ACR on Air Podcast
ACR on Air seeks to have informative conversations rheumatology professionals want to hear – ranging in topic from trends in clinical practice, to issues affecting rheumatology professionals, and the changing landscape of the rheumatology field. Tune in bi-weekly for new interviews and commentary that are sure to empower listeners to excel in their specialty.
Podcast Host
Our host, Jonathan Hausmann, MD, is a pediatric and adult rheumatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital. He is also an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. His research interests include autoinflammatory diseases, health technology, and medical education. Connect with Dr. Hausmann on Twitter (@hausmannMD).
Episodes
New episodes will be available twice a month on Tuesdays.
Episode 126 – 2026 ACR JIA Guidelines: What Clinicians Need to Know
Episode 125 – Cell Therapy in Rheumatology: CAR-T vs. Regulatory T Cells
Episode 124 – 50 Years of Pediatric Rheumatology: A Retrospective
Episode 123 – VEXAS Syndrome: What You Need to Know
Episode 122 – Support for Private Practice
Browse previous episodes in the ACR on Air archive.
Episode Show Notes
The 2026 ACR Guidelines for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) are here, and lead author Karen Brandt Onel, MD, joins us to unpack the key updates shaping pediatric rheumatology care. From a biologics-first approach in systemic JIA to more individualized treatment pathways for non-systemic disease, the new recommendations emphasize earlier intervention, faster treatment tailoring, and risk-based decision-making. Dr. Onel also discusses the guidelines’ broader focus on mental health, physical activity, rehabilitation, and the challenges of growing up with a chronic illness. More than an update to treatment algorithms, these guidelines reflect a fundamental shift in philosophy—one that puts the whole child, not just the diagnosis, at the center of care.
Karen Brandt Onel, MD – An expert in pediatric rheumatology, Karen Onel, MD, cares for children and teens with arthritis and other autoimmune disorders. In particular, she diagnoses and treats: lupus, juvenile arthritis, vasculitis, uveitis (an inflammatory disorder of the eye), chronic non-infectious osteomyelitis, dermatomyositis and the periodic fever syndromes. Her goal is to work with the patient and his/her family to create a long-term care plan that will lead to improved quality of life.
Dr. Onel's research focuses on gaining a greater understanding of the causes of rheumatic illnesses, as well as evaluating the safety and tolerability of new treatments. She is collaborating with other institutions to define evidence-based best treatment practices for children with JIA, SLE and recurrent non-infectious osteomyelitis.
Dr. Onel has authored numerous papers, reviews and book chapters on pediatric rheumatology. In addition, she serves as a reviewer for many scientific journals, is on the editorial board of Pediatric Rheumatology and is Associate Editor for Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism.
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In the future, can autoimmune disease become curable? A groundbreaking study from Germany suggests there may be a pathway in some cases. Patients with severe, treatment-refractory lupus who received CD19 CAR-T cell therapy have remained in drug-free remission for up to five years without ongoing immunosuppression. In this episode, we discuss how these findings are shifting the conversation from disease control to the possibility of cure, and what they could mean for lupus, inflammatory myopathies, systemic sclerosis, vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmune diseases more broadly. We also explore CAR-T therapy, immune resets, regulatory T cells, relapse risk, and the future of rheumatology with Georg A. Schett, MD.
Georg A. Schett, MD – Georg Schett, MD, is professor of Internal Medicine and since 2006 Head of the Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology – of the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany.
His scientific work focuses on creating a better understanding of the molecular basis of immune-inflammatory diseases with rapid translation into clinical practice. Initially, he investigated the immunology of atherosclerosis and focused on antibody-mediated endothelial cell damage. His research work led to the understanding of the phenomenon of LE-cells in 2007. He was awarded the renowned START Award in 2002 and founded a research group for arthritis in Vienna. Professor Schett is an ERC award winner and speaker of several DFG- and BMBF-funded joint projects. His work has been awarded numerous prizes, including the Carol-Nachman Prize. In March 2023, Professor Schett received the 2023 “Funding Prize in the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Programme” awarded by the DFG. He has published over 1,150 peer reviewed articles.
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Fifty years ago, pediatric rheumatic disease was often marked by disability, limited treatment options, and low expectations for long-term outcomes. In 1976, a small group of clinicians and scientists helped launch a new understanding of immune-mediated disease in children and laid the foundation for modern pediatric rheumatology. In this episode, we explore how the field evolved from managing chronic disability to expecting remission, transforming both treatment and quality of life for children. We also examine the scientific breakthroughs, models of care, and remaining challenges that continue to shape the future of pediatric rheumatology.
Ekemini Ogbu, MD, MSc – Ekemini Ogbu, MD, MSc, is a pediatric rheumatologist and physician-scientist. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatric Rheumatology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC)/University of Cincinnati. She is the Director of Neuroinflammatory Disease Services in Rheumatology at CCHMC and Co-Director of the Cincinnati Children's Lupus Center. She conducts clinical and translational research in childhood-onset systemic lupus. Dr. Ogbu is the chair of the American College of Rheumatology Committee on Pediatric Rheumatology.
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Today, we discuss a new guidance statement from the American College of Rheumatology aimed at bringing much-needed structure to the evaluation and management of patients with VEXAS. This episode breaks down key recommendations, including who should be tested, the best approaches to diagnostic evaluation, how to interpret bone marrow findings, and emerging strategies for treatment—offering clarity in a diagnosis that, until recently, was marked by uncertainty.
Arsene Mekinian, MD, PhD – Arsene Mekinian, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Immunology, Rheumatology, and Internal Medicine at Sorbonne University and a clinician in the Internal Medicine Department at Saint Antoine Hospital in Paris. He earned his medical degree from Paris Descartes University and a PhD in Immunology from Sorbonne University. His clinical expertise spans autoimmune diseases in pregnancy and fertility, including recurrent pregnancy loss and unexplained obstetrical complications, as well as rheumatologic and systemic autoimmune conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. He also has a strong focus on rare immunohematological disorders, including VEXAS syndrome and immune thrombocytopenia. His research centers on autoimmune systemic diseases, particularly systemic sclerosis and Takayasu arteritis, and he serves as president of the French MINHEMON and International VEXAS Groups within the CEREMAIAA network. With over 360 scientific publications and an active international presence, Dr. Mekinian is also the founder and president of Santé Armenie, an Armenian-French medical NGO dedicated to advancing healthcare access.
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Private rheumatology practice is contracting under multi-directional pressure: shrinking margins, escalating prior authorizations, tightening Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) and payer restrictions on drug access, and instability across core revenue streams. At the same time, demand is rising, wait times are surging, and workforce shortages are intensifying—driving clinician burnout and retention challenges.
This episode is about the American College of Rheumatology’s response, in expanding its leadership role in advocacy, health policy reform, and workforce development to help private practices move from survival to sustainable growth.
Nehad Soloman, MD, FACR – Nehad Soloman, MD, FACR, is one of the managing partners at Arizona Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates, P.C., and serves as the Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director of research. He has recently served on the ACR Board of Directors and has participated in a number of initiatives with ACR, including the Committee on Workforce and Training, CORC and CPC. He has gone to Washington, DC with the ACR to advocate on behalf of patients and physicians alike. He has also been past president of the Phoenix Rheumatology Association. He is a recipient of numerous academic accolades and is well published.
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