PRESENTERS

AMANDA ARJOON, DNP, CPNP-PC Johns Hopkins University

Amanda “Mandy” Arjoon is a pediatric nurse practitioner at Johns Hopkins University’s pediatric rheumatology department in Baltimore, MD. She graduated from University of Maryland with her Doctorate of Nursing Practice in May 2021. Along with two attendings, Mandy is currently working to rebuild and expand their department. Since starting in July 2021, their patient load has increased 400%.

Prior to her career as a nurse practitioner, Mandy obtained her BSN from Towson University, where she founded the University’s Student Nurses Association and grew it to the largest in the state of Maryland within a year. She served as the undergraduate commencement speaker for Towson’s College of Health Professions graduation and was inducted into the Iota Epsilon Chapter of Sigma

Theta Tau International.

Mandy spent her career as a registered nurse in the Johns Hopkins Pediatric Emergency Department, where she was a Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse trained in trauma, critical care, burn, and triage. She also briefly worked at the Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital to provide direct care to COVID-19 patients in the height of the pandemic.

Although she is still relatively new to pediatric rheumatology, she is very excited to speak to you all today about Pediatric Spondyloarthropathies.

ERIN M. BAUER, MD Virginia Mason Medical Center

Erin Bauer is a Rheumatologist practicing at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle and Federal Way. She is a graduate of the George Washington University Medical School and completed internal medicine residency at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles before a rheumatology fellowship at the University of California Los Angeles. In 2016 she left Los Angeles to join Virginia Mason. Areas of clinical and research interest include musculoskeletal ultrasound, inflammatory myopathies and infectious complications and prevention in autoimmune disease.

Cori Fratelli has a unique background in both basic science and clinical research, which has informed her interest in clinical medicine. Her past basic science research includes asthma, airway hyper-responsiveness, cystic fibrosis, and lung cancer. Her past clinical research includes COPD and interstitial lung disease (ILD). Presently, she is interested in how research translates into personalized medicine. Her clinical focus is mainly ILD, but she also sees general pulmonary patients as well.

JACQUELINE M. FRITZ RN, MSN, RN-BC

Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center

Jacqueline M. Fritz, is an advanced practice nurse and infusion specialist for Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center in La Palma, CA, where she has been since 2002. Her patient care consists of assessments and treatment, infusions, injection care and prescription processing. She is the owner and coordinator of education at Medical Advancement Center, focusing on RN/BSN programs emphasizing clinical expertise at the bedside, as well as acts as a Critical Care Clinical Nurse Consultant at many facilities throughout Orange County, California.

ELIZABETH KIRCHNER, DNP

Cleveland Clinic

Elizabeth “Betsy” Kirchner is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She earned her undergraduate degree in English Literature and Medieval Studies from Ohio Wesleyan University, her Master of Science in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from The Ohio State University.

Dr. Kirchner has been a member of the Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation since 2000. She is board-certified in Rheumatology Nursing, served for four years on the board of the Rheumatology Nurses Society, and is a co-founder and past co-President of RhAPP (Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers). Dr. Kirchner has published numerous articles and book chapters and has spoken at select national and international meet- ings. Her work-related areas of interest besides general rheumatology include vaccines and the effects of nutrition and stress on the immune system.

KAREN MCKERIHAN, MSN, NP-C Articularis

Karen McKerihan currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina where she works as the Director of Infusion Services at Articularis Healthcare. She studied at the University of Tennessee, Walden University, and graduated Magna Cum Laude. She began her nursing career in 1987 and worked as an RN in women’s care and pain management until 2016. Since then she has worked as an FNP in rheumatology and is currently the Director of Infusion Services for Articularis Healthcare. She is a member of the AANP, ARP, INS, and the RNS. As the daughter of educators, she grew up in India, speaks Hindi, and in her spare time plays the bagpipes for the Charleston Pipe Band.

WENDY SIMMONS, PA-C, DFAAPA

Carolina Arthritis Associates, Wilmington, NC

Wendy Simmons received her BSc in Chemistry from UNCW, graduating from Wake Forest School of Medicine. She is board certified with NCCPA. She completed two years Internal Medicine, six years Allergy and Immunology leading to her passion evaluating and managing patients in Rheumatology at Carolina Arthritis over 20 years. She has interests in all disease states of rheumatology and is sub investigator in clinical research trials. Wendy works closely with dermatology co -managing patients with Psoriatic Arthritis and Psoriasis, consulting and managing over 20-30 patients weekly with this disease state.

Wendy was named a distinguished fellow of the AAPA for exemplary achievement in service to her profession in the advancement of health care for all people, and dedication to the community. She is passionate about education, serving as president of the North Carolina Academy Coastal Society of APP’s. She is on the Board of Directors for RhAPP, member of AWIR, contributing to the AWIR publication guide to onboarding PA’s and NP’s into rheumatology practices.

She is active in her community holding a position on UNCW’s College of Health and Human Sciences Deans Advancement Council, with RN, NP and DNP programs. She enjoys travel, paddle boarding, and cooking.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2023

Diagnosing, Differentiating, and Treating the Multimorbid Arthritis

Managing Our Patients Across Specialties: Interstitial Lung Disease and Lupus Foundation of America Presentation

Latest Treatments and Guidelines in Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis Erin M. Bauer, MD

The Great Pediatric Spondylorarthropathies, Part Two: Juvenile Ankylosing Spondylitis

Amanda Arjoon, DNP, CPNP-PC

Latest Treatments and Guidelines with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) Wendy Simmons, PA-C, DFAAPA

New Guidelines in Vasculitis: Updates from the American College of Rheumatology, Vasculitis Foundation, and EULAR

Elizabeth Kirchner, DNP

Vaccinations in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases

Elizabeth Kirchner, DNP

PM3:00 PM

An Evolving Landscape: The Emergence of Biosimilars

Jacqueline M. Fritz RN, MSN, RN-BC

Latest Treatments and Guidelines with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Karen McKerihan, MSN, NP-C

End Of Forum

Diagnosing, Differentiating, and Treating the Multimorbid Arthritis Patient

Managing Our Patients Across Specialties: Interstitial Lung Disease

Cori Fratelli, BSN, MSN, FNP-BC National Jewish Health

Latest Treatments and Guidelines in Polymyalgia

Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis

Erin M. Bauer, MD Virginia Mason Medical Center

The Great Pediatric Spondylorarthropathies, Part Two: Juvenile Ankylosing Spondylitis

Amanda Arjoon, DNP, CPNP-PC Johns Hopkins University