Category: Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology
Featured Physician: Onyinye Iweala
Onyinye Iweala, MD, PhD, is an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology. She specializes in environmental allergies (allergic rhinitis), chronic hives and swelling (urticaria and angioedema), food allergies (including alpha-gal allergy), and anaphylaxis. She first aspired to get a PhD in the 6th grade. Dr. Iweala is a mom to three ch … Continued
Dr. Rumey Ishizawar’s Research Finds Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients May Safely Receive Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Cancer Treatment
The study evaluated whether pre-existing rheumatoid arthritis was associated with a higher mortality and risk for immune-related adverse events with immune checkpoint inhibitor use. Joining Dr. Ishizawar in conducting this research were UNC colleagues; Dr. Amanda Lusa, Dr. Todd Schwartz, Carolina Alvarez, and Shruti Saxena Beem. Learn more about the study findings via this summar … Continued
97 Physicians, Advanced Practice Providers Receive 2023 Award for Carolina Care Excellence
Each year, UNC Hospitals administers the Press Ganey Medical Practice survey to solicit feedback from patients. The survey asks our patients about their likelihood of recommending their provider’s practice to their friends and family. This year, 202 UNC physicians and advanced practice providers received the highest recommendations, which places them in the top quartile nationall … Continued
Drs. Orzechowski, Derebail Featured in Healio Vasculitis Video Perspectives Series
Nicole Orzechowski, DO, and Vimal Derebail, MD, were featured as vasculitis experts by Healio in a new video series of medical perspectives.
Dr. Richard Loeser Receives $2 Million NIH Grant to Study “Oxidative Stress and the Development of Osteoarthritis”
The grant is a 5-year renewal of existing research funded by the National Institute of Aging. The overall goal of the research project is to understand the mechanisms by which oxidative stress governs development and maintenance of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype in articular joints. Dr. Loeser is Director of the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center, and is the Jo … Continued
Novel Peanut Allergy Treatment Shown to be Safe, Effective, and Lasting
A four-year clinical trial led by Edwin Kim, MD, associate professor of medicine and pediatrics, has found that an increased dosage of a unique type of peanut allergy immunotherapy continues to show promise for children.
Welcome New Administrative Leadership
As the calendar year comes to a close, the Department of Medicine has much to celebrate. Congrats to the following individuals who are beginning new administrative positions with the Department. Their expertise and enthusiasm will help us excel in 2023. While others are moving along in their career journey, we are thankful for their contributions and wish them the best in their f … Continued
2023 Fellows Match to the Department of Medicine
The Department of Medicine is honored to welcome new Tar Heel trainees! The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) released results for the 2022 Medicine and Pediatric Specialties Match on November 30. This is the first year the organization’s largest Fellowship Match included subspecialties in internal medicine, pediatrics, addiction and multidisciplinary specialties. More th … Continued
Dr. Saira Sheikh is Elected to American College of Rheumatology (ACR’s) Board of Directors
In addition to joining the ACR’s governing body, Dr. Sheikh has been appointed to serve as the ACR Board of Directors liaison to the Collaborative Initiatives Department (COIN). The COIN department highlights rheumatology’s relevance to the healthcare community and public by using rheumatic diseases as case studies for treating complex disease, advancing health equity, eliminatin … Continued
Using Collaboration to Fight a Tricky Tick-Borne Disease
Alpha-Gal Syndrome, or AGS, is a recently identified tick-borne disease that triggers an allergy to red meat and other products made from mammals, including cheese, gelatin, and medications like heparin. Since its discovery in 2009, cases in the United States alone have risen from 24 to >40,000 people, owing to the geographic spread of the tick populations and the fact that th … Continued
Dr. Mildred Kwan and Dr. Andrew Winslow Receive $100K Pfizer Grant to Address Health Disparities in Antimicrobial Stewardship
The 2-year grant will help build capacity to address health disparities through antimicrobial stewardship telehealth and telemonitoring. The name of the grant is: “A novel patient-led penicillin allergy de-labeling program targeting underserved children through a mobile-enabled virtual platform.” Dr. Kwan is an Allergy & Immunology faculty member in the UNC Thurston Arthritis … Continued
TARC Holds Fifth Annual “Research Day”
Approximately 100 leading researchers and clinicians, research staff and trainees gathered recently to discuss innovative ways to advance research in arthritis, allergy, and autoimmune diseases. Additionally, attendees who couldn’t participate in person attended remotely. Of particular interest this year was keynote speaker and John B. Winfield, MD Visiting Scholar, Ali Ellebedy, … Continued