In this episode of Around the Rheum, hosts Daniel Ennis and Janet Pope welcome Alison Clifford, a rheumatologist specializing in large-vessel vasculitis (LVV), particularly giant cell arteritis (GCA). Recorded live at the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA)'s 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in Calgary, the discussion delves into Dr. Clifford's research on LVV, the use of new radiotracers, and the complexities of diagnosing and managing LVV. The conversation also covers the challenges of distinguishing vasculitis from other conditions, the importance of inter-professional collaboration, and strategies for long-term monitoring and treatment of patients with LVV. The episode concludes on the need for more evidence in this challenging area of medicine! Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Dr. Alison Clifford is a rheumatologist and associate professor in the faculty of medicine at the University of Alberta. She has a research and clinical focus on Vasculitis, particularly giant cell arteritis. And she is an associate member of CanVasc.

If you have questions you would like answered or guest suggestions, please get in touch through the CRA social media accounts or by email: [email protected]. 

A special thank you to the podcast team, Dr. Dax G. Rumsey (CRA Communications Committee Chair), Dr. Daniel Ennis (Host), Dr. Janet Pope (Co-Host), David McGuffin (Producer, ExploreProductions.ca), and Erin Stewart (Marketing and Communications Director, CRA) for leading production. Our theme music was composed by Aaron Fontwell. For more on the work of the Canadian Rheumatology Association, visit www.rheum.ca 

In this special episode of Around the Rheum, recorded at the 2025 CRA Annual Scientific Meeting in Calgary, UBC rheumatology resident Dr. Alec Yu presents a complex medical mystery involving a 42-year-old woman experiencing progressive chest pain, shortness of breath, and myalgias. Listen as our very own Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (i.e. Janet and Dan) reason their way through the case, uncovering a series of diagnostic twists. This episode underscores the importance of thorough history-taking, avoiding diagnostic anchoring, and keeping an open mind throughout a challenging diagnostic journey. 

Dr. Alec Yu is currently a PGY-4 resident doing his Rheumatology subspecialty training at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. He has a particular interest in inner city health.

If you have questions you would like answered or guest suggestions, please get in touch through the CRA social media accounts or by email: [email protected]. 

A special thank you to the podcast team, Dr. Dax G. Rumsey (CRA Communications Committee Chair), Dr. Daniel Ennis (Host), Dr. Janet Pope (Co-Host), David McGuffin (Producer, ExploreProductions.ca), and Erin Stewart (Marketing and Communications Director, CRA) for leading production. Our theme music was composed by Aaron Fontwell. For more on the work of the Canadian Rheumatology Association, visit www.rheum.ca 

Welcome to our final CRA Annual Scientific Meeting wrap up episode of Around the Rheum.

On Day 3, the last of the ASM, hosts Dr. Dan Ennis and Dr. Janet Pope are joined again with the University of Calgary's Dr. Marinka Twilt, and the University of Alberta's Dr. Mo Osman to break down the highlights of a very busy third day.

Our panel agreed that the Keynote lecture by Dr. Daphna Gladman on psoriatic arthritis was one of the best moments of the day, as was the Distinguished Investigator address by Dr. Joan Wither.

Workshops that are discussed here included starting and stopping medication for children with arthritis.

Podium Presentations discussed include Dr. May Choi on studies comparing AI vs the work of very experienced technicians. And Dr. Timothy Kwok on discrepancies in remuneration across Canada and the impact that has on care.

Dr. Twilt is the ASM Program Committee Chair.

Dr. Osman is the Abstract Chair and co-chair of the ASM Planning Committee.

Thanks for listening to these special episodes from the ASM in Calgary. We hope to see you next year in Halifax.

Welcome to your CRA Annual Scientific Meeting Day 2 wrap up episode of Around the Rheum.

Hosts Dr. Dan Ennis and Dr. Janet Pope are joined again with the University of Calgary's Dr. Marinka Twilt, and the University of Alberta's Dr. Mo Osman to break down the highlights of a very busy second day.

Everyone agreed that a big highlight was the State-of-the-Art lecture on Cellular Therapies and A New Era in Treating Systemic Sclerosis by Dr Nancy Maltez.

And a number of workshops were singled out including one on demystifying autoantibodies, another on the MUSTs, SHOULDs and ASPIREs of the new Transition Clinical Practice Guidelines.

And also a workshop on knowledge, exchange and translation.

The panel also discussed talks on CNS Vasculitis and Rheum-Derm.

And another favorite was The Great Debate, "Be it Resolved that MSK Point of Care (POC) Ultrasound (US) Should be a mandatory Component of the Rheumatology Curricula”. 

Dr. Twilt is the ASM Program Committee Chair.

Dr. Osman is the Abstract Chair and co-chair of the ASM Planning Committee.

We'll be back again on Friday with Day 3 highlights.

Stay tuned and keep an eye on your Around the Rheum feed.

Around the Rheum has gone on the road to the CRA Annual Scientific Meeting in Calgary.

In this episode, hosts Dr. Dan Ennis and Dr. Janet Pope break down the highlights of the first day of the Annual Scientific meeting with the University of Calgary's Dr. Marinka Twilt, and the University of Alberta's Dr. Mo Osman.

Dr. Twilt is the ASM Program Committee Chair.

Dr. Osman is the Abstract Chair and co-chair of the ASM Planning Committee.

The Year in Review presentation gave an excellent run-through of the biggest papers and discoveries of the year with a focus on Pediatric Rheumatology, Basic (but complex) Science, and Clinical Science. A lot of Canadian research was highlighted including work in health equity, planetary science, and Artificial Intelligence.  

The team also discuss the keynote address which examined the benefits and potential pitfalls of Artificial Intelligence.  

There were some great Clinical Pearls and Medical Mysteries that were discussed as well.

We'll be bringing updates on day 2 and day 3 as well.

Stay tuned and keep an eye on your Around the Rheum feed.

Dans cet épisode d’Autour de la Rhumato, le médecin et animateur Hugues Allard-Chamard accueille la docteure Anne-Laure Chetaille pour une discussion sur les syndromes auto-inflammatoires.

Anne-Laure Chetaille est rhumatologue adulte et pédiatrique au CHUL de l'Université Laval à Québec et professeure de clinique agrégée. Ses recherches portent sur les maladies auto-inflammatoires et l'arthrite juvénile idiopathique.

Le Dr Hugues Allard-Chamard, diplômé en rhumatologie, a également obtenu son doctorat en pharmacologie à l’Université de Sherbrooke. Il est professeur-chercheur et clinicien à l’Université de Sherbrooke.

Societé Canadienne de Rhumatologie: rheum.ca

This summer, new recommendations were released for the management of patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis by the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) and the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC). In this episode, Dan and Janet are thrilled to welcome the lead author of the updated recommendations, for a fascinating discussion on what's in, what's out, and what is coming down the pipeline. Access to these "living guidelines" can be found at magicapp.org 

Dr. Sherry Rohekar is an associate professor in the division of rheumatology at Western University in London, ON. (In fact, her office is near Janet's!) She has a MSc. in clinical epidemiology and focuses her research on clinical outcomes in patients with spondyloarthritis. She is currently on the executive committee of SPARCC.

If you have questions you would like answered by the experts, please get in touch through the CRA Twitter account (@crascrrheum) or by email ([email protected]). For future Medical Mysteries episodes, please get in touch with us if you have challenging cases that you would like to present on the podcast!

A special thank you to the podcast team, Dr. Dax G. Rumsey (CRA Communications Committee Chair), Dr. Daniel Ennis (Host), Dr. Janet Pope (Co-Host), David McGuffin (Producer, Explore Podcast Productions), and Erin Stewart (Marketing and Communications Director, CRA) for leading production. Our theme music was composed by Aaron Fontwell. For more on the work of the Canadian Rheumatology Association, visit www.rheum.ca (http://www.rheum.ca/) or check out our X (Twitter) account - @CRASCRRheum

Dan and Janet are thrilled to welcome the University of Alberta's Dr. Mo Osman to 'Around the Rheum' for a fascinating conversation about scleroderma and chronic fatique. Dr. Osman is a clinician scientist who is interested in better understanding the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis. He also uses point-of-care vascular devices for risk stratifying patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs). His team was recognized as making one of the Top 10 research advances of 2023 by Arthritis Society Canada. They discovered intriguing similarities between systemic sclerosis and cancer and uncovered a new biological marker for scleroderma. 

Dr. Osman is an Associate Professor and Rheumatologist with a focus in Clinical Immunology. He is the Director of the Systemic Sclerosis and Microvascular Clinics at the University of Alberta.

If you have questions you would like answered by the experts, please get in touch through the CRA Twitter account (@crascrrheum) or by email ([email protected]). And for future Medical Mysteries episodes, please get in touch with us if you have challenging cases you want to present on the podcast!

A special thank you to the podcast team, Dr. Dax G. Rumsey (CRA Communications Committee Chair), Dr. Daniel Ennis (Host), Dr. Janet Pope (Co-Host), David McGuffin (Producer, Explore Podcast Productions), and Erin Stewart (Marketing and Communications Director, CRA) for leading production. Our theme music was composed by Aaron Fontwell. For more on the work of the Canadian Rheumatology Association, visit www.rheum.ca (http://www.rheum.ca/) or check out our X (Twitter) account - @CRASCRRheum

Thanks!

Welcome to part two of Dan and Janet's fascinating ANCA Vasculitis interview with Dr Arielle Mendel, centered around treatment with a focus on GPA and MPA. Definitely go and listen to Part 1 first, if you haven't already.

In this episode, they dig into the Advocate trial, as well as maintenance and duration of treatment.

Dr Mendel is a Scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. She is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University.

And a Rheumatologist at the MUHC. Her research focuses on patient safety in systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease with an aim to improve medication safety. And she was the first author on the CanVasc consensus recommendations for the management of ANCA vasculitis 2020 update. 

If you have questions you would like answered by the experts, please get in touch through the CRA Twitter-X account (@crascrrheum) or by email ([email protected]). And for future Medical Mysteries episodes, please get in touch if you have challenging cases you want to present on the podcast! A special thank you to the podcast team, Dr. Dax G. Rumsey (CRA Communications Committee Chair), Dr. Daniel Ennis (Host), Dr. Janet Pope (host), David McGuffin (Producer, Explore Podcast Productions), and Erin Stewart (Marketing and Communications Director, CRA) for leading production. Our theme music was composed by Aaron Fontwell. For more on the work of the Canadian Rheumatology Association, visit www.rheum.ca or check out our X (Twitter) account - @CRASCRRheum

Dr. Arielle Mendel is Dan and Janet's guest on this first of two episodes focused on ANCA Vasculitis. 

In this fascinating conversation, they focus on induction treatment, Cyclo vs Ritux, PLEX vs no PLEX, and a bit about steroid dosing. They reference several leading trials in the area.

Dr. Mendel is a scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. She is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University and a Rheumatologist at the MUHC. Her research focuses on patient safety in systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, with an aim to improve medication safety. She was the first author on the CanVasc consensus recommendations for the management of ANCA vasculitis 2020 update.

If you have questions you would like answered by the experts, please get in touch with us through the CRA Twitter account (@crascrrheum) or by e-mail ([email protected]). For future Medical Mysteries episodes, please contact us if you have challenging cases you want to present on the podcast!

A special thank you to the podcast team, Dr. Dax G. Rumsey (CRA Communications Committee Chair), Dr. Daniel Ennis (Host), Dr. Janet Pope (host), David McGuffin (Producer, Explore Podcast Productions), and Erin Stewart (Marketing and Communications Director, CRA) for leading production. Our theme music was composed by Aaron Fontwell.

For more on the work of the Canadian Rheumatology Association, visit www.rheum.ca or check out our X (Twitter) account - @CRASCRRheum.