The American College of Rheumatology’s annual Convergence meeting was held in October, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Astia Allenzara, MD, MSCR, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the UNC Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, and Saloni Patolia, MD, Second-Year Rheumatology Fellow in the UNC Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology both attended and presented their abstract, “Overcoming Obstacles to Care: A Survey of Adults with Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies (IIM).” The aim of the study that they presented was to understand patient perspectives on diagnosis, treatment, health screening, and barriers to care. IIMs are heterogeneous diseases requiring coordinated care and the assessment of patient perspectives is integral to optimizing care and improving outcomes. Co-authors on the study include Carolina Alvarez, Jessica Grant, Paul Mihas, Galen Foulke, and Amanda E. Nelson.
