From early arthritis treatment pathways to emerging digital health tools, the 2026 Congress of Clinical Rheumatology East conference spotlights the clinical and scientific advances shaping the future of rheumatology care. Joining us to outline those key themes and sessions is Dr. Louis Bessette, Professor of Medicine at Université Laval and the Director of the Centre for Osteoporosis and Rheumatology of Québec.

What can nearly two decades of real-world data teach us about optimizing care in early inflammatory arthritis? Find out with Dr. Louis Bessette as he reviews key findings from the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort (CATCH), a national, multicenter study of nearly 4,000 patients enrolled within weeks of symptom onset. Not only is Dr. Bessette a Professor of Medicine at Université Laval and the Director of the Centre for Osteoporosis and Rheumatology of Québec, but he also spoke about this topic at the 2026 Congress of Clinical Rheumatology East conference.

Acute and subacute cutaneous lupus each have recognizable skin presentations that can help guide diagnosis, especially when distinguishing them from similar conditions. Join Dr. Avery H. LaChance as she breaks down their key diagnostic features, common mimics, and important considerations for clinical evaluation. Dr. LaChance is Director of the Connective Tissue Disease Clinic, Director of the Advanced Psoriasis Therapeutics Clinic, Director of Health Policy and Advocacy, and Program Director of the Dermatology-Rheumatology Fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She’s also an Associate Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School, and she spoke on this topic at the 2026 Congress of Clinical Rheumatology East.

Food and nutrition insecurity in chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be difficult to detect, even when patients appear clinically stable. To help highlight this challenge, Dr. Jeanette Andrade presents a case from her research illustrating how social and financial stressors affected a dialysis patient’s dietary intake and food access. Dr. Andrade is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Master’s in Dietetic Internship Program at the University of Florida, and this patient case was part of her presentation at the 2026 National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meeting.

IgA nephropathy is often asymptomatic and frequently identified through incidental lab findings, making timely recognition challenging. Hear Dr. Abdallah Geara discuss key diagnostic strategies that may help optimize long-term care for this disease. Dr. Geara is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and the Clinical Director of the Glomerular Disease Program at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and he spoke at the 2026 National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meeting.

For decades, potassium restriction has been a cornerstone of dietary management in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but is it always necessary? Here to answer that exact question is Dr. Deborah Clegg. Since many patients may already be consuming potassium at restricted levels, she emphasizes the importance of individualized dietary assessment before imposing further limitations. Dr. Clegg is the Vice President for Research and a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso.

Not all potassium is created equal, especially in the context of chronic kidney disease (CKD). That’s why Dr. Deborah Clegg joins us to explore the key differences between potassium from whole foods and additives, emphasizing how bioavailability impacts serum potassium levels and hyperkalemia risk. She also examines how kidney function, comorbidities, medications, and metabolic factors all influence potassium tolerance. Not only is Dr. Clegg the Vice President for Research and a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, but she also spoke about this topic at the 2026 National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meeting.

Early diagnosis is critical in IgA nephropathy, as most patients present with established kidney damage by the time they are identified. Tune in to hear Dr. Abdallah Geara highlight the importance of timely recognition and how emerging therapies are transforming treatment and improving patient outcomes when implemented early.

Food and nutrition insecurity are increasingly recognized as critical factors affecting outcomes for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). That’s why Dr. Jeanette Andrade joins us to share practical screening strategies and emerging solutions, like dialysis center food pantries and digital health tools. Dr. Andrade is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Master’s in Dietetic Internship Program at the University of Florida, and she spoke about this topic at the 2026 National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meeting.

Cutaneous dermatomyositis has a distinct pattern of skin findings that, once recognized, can make diagnosis much more straightforward. Tune in to hear Dr. Avery H. LaChance walk through the key visual clues and exam tips that help bring this condition into focus. Dr. LaChance is Director of the Connective Tissue Disease Clinic, Director of the Advanced Psoriasis Therapeutics Clinic, Director of Health Policy and Advocacy, and Program Director of the Dermatology-Rheumatology Fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She’s also an Associate Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School, and she spoke on this topic at the 2026 Congress of Clinical Rheumatology East.