In this episode, we breakdown our reactions to the first round of RheumMadness 2025, plus we reveal which teams the participants liked the most in their brackets.

To learn more about RheumMadness:
https://sites.duke.edu/rheummadness/

Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://lists.duke.edu/sympa/subscribe/rheummadness

Find us on social media:
Bluesky: @rheummadness.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rheummadness/
X: Follow #RheumMadness

Reminder to Submit your brackets by March 31, 2025 at 11:59pm ET!

Link to the RheumMadness OnePager by Dr. Mithu Maheswaranathan (@MithuRheum)

To learn more about RheumMadness:
https://sites.duke.edu/rheummadness/

Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://lists.duke.edu/sympa/subscribe/rheummadness

Find us on social media:
Bluesky: @rheummadness.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rheummadness/
X: Follow #RheumMadness

In this episode, the RheumMadness leadership team discusses our approach to RheumMadness bracketology, including our favorites, dark horses, and read on the Blue Ribbon Panel.

Submit your brackets by March 31, 2025 at 11:59pm ET!

To learn more about RheumMadness:
https://sites.duke.edu/rheummadness/

Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://lists.duke.edu/sympa/subscribe/rheummadness

Find us on social media:
Bluesky: @rheummadness.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rheummadness/
X: Follow #RheumMadness


Intro/outro music: Cheery Monday by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday
License: http://creativecommons.or

In this episode, we introduce the rest of the Blue Ribbon Panel and interview our friends from NephMadness about their CAR-T region.

Remember, RheumMadness brackets are open through March 31 at 11:59pm ET!  Submit your brackets here.

First time playing RheumMadness? Check out our new explainer video!

Blue Ribbon Panelists in this episode:

• Anastasiya (Stacy) Bagrova, MD completed internal medicine residency at Duke, rheumatology fellowship at the University of South Florida, and is now a practicing rheumatologist in Clearwater, FL. Similar to her clinical practice, her clinical interests in rheumatology are broad.  Follow her on X at @asbagrova.
• Eric Dein, MD, is currently living in Jersey City, NJ – hometown of the March Madness great Cinderella St Peter’s Peacock team. He is currently practicing rheumatology at Atlantic Health System at Overlook Hospital in Summit and West Orange, NJ, after completing medical school, residency and fellowship at Johns Hopkins. He is a USSONAR alumnus who utilizes musculoskeletal ultrasound in diagnosis and management of rheumatic disease. He is currently serving as ACR committee member on the Annual Meeting Planning Committee and enjoys advocacy trips to DC with Advocates for Arthritis. He has been a reporter for RheumNow at rheumatology conferences for the past 5 years. Follow him on X at @ericdeinmd.
• Rebecca Grainger, MB ChB (Dstn), PhD, FRACP, is Professor of Medicine at the University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand. A University of Otago medical graduate, she undertook rheumatology training in Melbourne and her PhD examined inflammatory mechanisms in gout. Dr. Grainger’s clinical work focuses on assessment and management of inflammatory arthritis and her particular clinical interests include inflammatory arthritis, gout, and scleroderma. Dr. Grainger’s academic interests are wide but she aims to undertake research in clinical rheumatology, health professions education and technology.  Follow her on X @Drbeckyg and on Bluesky at @profbeckyg.bsky.social.
• Lakshmi Jayaram, MD, is a clinician educator and Assistant Professor in the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at Stanford University. Her academic interests are mainly in medical education, quality improvement, patient safety and social determinants of health. As a clinician, she is a general rheumatologist with special interests in myositis, gout, psoriatic arthritis, and vasculitis.
• Molly Leavitt, MD, MBA, is a first-year rheumatology fellow at the University of South Florida. Her interests include medical education and reproductive health for patients with rheumatic diseases.

To learn more about RheumMadness:
https://sites.duke.edu/rheummadness/

Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://lists.duke.edu/sympa/subscribe/rheummadness

Find us on social media:
Bluesky: @rheummadness.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rheummadness/
X: Follow #RheumMadness


Intro/outro music: Cheery Monday by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday
License: http://creativecommons.or

In this episode, we introduce 2 of our fantastic Blue Ribbon Panel members.  Their full bios are listed below.  You'll meet the rest of the panel in the next episode!

Also, RheumMadness brackets are open through March 31 at 11:59pm ET!  Submit your brackets here.

First time playing RheumMadness? Check out our new explainer video!

Panelists in this podcast:

Michele Meltzer, MD, MBE, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She attended Hahnemann Medical School and rheumatology fellowship at Temple University Hospital. In 2007, she completed a Master’s of Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Meltzer has been a ACR committee member of Rheumatologic Care and Ethics and Conflict of Interest committees. She serves as President and founding member of Rheumatology for All, a nonprofit whose mission is to increase access to rheumatology care in resource limited areas. She loves that RheumMadness makes learning about rheumatology fun and is accessible to students worldwide.

Lisa Traboco, MD, is a rheumatologist with a passion for digital health, social media, telemedicine, and medical education. She likes to integrate technology into clinical practice and training, as well as participate in systems implementation. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Health Informatics while working at St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City in the Philippines. She is also actively involved in APLAR & has been an exchange scholar to Japan and the ACR. Her interests include learning languages, watching K-dramas & visiting historical museums. Follow her on X at @rheumarhyme and Bluesky at @rheumarhyme.bsky.social.

To learn more about RheumMadness:
https://sites.duke.edu/rheummadness/

Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://lists.duke.edu/sympa/subscribe/rheummadness

Find us on social media:
Bluesky: @rheummadness.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rheummadness/
X: Follow #RheumMadness


Intro/outro music: Cheery Monday by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode we are joined by some amazing collaborators from the EMEUNET to talk about the STRAP trials.

Links to the B-Cell Breakaway Scouting Reports:

• Obinutuzumab in lupus nephritis, by the University of Michigan Adult Rheumatology Fellowship Program
• CD-19 CAR T-cell therapy, by the Vanderbilt University Adult Rheumatology Fellowship Program
• STRAP trial, by the Emerging EULAR Network (EMEUNET)

Links to theMednet.org Q&As about this region:

• In the treatment of lupus nephritis, which patients may benefit from the use of rituximab or other B-cell depleting agents during induction?
• What are the potential barriers to the widespread use of obinutuzumab in proliferative lupus nephritis?
• How do you envision incorporating CAR-T therapy into your clinical practice?
• Does synovial biopsy provide diagnostic value in undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis?
  
  

To learn more about RheumMadness:
https://sites.duke.edu/rheummadness/

Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://lists.duke.edu/sympa/subscribe/rheummadness

Find us on social media:
Bluesky: @rheummadness.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rheummadness/
X: Follow #RheumMadness


Intro/outro music: Cheery Monday by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode we discuss obinutuzumab for lupus nephritis and anti-CD19 CAR T Cell therapy for autoimmune rheumatic disease.   

Links to the B-Cell Breakaway Scouting Reports:

• Obinutuzumab in lupus nephritis, by the University of Michigan Adult Rheumatology Fellowship Program
• CD-19 CAR T-cell therapy, by the Vanderbilt University Adult Rheumatology Fellowship Program
• STRAP trial, by the Emerging EULAR Network (EMEUNET)

Links to theMednet.org Q&As about this region:

• In the treatment of lupus nephritis, which patients may benefit from the use of rituximab or other B-cell depleting agents during induction?
• What are the potential barriers to the widespread use of obinutuzumab in proliferative lupus nephritis?
• How do you envision incorporating CAR-T therapy into your clinical practice?
• Does synovial biopsy provide diagnostic value in undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis?
  
  

To learn more about RheumMadness:
https://sites.duke.edu/rheummadness/

Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://lists.duke.edu/sympa/subscribe/rheummadness

Find us on social media:
Bluesky: @rheummadness.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rheummadness/
X: Follow #RheumMadness


Intro/outro music: Cheery Monday by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode we present part 2 of our conversation about the teams in the Full Court Care Champions region of RheumMadness 2025!

Links to the Full Court Care Champions Scouting Reports:

• Cost-effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy screening, by residents from the Lankenau Medical Center Internal Medicine Residency Program
• Steroid dose in lupus nephritis, by the Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) Adult Rheumatology Fellowship Program
• SGCAPS prediction tool, by the Medical College of Wisconsin Adult Rheumatology Fellowship Program.

Links to theMednet.org Q&As about this region:

• How do you optimize retinopathy screening schedules for patients on hydroxychloroquine while also prioritizing cost-effectiveness?
• What steroid regimen do you typically use for induction therapy in patients with lupus nephritis?
• How do you make the decision to empirically treat for GCA when a patient is referred but cannot be immediately seen in clinic?
  
  

To learn more about RheumMadness:
https://sites.duke.edu/rheummadness/

Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://lists.duke.edu/sympa/subscribe/rheummadness

Find us on social media:
Bluesky: @rheummadness.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rheummadness/
X: Follow #RheumMadness


Intro/outro music: Cheery Monday by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode we dive into the teams in the Full Court Care Champions region of RheumMadness 2025!

Links to the Full Court Care Champions Scouting Reports:

• Cost-effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy screening, by residents from the Lankenau Medical Center Internal Medicine Residency Program
• Steroid dose in lupus nephritis, by the Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) Adult Rheumatology Fellowship Program
• SGCAPS prediction tool, by the Medical College of Wisconsin Adult Rheumatology Fellowship Program.

Links to theMednet.org Q&As about this region:

• How do you optimize retinopathy screening schedules for patients on hydroxychloroquine while also prioritizing cost-effectiveness?
• What steroid regimen do you typically use for induction therapy in patients with lupus nephritis?
• How do you make the decision to empirically treat for GCA when a patient is referred but cannot be immediately seen in clinic?
  
  

To learn more about RheumMadness:
https://sites.duke.edu/rheummadness/

Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://lists.duke.edu/sympa/subscribe/rheummadness

Find us on social media:
Bluesky: @rheummadness.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rheummadness/
X: Follow #RheumMadness


Intro/outro music: Cheery Monday by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This episode contains part 2 of our conversation with Michael Macklin, MD, PharmD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago, about the Cytokine Crushers region of RheumMadness 2025.

In this episode, we focus specifically on the TYK2 in SLE and Oral Anti-IL23 teams. 

Links to the Cytokine Crushers Scouting Reports:

• Oral anti-IL23, by collaborating Chicago area rheumatology fellowship programs (Loyola, Northwestern, and the University of Chicago)
• Long-term outcomes of anifrolumab in SLE, by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Adult Rheumatology Fellowship
• TYK2 inhibitor in SLE, by the University of North Carolina (UNC) Adult Rheumatology Fellowship

Links to theMednet.org Q&As about this region:

• What circumstances would drive you to consider using an oral IL-23 inhibitor over parenteral options for management of psoriasis/PsA?
• How will you utilize newly FDA approved anifrolumab for SLE in your practice?
• What is your experience with using oral deucravicitinib for conditions such as recalcitrant facial discoid lupus or recalcitrant lichen planus?

To learn more about RheumMadness:
https://sites.duke.edu/rheummadness/

Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://lists.duke.edu/sympa/subscribe/rheummadness

Find us on social media:
Bluesky: @rheummadness.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rheummadness/
X: Follow #RheumMadness


Intro/outro music: Cheery Monday by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/