Spondycast

Chuck Melendi, founder of Disruptive Dialogue, joins Spondycast to unpack the complex system behind prescription drug pricing and explain why medications can be so expensive for patients.

Adrine Avetyan, MA, LMFT, and founder of Scalp Sanctuary, a wellness space designed to promote relaxation and restoration, joins us to explore what self-care really means.

Janet Poole, PhD, OTR/L, an occupational therapist, shares practical strategies to help people with SpA adapt how they approach everyday tasks at home, work, and in leisure activities to reduce pain, stiffness, and fatigue while maintaining independence and quality of life.

Dr. Mark Hwang, MD joins us to discuss findings from his recent study on late-onset radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (AS), and how late-onset AS differs from early-onset disease in its presentation, radiographic findings, genetic markers, and treatment considerations.

Jana Bolduan Lomax, PsyD discusses psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy examined through a clinical and ethical lens.

Janet Poole, PhD, OTR/L, shares an occupational therapy perspective on fatigue and reframes energy conservation as a practical, empowering skill.

Dr. Dharini Mahendira, MD, FRCPC, MScCH, discusses what patients need to know when planning a family while managing SpA. From pre-conception planning and disease control to medication considerations and coordinated care during pregnancy, this conversation provides evidence-based guidance and reassurance to help patients feel informed, prepared, and supported in making decisions alongside their healthcare team.

Kristen Mengwasser, MD, PhD, physician-scientist and Assistant Adjunct Professor of Rheumatology at UCSF — and SAA’s 2025 Early Career Investigator Award winner — joins us to discuss her research on how the immune system triggers axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Susan Murphy, ScD, OTR, introduces the SAA-funded RENEW Study, a new University of Michigan research initiative focused on fatigue, energy management, and resilience in people living with spondyloarthritis.

Adam Seth Mayer, MD, Assistant Professor of Adult and Pediatric Rheumatology at Hackensack University Medical Center and the Center for Discovery and Innovation — and SAA’s 2025 Jane Bruckel Early Career Investigator Award winner — joins us to discuss his research on using existing abdominal and pelvic CT scans to help detect axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) earlier in people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).