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On Sunday, join International Foundation for AiArthritis and fellow patient cohosts as they lead discussions in the patient community as well as consult with stakeholders worldwide to solve the problems that matter most in the AiArthritis community.
Episodes
Sunday Jun 01, 2025
Sunday Jun 01, 2025
Managing AiArthritis diseases are challenging but what if the entire model of care could change for the better? In this episode, Leila is joined by Dr. Jin Lee, co-founder and CEO of IMIDeology, a virtual and in-person clinic dedicated to diagnosing and treating immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) like spondyloarthritis, lupus, Crohn’s, and more.
Dr. Lee shares her journey from caregiver to changemaker and how IMIDeology is improving access, diagnosis, and treatment through an innovative, patient-first approach. The conversation also explores chronic pain education and why it’s so often misunderstood in IMIDs. Leila and Dr. Jin Lee share how to describe IMIDs more effectively and how patients can better advocate for pain support.
Plus, hear about IMIDeology’s pain management study and upcoming Autoimmune Patient Summit, designed to educate and empower the IMID community. If you’ve ever felt unheard or overlooked in your care journey, this episode offers fresh ideas, support, and a hopeful vision for the future of IMID treatment.
Donate to Support the Show: www.aiarthritis.org/donate
Episode Highlights:
- Learn how Dr. Jin Lee’s caregiver journey inspired the founding of IMIDeology.
- Understand what IMIDs are and why a multidisciplinary approach to care matters.
- Discover how virtual rheumatology clinics are changing access to diagnosis and treatment.
- Get practical advice on describing and managing chronic pain with your care team.
- Hear how you can participate in IMIDeology’s pain management study and upcoming Autoimmune Patient Summit.
Links & Resources
- IMIDeology Website: https://www.imideology.com/
- Autoimmune Patient Summit: https://www.imideology.com/event-details/autoimmune-patient-summit
- Join the Join Management Study: https://www.imideology.com/pilotstudy
- Go With Us! To EULAR June 11-14 https://www.aiarthritis.org/conferences
- Mystery Patient Guide: www.aiarthritis.org/undiagnosed
- Volunteer with AiArthritis : https://bit.ly/AiArthritisVolunteerApp
Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis
Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE
Connect with our Cohost:
Leila is the Health Education Manager at the International Foundation for AiArthritis. She is a person living with Lupus and Sjögren’s disease. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity in health education and meeting individuals where they are at in order to learn in a way that resonates with them.
Connect with Leila:
Tiktok: @Lupuslifestyle.lei
Dr. Jin Lee is the Co-Founder and CEO of IMIDeology, virtual and in-person clinical network dedicated to supporting patients with chronic inflammation and autoimmune conditions such as IBD & lupus. With firsthand experience navigating the healthcare system as both a patient and caregiver, Dr. Lee is a passionate advocate for those living with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). Dr. Lee has worked across the healthcare ecosystem in pharma, payer, and provider innovation, leading efforts in product development and commercialization. She also invests in the future of healthcare as a limited partner in three angel funds and serves on multiple startup and nonprofit boards, including past roles with the American Heart Association and the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association. Dr. Lee is a Presidential Leadership Scholar, selected by four U.S. Presidential Centers, and was honored as one of the “100 most impactful women and allies shaping the future of biopharma, healthcare, and life sciences” by Biopharma Leaders of Color (BLOC).
Connect with Dr. Jin Lee:
Website(s): https://www.imideology.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IMIDeology
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imideology1/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/imideology/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imideology
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imideology
Sunday May 04, 2025
Sunday May 04, 2025
AiArthritis diseases can be difficult enough to manage—but what happens when the symptoms don’t fit neatly into a diagnosis? In this episode, AiArthritis Health Education Manager Leila shares her perspective on the “mystery patient” experience, those living with serious, ongoing symptoms but still searching for answers.
Leila revisits key conversations from past episodes and introduces new resources, including our updated Mystery Patient Guide and the AUTO + Inflammatory Arthritis = X or YZ Project, which explores lesser-known or overlapping conditions like IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). She also shares the powerful story of a real mystery patient navigating the challenges of being undiagnosed for years.
If you or someone you love is living in diagnostic limbo, this episode offers validation, education, and practical tools to help guide your journey and highlights why improving awareness and research for this often-overlooked community is so essential.
Donate to Support the Show: www.aiarthritis.org/donate
Episode Highlights:
- Learn why some patients remain undiagnosed for years and what defines a “mystery patient.”
- Hear a real patient story that illustrates the challenges of navigating misdiagnosis.
- Understand how overlapping conditions like IgG4-RD complicate the diagnostic process.
- Discover key takeaways from the IgG4-RD Educational Summit, including treatment updates.
- Explore tools and resources available to support those still searching for answers.
Links & Resources
- Mystery Patient Guide: www.aiarthritis.org/undiagnosed
- Volunteer with AiArthritis : https://bit.ly/AiArthritisVolunteerApp
- IgG4-RD Resource :https://igg4ward.org/education-and-resources
- Start Your Team for World AiArthritis Day: givebutter.com/aiarthritisday25
- World AiArthritis Day Information: www.aiarthritis.org/aiarthritisday
Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis
Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE
Connect with our Cohost:
Leila P.L. Valete is the Health Education Manager at the International Foundation for AiArthritis. She is a person living with Lupus & Sjögren's. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity in health education and meeting individuals where they are at in order to learn in a way that resonates with them. Leila is on social media as @Lupus.Lifestyle.Lei sharing bits and pieces about her life with lupus and connecting with others.
Connect with Leila:
Tiktok: @Lupus.lifestyle.lei
Sunday Apr 06, 2025
Sunday Apr 06, 2025
Autoimmune diseases like lupus and Sjogren’s disease are often associated with joint pain, fatigue, and organ involvement, but their impact on the nervous system is less commonly discussed. In this episode, Dr. Julius Birnbaum, a leading expert in neuro-rheumatology, joins us to explore the neurological manifestations of these conditions and what patients need to know.
From brain fog and memory issues to more severe complications like neuropathy, Dr. Birnbaum explains how these diseases affect the brain and nerves, why symptoms can be challenging to diagnose, and the latest advancements in treatment.
If you or a loved one live with lupus or Sjogren’s and have experienced unexplained neurological symptoms, this episode provides clarity, validation, and expert insights on what to look for and how to advocate for proper care.
Donate to Support the Show: www.aiarthritis.org/donate
Episode Highlights:
- Understanding the link between autoimmune diseases and the nervous system.
- Common neurological symptoms in lupus and Sjogren’s
- Why neurological symptoms are often overlooked or misdiagnosed.
- The latest research and treatment approaches for managing neurological complications.
- How to advocate for proper testing and care if you suspect neurological involvement.
Links & Resources
- Volunteer with AiArthritis : https://bit.ly/AiArthritisVolunteerApp
Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis
Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE
Connect with our Cohost & Guest:
Dr. Julius Birnbaum is a distinguished rheumatologist with 20 years of experience and the only physician in the U.S. trained as an internist, neurologist, and rheumatologist. He completed his medical training at Columbia, Mount Sinai, Jacobi Medical Center, and Johns Hopkins, where he later pioneered a Neuro-Rheumatology Clinic to treat complex neurological complications of autoimmune diseases. Dr. Birnbaum has authored over 30 publications in prestigious medical journals and has been a featured speaker at national and international rheumatology conferences. Currently, he serves as Associate Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and Division Chief of Rheumatology at UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he continues to teach and mentor medical trainees. Outside of medicine, he enjoys sports like basketball, swimming, and running, which he shares with his wife and three children in Wexford, Pennsylvania.
Connect with Dr. Birnbaum:
Book: Living Well With Autoimmune Diseases: A Rheumatologist’s Guide to Taking Charge of Your Health - https://bit.ly/41XrpZR
Website: https://www.juliusbirnbaum.com/
Leila is the Health Education Manager at the International Foundation for AiArthritis. She is a person living with Lupus and Sjögren’s disease. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity in health education and meeting individuals where they are at in order to learn in a way that resonates with them.
Connect with Leila:
Tiktok: @Lupuslifestyle.lei
Sunday Mar 02, 2025
Sunday Mar 02, 2025
Parenting is challenging, but adding a chronic illness like rheumatoid arthritis brings unique obstacles. In this episode, co-host Eileen shares her journey of raising a child while managing RA, from coping with fatigue and pain to adjusting expectations.
She’s joined by her 12-year-old son, Jacob, who offers his perspective on growing up with a parent who has a chronic illness. Together, they discuss the struggles, unexpected lessons, and ways they support each other. Whether you're a parent navigating chronic illness or looking to understand its impact on families, this episode offers insight, advice, and encouragement.
Donate to Support the Show: www.aiarthritis.org/donate
Episode Highlights:
- Eileen shares her journey of parenting with RA, from early diagnosis to raising a preteen.
- The biggest struggles of parenting with chronic illness, including fatigue, guilt, and daily challenges.
- Jacob’s perspective on having a parent with RA and how it has shaped his life.
- The unexpected positives—how chronic illness has taught Jacob responsibility, independence, and empathy.
- Practical tips for parents with chronic illness, including self-care, communication, and asking for help.
Links & Resources
- Volunteer with AiArthritis : https://bit.ly/AiArthritisVolunteerApp
Connect with our Cohost:
Eileen Davidson is a rheumatoid arthritis patient advocate from Vancouver Canada. She volunteers with the Arthritis Research Canada patient advisory board and the Canadian Institute of Health Research - Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis patient engagement research ambassador, among others. When not advocating she is writing about her experience with arthritis through Creaky Joints, Healthline, Chronic Eileen or can be found being a mom to her son Jacob.
Connect with Eileen:
Twitter: @ChronicEileen
Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis
Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE
Sunday Feb 02, 2025
Sunday Feb 02, 2025
What does it mean to be diagnosed with undifferentiated disease (UD)? In this episode, Tiffany Westrich-Robertson, AiArthritis CEO and founder, unpacks this complex diagnosis, sharing her personal journey from being a mystery patient to receiving a UCTD diagnosis. Tiffany explains how undifferentiated disease fits into the autoimmune.autoinflammatory spectrum, its implications for treatment, and why early intervention is critical.
Join us on this episode to explore what undifferentiated disease means, how early treatment can improve outcomes, and the latest research shaping diagnosis and care.
- Tell us YOUR undifferentiated disease story: https://bit.ly/3EfuWsT
- Check out our social media channels for posts about UD and weigh in
- Sign up for our AiArthritis Research Database, where we are studying UD at www.aiarthritis.org/database
Donate to Support the Show: www.aiarthritis.org/donate
Episode Highlights:
- Learn more about undifferentiated disease, including why it’s so important to know it can be the final diagnosis OR it could branch off to a “full blown” autoimmune or autoinflammatory disease, including one of ours that include inflammatory arthritis as a major clinical component. Either way, UD IS a real diagnosis.
- Explore the connection between undiagnosed “mystery patients”, an undifferentiated diagnosis, and how UCTD and other undifferentiated conditions fit into the spectrum of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases.
- Understand the importance of early intervention and how it can lead to remission and improved outcomes.
- Discover the role of biomarkers, precision medicine, and risk stratification in guiding treatment plans.
- Hear how AiArthritis is advancing research and offering resources to help patients navigate undifferentiated disease.
Links & Resources
- Explore more from the “Go With Us to Conferences” program: www.aiarthritis.org/conferences
- Early Symptoms of AiArthritis Study: https://www.aiarthritis.org/Early-Symptoms-Study
- Go With Us to EULAR 2023 - Ig-G4, UCTD, RMDs and the Brain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w2Ouk-ItFk&t=264s
- Volunteer with AiArthritis : https://bit.ly/AiArthritisVolunteerApp
Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis
Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE
Sunday Jan 05, 2025
Sunday Jan 05, 2025
Join us for a special episode where we reflect on the top three most-listened episodes of 2024! Leila revisits these engaging conversations that resonated deeply with the AiArthritis community, covering mental health, navigating the patient journey, and reproductive health. These episodes highlight the challenges and triumphs of living with autoimmune diseases, offering practical strategies and heartfelt support. Whether you're a patient, caregiver, or ally, this roundup of impactful discussions provides valuable insights and inspiration to carry into 2025.
Donate to Support the Show: www.aiarthritis.org/donate
Episode Highlights:
Mental Health and Autoimmune Diseases:
- Explore how autoimmune diseases impact mental health for patients and caregivers, including strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges.
- Discover practical self-care techniques, mindfulness practices, and tools to promote emotional resilience.
Navigating the Patient Journey:
- Learn about the Patient Journey resource, designed to help individuals navigate every stage of their autoimmune disease experience, from diagnosis to remission.
- Find guidance on managing symptoms, communicating with healthcare providers, and accessing support networks.
Reproductive Health and Autoimmune Diseases:
- Gain insights into how autoimmune diseases can affect reproductive health, including safe birth control options and the impact of medications on fertility.
- Learn about resources and expert advice for planning pregnancies and managing reproductive challenges.
Links & Resources
- Explore more from the “Go With Us to Conferences” program: www.aiarthritis.org/conferences
- Volunteer with AiArthritis : https://bit.ly/AiArthritisVolunteerApp
Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis
Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE
Sunday Dec 01, 2024
Sunday Dec 01, 2024
In this episode, our co-hosts share key takeaways and important updates from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence 2024. Leila, Tiffany, Cristina, and Deb discuss cutting-edge therapies, chronic pain management strategies, and groundbreaking research on conditions like lupus, Sjögren’s, and psoriatic arthritis. Join us for an insightful and empowering conversation that highlights the strides being made in the AiArthritis community.
Donate to Support the Show: https://www.aiarthritis.org/donate
Episode Highlights
- Discover how innovative CAR-T treatments are paving the way for remission breakthroughs in autoimmune diseases.
- Learn surprising insights about how obesity influences inflammation and disease progression.
- Get practical strategies from Stanford’s renowned self-management program to take control of your pain.
- Explore cutting-edge imaging techniques and therapies that offer new hope for early diagnosis and better care.
- Find out how menopause impacts autoimmune patients and the tools available to navigate this life stage.
Links & Resources
- Explore more from the “Go With Us to Conferences” program: www.aiarthritis.org/conferences
- Volunteer with AiArthritis : https://bit.ly/AiArthritisVolunteerApp
Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis
Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE
Sunday Nov 03, 2024
Sunday Nov 03, 2024
In this episode, co-hosts Leila and Brittany dive into the power of patient voices in transforming the healthcare experience for the AiArthritis community. They bring empathy and validation to stories submitted by listeners, highlighting real struggles with insurance, pharmacy issues, and the emotional toll of chronic illness. Brittany also shares key takeaways from the recent Autoimmune Community Summit, covering practical tips for self-management, understanding the influence of environmental factors, and the importance of owning and sharing your story to drive change.
This episode is packed with relatable stories, actionable advice, and encouragement for anyone navigating autoimmune challenges. Tune in for new ways to elevate your voice and join a supportive community that understands.
Episode Highlights
- Leila and Brittany discuss the impact of elevating patient voices in the AiArthritis community.
- Patient-submitted stories reveal real challenges with insurance, pharmacy issues, and living with chronic illness.
- Key insights from the Autoimmune Community Summit highlight the importance of self-management and environmental factors.
- Tips on using personal stories in healthcare advocacy help patients drive meaningful change.
- AiArthritis’s "WTHellth" project aims to address systemic barriers in healthcare.
- The hosts share tools like communication aids and advocacy programs for patient empowerment.
Links & Resources
- Submit Your Story or Rant: aiarthritis.org/rant
- Patient Journey Resources: aiarthritis.org/patientjourney
- Advocacy Program Information: aiarthritis.org/advocacy
- Communication Aid for JIA Patients: aiarthritis.org/JIAcommunication
- Follow Our Conference Coverage: aiarthritis.org/conferences
- Read Our Blog for Patient Perspectives: aiarthritis.org/blog
Volunteer with AiArthritis : https://bit.ly/AiArthritisVolunteerApp
Donate to Support the Show: https://www.aiarthritis.org/donate
Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis
Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE
Connect with our Co-Hosts:
- Leila is the Health Education Manager at the International Foundation for AiArthritis. She is a person living with Lupus and Sjögren’s disease. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity in health education and meeting individuals where they are at in order to learn in a way that resonates with them.
Connect with Leila:
- Tiktok: @Lupuslifestyle.lei
- Brittany Murray is a dedicated AiArthritis volunteer who has been living with Psoriatic disease for over 30 years. She loves to share her story to help others with AiArthritis diseases and to assist with advocacy and education work around hot topics like prior authorization and step therapy. She also started a blog and social community called ChronicDiseaseDiary to build a community of empowerment, love and support for those with chronic diseases or caretakers of those with chronic diseases.
Connect with Brittany:
Sunday Oct 06, 2024
Sunday Oct 06, 2024
In this episode of AiArthritis Voices 360, co-hosts Leila and Eileen discuss a project focused on organizing essential resources for patients navigating the AiArthritis journey, from undiagnosed symptoms to remission. They share their personal experiences living with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, exploring the complexities of managing chronic illness and the challenges of early diagnosis. Tune in to learn about AiArthritis’s new online social community and how you can contribute your story and help develop more resources for patients. This episode is perfect for patients and caregivers seeking guidance and support on their health journey.
Share your ideas on resources that we can add to the patient journey by emailing us at info@aiarthritis.org, submit your patient story on each different section of the patient journey and join our online social community!
Episode Highlights
- A breakdown of the six stages of the patient journey and how resources are organized.
- Personal stories from Leila and Eileen on living with AiArthritis diseases.
- The importance of early diagnosis and how it affects long-term outcomes.
- Strategies for caregiver support and understanding comorbidities.
- Learn how to contribute your story or join the new AiArthritis social community.
Resources & Links:
- Check out our patient resources: www.aiarthritis.org/patientjourney
Volunteer with AiArthritis : https://bit.ly/AiArthritisVolunteerApp
Donate to Support the Show: https://www.aiarthritis.org/donate
Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis
Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE
Connect with our Co-Hosts:
- Leila is the Health Education Manager at the International Foundation for AiArthritis. She is a person living with Lupus and Sjögren’s disease. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity in health education and meeting individuals where they are at in order to learn in a way that resonates with them.
Connect with Leila:
- Tiktok: @Lupuslifestyle.lei
- Eileen is a rheumatoid arthritis patient advocate from Vancouver Canada. She volunteers with the Arthritis Research Canada patient advisory board and the Canadian Institute of Health Research - Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis patient engagement research ambassador, among others. When not advocating she is writing about her experience with arthritis through Creaky Joints, Healthline, Chronic Eileen or can be found being a mom to her son Jacob.
Connect with Eileen:
- ChronicEileen
Sunday Sep 01, 2024
Sunday Sep 01, 2024
In this episode, our co-hosts bring you an exclusive look into the AiArthritis “Go With Us!” to Conferences program. We dive deep into EULAR 2024, the European Rheumatology Research Conference, where patients and co-hosts reveal groundbreaking advancements in AiArthritis research. Discover the latest on CAR-T therapy, innovative pain management tailored for patients, the role of opioids in addressing pain and fatigue, and practical strategies for battling brain fog. Gain valuable insights and practical advice from fellow patients and experts. Don't miss this episode packed with cutting-edge information!
If you're eager for more, join us for our next journey to the ACR conference in November. Visit AiArthritis.org/conferences for more details and to sign up!
Episode Highlights
- Overview of the Go With Us to Conferences program, which allows patients to virtually join and learn from major rheumatology conferences like EULAR and ACR.
- Tiffany, CEO and person living with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, discusses CAR-T therapy and its potential to achieve remission in autoimmune diseases, particularly in lupus patients.
- Deb, AiArthritis volunteer and person living with rheumatoid arthritis, presents on patient-tailored pain management, emphasizing multi-dimensional approaches to address different types of pain.
- Becky, AiArthritis volunteer and person living with Sjogren’s Disease, explores the relationship between fatigue, pain, and opioids, highlighting the challenges of treating these symptoms in autoimmune patients.
- Leila, AiArthritis Health Education Manager and person living with Lupus Nephritis and Sjogren’s Disease, covers cognitive dysfunction (brain fog), offering strategies for managing this common but under-discussed symptom in autoimmune diseases.
Volunteer with AiArthritis : https://bit.ly/AiArthritisVolunteerApp
Donate to Support the Show: https://www.aiarthritis.org/donate
Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis
Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE
Resources & Links:
-
Join the Go With Us Program for ACR in November: https://aiarthritis.org/conferences
Connect with our Co-Hosts:
- Tiffany is the CEO at AiArthritis (International Foundation for Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Arthritis) and uses her professional expertise in mind-mapping and problem solving to help others, like her, who live with AiArthritis diseases work in unison to identify and solve unresolved community issues.
- Leila is the Health Education Manager at the International Foundation for AiArthritis. She is a person living with Lupus Nephritis and Sjögren’s Syndrome. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity in health education and meeting individuals where they are at in order to learn in a way that resonates with them.
- Deb Constien is a medically retired Registered Dietitian and a Representative for AiArthritis with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Deb is also on the Advisory Council for WREN- Wisconsin Research Education Network and a Patient Family Advisor- PFA on an International PCORI research study for ACP- Advanced Care Planning.
- Becky Hosey is an AiArthritis volunteer, a healthcare professional, and also a person living with Sjogren's disease.