Faculty
Carrie Beach, BSN, RN-BC
Carrie Beach currently resides in Ohio, where she works as a rheumatology nurse at Columbus Arthritis Center. She studied nursing at The Ohio State University College of Nursing and has been practicing rheumatology since 2003. Carrie was recognized by the Arthritis Foundation in 2015 as the Walk to Cure Arthritis Medical Honoree, and continues to work closely with the Arthritis Foundation to advance her passion in rheumatology education. She firmly believes in serving her patients and peer nurses as a leader of thought, subject matter expert, and coach in the application of best practices for patient and nursing education.
Disclosures: Mallinckrodt, Gilead
Heidi Butcher, MN, RNP, RN-BC
Heidi Butcher resides in Cypress, California, where she works as a nurse practitioner at Lestonnac Clinic. Heidi received a BSN from State University of New York at Binghamton, and Masters of Nursing at UCLA. Heidi has worked in med-surg, oncology, and later in critical care where she cared for a wide variety of patients, including trauma and cardiac surgery cases. For several years, she served as a preceptor for UCLA School of Nursing students within the Primary Care NP track, in her role as Associate Clinical Professor. In 2017, she recieved her board certification in Rheumatology Nursing. Heidi developed the Standardized Policy and Procedure for Local Joint Space Injections for all Southern California Kaiser Advanced Practice Clinicians. Heidi joined the RNS in 2017, and is currently serving as the SoCal RNS Chapter Vice President. Heidi is passionate about patient empowerment and enjoys collaborating with other health care professionals.
Disclosures: Nothing to disclose
John J. Cush, MD
John J. Cush, MD, is a professor of Internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Cush received his medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. He completed his rheumatology training at The University of Texas Health Science Center and Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. Dr. Cush’s areas of clinical research include diagnostics, disease management, and therapeutic treatment. His extensive research in the field of rheumatology is chronicled in over 140 journal articles. Dr. Cush has co-authored the medical texts, Rheumatology: Diagnosis and Therapeutics (2nd edition, 2005), and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Diagnosis and Treatment (4th edition, 2014). He has served on the Arthritis Advisory Committee for the Food and Drug Administration, held numerous leadership positions for the American College of Rheumatology, editorial positions for the Journal of Rheumatology, Seminars in Arthritis & Rheumatism and is past editor of the ACR’s Hotline and Drug Safety Quarterly. He is the executive editor of RheumNow.com – a news, information and education website dedicated to rheumatologists. Additionally he is coauthor and editor of RheumaKnowledgy.com – a free, online rheumatology text book.
Disclosures: Consultant: AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Horizon, Amgen, Lilly
Linda Grinnell-Merrick, MS, NP-BC
Linda Grinnell-Merrick currently resides in New York, where she works as the lead nurse practitioner in the Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She studied at the University of Rochester, has experience in surgery, dialysis, and solid organ transplant. Linda has been practicing rheumatology since 2012 where she found her true passion. She joined the board of the Rheumatology Nurses Society in 2013, as the Chapter Chair, and founded the first RNS chapter in Upstate New York. She was President of the RNS from 2017 to 2019 and is currently the Immediate Past President. She is passionate about educating nurses, advanced practice providers (APP’s), and all health care providers so patients can be provided with the highest quality care possible.
Disclosures: Speakers Bureau: Jannsen, Amgen, Novartis, Abbvie, Sanofi / Consultant: Jannsen, Novartis, AbbVie, Sanofi, UCB, Pfizer
Hal Hoffman, MD
Hal Hoffman is a board-certified allergist/immunologist and Chief of the Allergy, Immunology Division at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego and UC San Diego. He is currently a Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at UC San Diego. Dr. Hoffman has authored more than 90 original scientific publications, largely devoted to studying the NLRP3 inflammasome and innate immunity. He has participated in numerous national and international scientific boards, including serving as a member of the advisory board for the Arthritis National Research Foundation. He is also a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigators and the Society for Pediatric Research as well as a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Disclosures: Speakers Bureau and Consultant: Novartis
Carolyn Jones, Photographer and Filmmaker
Carolyn Jones is an award-winning photographer and filmmaker who specializes in telling stories that shed light on issues of global concern. From people “living positively” with AIDS, to women artists supporting entire communities, and nurses on the front lines of our healthcare system, Carolyn has devoted her career to celebrating invisible populations and breaking down barriers. Her most widely acclaimed book publications include Living Proof: Courage in the Face of AIDS and The American Nurse, which led to a feature documentary included in the U.S. State Department’s American Film Showcase. In the spring of 2018, her award-winning documentary Defining Hope, which was the culmination of a journey investigating how we can make better end-of-life choices, was broadcast over 1,000 times on PBS stations nationwide. Carolyn’s latest project, a documentary called In Case of Emergency, focuses on the important and unique role that nurses play in Emergency Departments across the country.
Disclosures: Other: Merck
Barbara Kienzle, BSN, RN
Barbara Kienzle currently resides in Augusta, Georgia, where she works as a pediatric rheumatology nurse clinician. She studied nursing at Iowa Wesleyan College, and has been practicing rheumatology since 2010. Barbara contributed to the Rheumatology Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 2nd Edition. Barbara served as the Medical Director of Camp Joint Venture, a summer camp for children with rheumatic conditions. She firmly believes in being the voice for her patients, and their families, to ensure they get the medications and services necessary to treat their disease, and cope with chronic illness. Her hope is to help bring the pediatric rheumatology nursing community together to be a strong united voice, raising awareness of the unique needs of the pediatric rheumatology population, especially to pharmaceutical companies and insurance carriers.
Disclosures: Advisory Board: Mallinckrodt
Tay Kopanos, DNP, FNP – BC, FAANP
Tay Kopanos is the Vice President of State Government Affairs for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) where she oversees the state advocacy program for AANP. Dr. Kopanos draws from two decades of clinical and policy experience to inform workforce and health care policy. Under her direction, AANP has successfully overseen the passage of hundreds of state laws in support of NPs and their patients.
Disclosures: Nothing to disclose
Kamrin Macki, NP-C
Kamrin Macki is a nurse practitioner with Altru Health Systems in Grand Forks, ND. She has specialized in both inpatient and outpatient Gastroenterology and Hepatology since 2001. Although her practice encompasses general gastroenterology, the majority of her independent practice is inflammatory bowel disease, liver failure/cirrhosis management, and chronic liver diseases. She is adjunct faculty at the University of North Dakota for the School of Medicine and gives GI guest lectures for the medical students and nurse practitioner students. In her clinic, there is always room for students. Rarely does a month go by without medical students, family practice residents, nurse practitioners or physician assistants completing Gastroenterology rotations with her. When she is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, running, racing triathlons, and organizing an annual Run For Your Buns colon cancer awareness race.
Disclosures: Nothing to disclose
Christopher Palma, MD, Sc.M
Christopher Palma is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology. As a rheumatologist, Dr. Palma specializes in treating autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, systemic vasculitis, and sarcoidosis. He trained in microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins before coming to the University of Rochester to complete his medical training. Dr. Palma’s clinical practice locations include Rochester, NY and Canandaigua, NY. Research interests include the interaction of infections and autoimmune disease, immunocompetence, vasculitis, sarcoidosis, and systemic lupus.
Disclosures: Nothing to disclose
Cathy Patty-Resk, MSN, RN-BC, CPNP-BC
Cathy Patty-Resk currently resides in Michigan, where she works as a nurse practitioner at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit. She studied nursing at Wayne State University and has been practicing rheumatology since 2009. Cathy is recognized as a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner, board-certified rheumatology nurse, President of the RNS, and an active member of the legislative advocacy team. She has served as the co-editor of, and a contributor to, the Core Curriculum for Rheumatology Nursing. Cathy currently serves as a founding executive board member of The Alliance for Transparent & Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP) and an advisory board member to The Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group (PRCSG). She enjoys teaching nurse practitioner students pediatric rheumatology, getting them actively involved in real legislative advocacy, and often continues serving as a mentor assisting with ongoing professional development and leadership.
Disclosures: Nothing to disclose
Monica Richey, NP
Monica Richey has been a nurse since 2002, and has spent 15 years specifically in the field of rheumatology. She received her training at Hospital for Special Surgery and is currently working for Northwell Health. She is passionate about patient education and has developed several different patient education programs including cardiovascular disease prevention, contraception, and preventive health. She is currently part of the steering committee for the Rheumatology Advance Practice Providers association.
Disclosures: Speakers Bureau: Mallinckrodt, GlaxoSmithKline
Christopher Ritchlin, MD, MPH
Christopher Ritchlin is a Professor of Medicine and Chief of Allergy, Immunology; Rheumatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York. He joined the faculty of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in 1991. In 2009, he earned an MPH degree at the University. Dr. Ritchlin is a member of the ACR Division Directors Special Committee and also directs the mentoring of junior investigators in the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA). Dr. Ritchlin has published over 160 manuscripts on topics related to psoriatic arthritis, lymphatic mechanisms of joint flare and bone remodeling.
Disclosures: Consultant: Amgen, AbbVie, Janssen, Regeneron, Novartis, Sun, Lilly, Pfizer, UCB / Other: Amgen, AbbVie, UCB
Jennifer Tinkler, FNP-C, DCNP
Jennifer Tinkler is board certified in dermatology and has been working in Dermatology since 2005. She has been a principle investigator for the CORRONA National Psoriasis Study. Jennifer specializes in psoriasis and is a member of the National Psoriasis Foundation. She lives in Northern Minnesota and works in multiple clinics throughout North Dakota. As a recent empty nester, she has new found spare time for a telemedicine business and manages a newly formed AirBnB business.
Disclosures: Speakers Bureau: Novarti, Castle Bioscience
Alvin Wells, MD, PhD
Alvin Wells is a practicing rheumatologist at the Aurora Rheumatology and Immunotherapy Center in Franklin, Wisconsin, where he serves as the Director. He is a Visiting Foreign Professor at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Dr. Wells also maintains his clinical affiliation with Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC where he is an Adjunct Assistant Professor. Prior to returning to private practice, Dr. Wells was an Associate Medical Director at Abbott Laboratories where he played a central role in the launch of HUMIRA. Dr. Wells received his MD from the University of South Florida, Tampa, and trained in Internal Medicine and in Rheumatology at Duke University, where he was a faculty member before joining Abbott. He received his PhD in Immunology from the University of South Carolina, where he developed an animal model for Reiter’s Syndrome. He was a recipient of the prestigious Fogarty Biomedical Research Award from the National Institutes of Health. Dr.Wells has over 25 years of research experience, focusing on chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, with an emphasis on connective tissue components, inflammatory mediators, and cytokines. He is the recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Teaching Award from the Medical College of Wisconsin and Ascension St Joseph Hospital.
Disclosures: Speakers Bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Lilly
Yusuf Yazici, MD
Yusuf Yazici is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the New York University School of Medicine. Dr. Yazici is also the Director of the Behçet Syndrome Center at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases. Dr. Yazici earned his medical degree from Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty of Istanbul University in Istanbul, Turkey. He completed his internship and residency at Creighton University in Nebraska and his fellowship in rheumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery of Weill Medical College of Cornell University. His areas of interest are Behçet syndrome, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), early arthritis, patient reported outcomes, database and registry management and monitoring of arthritis patients in regard to clinical response and adverse events related to treatment. He has published over 200 articles and presented at various national and international meetings over 150 times. He divides his time between seeing patients and conducting both industry and investigator initiated trials, in the areas of Behçet syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis.
Disclosures: Consultant: Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Sanofi, Celgene
Carolyn Zic, MSN, FNP-BC
Carolyn Zic currently resides in New Lenox, Illinois, where she works as a pediatric rheumatology nurse at Comer Children’s Hospital, at the University of Chicago Medicine. She studied nursing at Madonna University, and has been practicing pediatric rheumatology since 2011. In 2018, Carolyn was recognized as the Chicago area Arthritis Foundation Medical Honoree for her excellence and compassionate care to patients and their families. She firmly believes in patient advocacy and treasures the bond that she has created with her patients over the years.
Disclosures: Advisory Board: Mallinckrodt