
very unique environment.
