Osteoarthritis of Hand near Yonkers, NY

Biography: Dr. Winchester has had a sustained interest in human autoimmunity. His earlier studies defined the molecular importance of rheumatoid factors, other autoantibodies and immune complexes in human disease. Moreover, Dr. Winchester was involved in the early identification and tissue expression of human MHC class II molecules. As importantly, his studies of the polymorphisms of MHC molecules have provided the basis of establishing the link between MHC genotype and susceptibility to autoimmunity. For example in the late 1980's Dr. Winchester and colleagues showed that susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis was determined by sequences in the b chain of MHC class II molecules. This observation led to the shared MHC 'epitope' hypothesis which provides a molecular basis for susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis associated with a region on the MHC molecule involved in both binding of the peptide and interacting with the TCR. This seminal discovery has emphasized the importance of the modern means of HLA typing which involves DNA sequencing of the MHC genes and the theoretical basis for the discovery of antigens that initiate autoimmune disease. In recent years Dr. Winchester has also focused on DNA and peptide sequence analysis of T cell receptor a and b chains in order to define the changes in the TCR repertoire associated with autoimmunity. Email: rjw8@cumc.columbia.edu

Biography: Dr. Bernstein's clinical and research interests focus on systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), as well as on the detection and treatment of interstitial lung disease and pulmonary hypertension in patients with autoimmune diseases. She is the Florence Irving Associate Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and an Associate Attending at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Bernstein is the founder and Director of the Columbia University/NewYork-Presbyterian Scleroderma Center. Dr. Bernstein graduated summa cum laude from Amherst College, and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society while a medical student at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She was the recipient of the American College of Rheumatology Distinguished Fellow Award and the Charles L. Christian Award for Excellence in Musculoskeletal Research while a rheumatology fellow at Hospital for Special Surgery. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to systemic sclerosis research, Dr. Bernstein received the Edith Busch Prize for Young Investigators at the 8th Systemic Sclerosis World Congress. Dr. Bernstein has received grants from the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, Arthritis Foundation, and Rheumatology Research Foundation to study lung disease in scleroderma. Her ongoing research projects focus on interstitial lung disease in scleroderma and on lung transplantation in patients with autoimmune diseases.

Biography: Dr. Blume has a consultative rheumatologic practice with a special interest in inflammatory rheumatic diseases, including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus), Rheumatoid Arthritis and Vasculitis. Throughout his career, Dr. Blume has received numerous professional accolades, including being recognized as a "Top Doctor" by Castle/Connolly and New Yorkmagazine, among others. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Blume is a Professor of Clinical Medicine at Columbia University where he has an integral role Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program. Dr. Blume is the Director of the Harkness Report, a long-standing Columbia tradition for junior and senior residents on outpatient rotations to present cases to a two-attending panel. Dr. Blume's reputation and dedication as a senior educator in the Department has led this conference to be coined as "Blume Rounds".