Recent Graduates of the Fellowship:

Irene Orzano, MD (2004-2006) attended medical school at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. and completed her internal medicine residency in 2003 at Rhode Island Hospital. She finished the fellowship in June, 2006, and has joined a multi-specialty group practice in New Hampshire.

Lori Lieberman-Maran, MD (2004-2006) ) graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and MCP/Hahnemann School of Medicine. She completed a medical residency at Rhode Island Hospital before becoming a rheumatology fellow. She completed the rheumatology fellowship in August, 2006, and has joined a rheumatology practice in suburban Philadelphia.

Michele Costa, DO (2005-2007) is a graduate of Marymount College and University of North Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.  She has research experience in structural chemistry and has published an article on rheumatologic conditions of the foot.  While a fellow she researched and published cases of drug-induced lupus resulting from anti-TNF therapy.  Michelle has entered private practice in Falmouth, Massachusetts (on Cape Cod).

Current Fellows:

Shefali Majmudar, DO (2006-2008) trained at Winthrop hospital in Mineola, New York after graduating from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. Shefali is preparing a publication on new therapies for dermatomyositis. She enjoys interior design, photography and travel.

Imad Bitar, MD (2006-2008) began rheumatology fellowship after serving as Chief Medical Resident at the Roger Williams Medical Center.  He is a graduate of the Damascus University School of Medicine in Syria.  He has prepared a paper on Lyme arthritis for publication. His other interests include music, bicycling, and computer technology.

Larissa Sachs, MD (2007-2009)  trained in Internal Medicine in Harrisburg Pennsylvania.  She started the fellowship in September, 2007 so that she could spend sometime at home with her new baby, Ava.  She and her family are enjoying exploring Rhode Island.

Jill McClory, MD(Brown Fellow 2007-2009) was a medical resident at the Roger Williams Medical Center before working for one year in North Carolina.  She has returned to become the first fellow in the newly accredited Brown University Rheumatology Fellowship, and is enjoying reestablishing her old friendships in the Ocean State.

Research
The rheumatology faculty and fellows are involved in various ongoing clinical research projects.  It is expected that fellows will participate in at least one supervised project during their training which may be a clinical or laboratory based project.  It is expected that the results will be presented at a local or national meeting and prepared for publication.  Current areas of active investigation in the division include scleroderma, dermatomyositis, and gout.

Recent publications and presentations by the faculty and fellows include:

Articles in Journals:

1. Costa M.  Rizak T, Zimmermann B.  Rheumatologic conditions of the foot.  J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 94(2):177-186, 2004.
2. Lally EV. Genetic aspects of osteoarthritis.  Medicine & Health/Rhode Island. 87:210-212; July, 2004.
3. Lieberman L, Orzano I, Passero M, Lally EV.  Bronchiectasis in rheumatoid arthritis: report of four cases and a review of the literature - Implications for management with biologic response modifiers.  Semin Arthritis Rheum 2006;35:379-387.
4. Orzano IM, Lally EV.  Development of polymyalgia rheumatica in patients with scleroderma.  J Rheumatol 2006;33:1206-1207.
5. Canales BK, Leonard SM, Singh JA, Orzano IM, Zimmermann B, Monga M, Weiland D, Krug HE.  Spondyloarthropathy: An independent risk factor for kidney stones.  Journal of Endourology 2006;20:542-546. 
6. Khanna D, Furst DE, Hays RD, Lally EV, Clements PJ:  Minimally important difference in diffuse systemic sclerosis – results from the D-Penicillamine study.  Annals of Rheumatic Disease 2006;65:1325-1329.
7. Hall HA, Zimmermann B.  Evolution of dermatomyositis during therapy with a TNF-α inhibitor.   Arthritis Rheum (Arthritis Care and Research) 2006;55:982-984.
8. Gazi H, Pope JE, Clements P, Medsger TA, Martn RW, Merkel P, Kahaleh B, Wollheim F, Baron M, Csuka ME, Emery P, Belch JF, Hayat S, Lally EV, et al.  Outcome Measurements in scleroderma: results from a Delphi exercise.  Journal of Rheumatology 2007;34:501509.
9. Tajirian AL, Malik MK, Robinson-Bostom L, Lally EV.  Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis:  Clinics in Dermatology, 2006;24:486-492.
10. Costa MF, Said NR, Zimmermann B.  Drug-induced lupus due to anti-TNFα agents.  Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism (accepted for publication).

Book Chapters:

1. Lieberman-Maran L.  Fibromyalgia.  In: McGarry KA, Tong, IL eds. 5-Minute Consult Clinical Companion to Women’s Health.  Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007:122-123.  
2. Lieberman-Maran L. Rheumatoid Arthritis. In: McGarry, KA, Tong IL eds, 5-Minute Consult Clinical Companion to Women’s Health. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007:292-294.
3. Lieberman-Maran L. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. In: McGarry KA, Tong IL, eds.
   5-Minute Consult Clinical Companion to Women’s Health. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincottt Williams & Wilkins, 2007:316-318.
   

Abstracts Presented:

1. Hall HA, Lally EV, Kadmon D.  Prevalence of anti-citrulline antibodies and rheumatoid factor in systemic sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus.  Ann Rheum Dis 2005;64(suppl III):241.
2. Falanga V, Butmarc J, Yufit T, Cha J, Lally EV, Hall HA, Carson P.  Topical application of autologous bone marrow-derived cultured mesenchymal stem cells to scleroderma ulcers.  American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting.  November 13, 2006.  Washington, DC. Arthritis Rheum.  2006;54:5479(1138).
3. Costa M, Said N, Zimmermann B.  Anti-TNFα drug-induced lupus: report of three cases and review of the literature.  American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting.  November 13, 2006.  Washington, DC.  Arthritis Rheum 2006;54:4087(605)F85.
4. Bitar I, Majmudar S, Costa M, Zimmermann B.  A patient with a recessive mutation in the CAPN 3 gene presenting as dermatomyositis.  American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting.  November 13, 2006.  Washington, DC.  Arthritis Rheum 2006;54(12):4062(551)F31.
5. Majmudar S, Hall HA, Zimmermann B.  Treatment of refractory myositis with rituximab: An emerging therapy for refractory patients.  American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting.  November 9, 2007.  Boston, MA.