Lupus Ontario Podcast

In Part 3 of The Caregiver’s Journey: Life Alongside Lupus, we hear a mother’s perspective on supporting a child living with lupus. She reflects on the challenges of navigating uncertainty and advocating for care. Through her experiences, she shares the emotional realities of caregiving, the lessons she has learned along the way, and the strength, hope, and resilience that have helped her family move forward together.

In Part 2 of The Caregiver’s Journey: Life Alongside Lupus, the focus turns to the caregivers themselves. A wife, daughter, and friend reflect on the emotional impact of caregiving, how lupus has shaped their relationships, and the importance of caring for their own well-being. They also share the sources of strength, resilience, and hope that have helped them along the way, offering encouragement and advice to others supporting a loved one with lupus. 

Behind every person living with lupus is a network of loved ones who provide support, encouragement, and care. In this candid conversation, a wife, daughter, and friend share their unique experiences of supporting someone living with lupus, reflecting on the challenges, lessons, and moments of hope they have encountered along the way. Together, they offer insight into the often-unseen impact of lupus on caregivers and the strength that comes from navigating the journey together.

In this episode, we discuss how artificial intelligence and precision medicine may shape the future of lupus care by supporting more personalized, patient-centred approaches. We explore how AI could help with day-to-day disease management, flare prediction, and treatment decisions, while also highlighting important limitations and considerations for patients.

Bio: Dr. May Choi is a rheumatologist and clinician scientist who started on faculty at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary in 2020. She is an early career investigator, and her research is focused on biomarker discovery and validation for prediction of clinical outcomes in autoimmune rheumatic diseases, and the prevention of autoimmune disease development and disease-related complications. Her background and training include a Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology at Harvard University and a lupus fellowship at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston, MA) under the supervision of Dr. Karen Costenbader (epidemiologist, lupus expert and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School). Dr. Choi is also the Associate Director of MitogenDx Laboratory for novel autoantibody and biomarker testing for autoimmune diseases and the Associate Director of Research for the University of Calgary Lupus Centre of Excellence, which complement her research.  She is funded by several career development awards including the Helios UCMG Post Fellowship Training Award, Dr. Subrata Ghosh Fellowship Award, and the Lupus Foundation of America Gary S. Gilkeson Career Development Award. She also received a Canadian Institutes of Health Research project grant in her first year as an early career investigator. 

Join us for an engaging webinar featuring a rheumatology Fellow as she reflects on her year as the inaugural recipient of the Honey Agar Fellowship for High-Risk Pregnancy in Rheumatic Diseases. She will share key learnings, clinical experiences, and insights gained from working at the intersection of rheumatology and high-risk pregnancy care, highlighting how this fellowship is advancing knowledge and patient outcomes.

Dr. Leigha Rowbottom is honoured to be the 2025 recipient of the Lupus Ontario–Honey Agar Fellowship for High-Risk Pregnancy in Rheumatic Diseases. She completed her subspecialty training in rheumatology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Rowbottom has a strong clinical and academic interest in the care of individuals with lupus and other autoimmune rheumatic diseases during pregnancy. Dr. Rowbottom brings with her a background in internal medicine from the University of Calgary, where she served as Chief Medical Resident, as well as a strong foundation in research, leadership, and medical education. Through this fellowship, she is advancing clinical care, building collaborative networks, and supporting future research to improve outcomes for women with lupus and their families.

What drives a patient organization like Lupus Ontario? The Heart of Lupus Ontario takes you behind the scenes to explore who we are, what we do, and why it matters. Discover how patient voices, advocacy, research, and community support come together to make a lasting impact on the lives of those living with lupus. Whether you're newly diagnosed, a long-time supporter, or simply curious — this podcast reveals the powerful role patient organizations play in shaping better futures.

In this episode, Jodie Nimigon-Young shares her personal journey with lupus, reflects on the 10th anniversary of her book Fabulupus, and discusses how Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) can support others living with lupus.

In this episode, we sit down with Jan Gillis as she shares her journey living with lupus. Jan opens up about the challenges she has faced, how she navigates daily life, and the activities that keep her motivated. She also offers valuable advice and practical tips for managing lupus and staying positive. Tune in for an inspiring conversation!

To learn more about Elizabeth’s work, upcoming projects, and her free starter kit, visit her website at www.revelinghealth.com.