We're happy to share the collection of interviews from Day 2 of our #CRArthritis series from 2025. If you have questions for any of our guests, please email them to feedback@jointhealth.org.
Interview 11 - Curcumin, omega-3 and vitamin D as a rheumatoid arthritis prevention protocol
In this #CRArthritis interview, Dr. Liam O’Neil discusses his study that looks at curcumin, omega-3, and vitamin D as a combination for preventing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and explains why these three supplements were chosen. Dr. O’Neil’s study also showed improvements in joint pain, fatigue, and morning stiffness, even among healthy participants and he explains what this means for peoplewho have early signs of RA or risk factors such as anti-citrullinated protein antibody positivity.
Dr. Liam O’Neil is an Assistant Professor at the Max Rady College of Medicine at the University of Manitoba whose research focuses on understanding the biological events that occur prior to the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
Interview 12 - Exciting updates in arthritis treatment and care
Dr. Hani El-Gabalawy is a professor at the University of Manitoba. He has dedicated his research career to understanding the mechanisms initiating and sustaining rheumatoid arthritis. In this #CRArthritis interview, he shares exciting updates in rheumatology, including care in Indigenous communities, diet, rheumatoid arthritis, comorbidities in arthritis, disease modifying medications for osteoarthritis, and artificial intelligence in care.
Interview 13 - Finding the right splints and assisted devices for your arthritis
This very practical #CRArthritis interview features Dr. Catherine Backman, Professor Emerita from the University of British Columbia, on occupational therapy, research, and finding the right splints and assisted devices for your arthritis. In her career, Catherine enjoyed the combination of learning, teaching, and research that came with her role at UBC because of the collaborations with students, interdisciplinary colleagues, and people living with chronic illness engaged in teaching and research. She also shares tip for future researchers who wish to pursue this field of research and practice.
Interview 14 - Moving more with inflammatory arthritis & strategies for behaviour change
Dr. Manuel Ester (Manny) is working as a post-doctoral associate with Dr. Claire Barber at the University of Calgary’s McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health. In this #CRArthritis interview, Manny shares highlights from the workshop he is co-presenting with Dr. Barber at this year’s meeting called “Moving More with Inflammatory Arthritis: The Benefits of Physical Activity and Strategies for Supporting Physical Activity Behaviour Change”.
Manny describes the key objective of this workshop is to provide arthritis health care professionals with evidence-based strategies to encourage and support their patients in becoming more physically active, ultimately improving their health and quality of life. He also shares with us some of the most effective behaviour change strategies that help people with inflammatory arthritis “move more” and sustain an active lifestyle over the long term, including motivation techniques, goal-setting, and using technology to get started on exercise programs.
Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) has developed and shared a significant amount of education and advocacy activities in arthritis and exercise, including a National Survey on Arthritis and Exercise and the launch of a JointHealthTM education course on Arthritis and Exercise. Please see links to resources at the end of this episode.
Interview 15 - Insights into the pathogenesis and biomarkers related to systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases
In this #CRArthritis interview, Mr. Nathan Barreth, PHSc Student of Medicine at the University of Calgary, joins ACE’s Kelly Lendvoy to review his participation in a workshop focussed on systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) and some of the unmet needs in SARD patients, the impact of SARDs on our health care system, and the potential value of biomarkers that can help close the gaps related to managing these patients. Biomarkers are measurable indicators of a biological condition, process, or response to treatment in the body. They can be found in blood, tissues, urine, or other bodily fluids and are used by health care providers to help detect, diagnose, monitor, or predict the progression of diseases and treatment response.
Nathan’s study focused on a biomarker called Sialic Acid Binding Ig-Like Lectin 1 (Siglick-1) and why it is important for tracking disease activity in myositis – a type of SARD. He goes on to explain how identifying Siglec-1 as a biomarker will help patients with myositis receive better, more personalized treatment, including to help guide treatment decisions, predict flare-ups, and adjust therapies to improve patient outcomes.
Interview 16 - Caring for children with rheumatic diseases in Northern British Columbia
Dr. Lori Tucker, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia, and Brittany Barnes, Director of Programs and Partnerships from Cassie and Friends Society, join Cheryl Koehn, Arthritis Consumer Experts’ (ACE) Founder and President, in a conversation about caring for children with rheumatic diseases in Northern British Columbia. Together, Lori and Brittany will be presenting on the topic at this year’s meeting.
In this #CRArthritis interview, they share how their research partnership formed, how kids with arthritis and their families were an integral part of their research, what some of the challenges are for kids living with arthritis in Northern British Columbia, and some key takeaway messages from their workshop.
Interview 17 - Research: Besides funding, knowledge translation and exchange is a must!
Our special guest in this #CRArthritis interview is a longtime collaborator and friend of ACE’s – Dr. Janet Pope, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Western Ontario and Division Head in Rheumatology at St. Joseph's Health Centre, London. Dr. Pope is a leading international researcher in scleroderma, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, in areas such as outcome measurements, clinical trials and disease manifestations.
Dr. Pope discusses with ACE’s Kelly Lendvoy her presentation at the annual scientific meeting titled Research Doesn’t End with the Funding, Knowledge Dissemination is a Must! She highlights the critical role of knowledge translation and exchange in ensuring that research findings reach and benefit patients, health care providers, and policymakers. She goes on to define knowledge translation exchange and describe how we can bridge the gap between research and understanding its relevance and real-world application, particularly as it relates to arthritis patients and patient groups.
Interview 18 - Uncovering rheumatologic disease in the Northwest Territories
In 2023, the care for people living with inflammatory arthritis in the Northwest Territories (NWT) was transferred from in-territory to clinical care in Edmonton. Currently, approximately 80% of the referred NWT rheumatology patients have established care in Edmonton, with the remaining 20% either refusing to travel or cancelled their appointments. The influx of these patients has had significant impact in care, with waiting times 10 times longer as a result for all rheumatology referrals in central and northern Alberta. Arthritis Consumer Experts has engaged over the past three years with the Government of the Northwest Territories to find a longer-term solution that prioritizes high-quality care closer to home.
In this #CRArthritis interview, ACE’s Kelly Lendvoy sits down with Rheumatology resident, Whitney Hung, and Dr. Steven Katz, Director & Professor, Division of Rheumatology, University of Alberta to explore their poster presentation: Uncovering Rheumatologic Disease in the Northwest Territories: First Comprehensive Baseline Study and Comparative Insights.
Ms. Hung and Dr. Katz highlight the long wait times and high rate of patient no-shows or cancellations in the NWT and describe what are the biggest barriers preventing patients from accessing timely rheumatology care, and what can be done to improve access. They also comment on their study that suggests Indigenous and female patients may be disproportionately affected by access barriers and recommend what steps can be taken to ensure more equitable care for these populations.
Interview 19 - Lupus and pregnancy in women in Alberta
Dr. Stephanie Keeling is a professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta. She is former board member and current member of the guidelines committee of the Canadian Rheumatology Association and a member and treasurer of the Canadian Network of Improved Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (CaNIOS). In this #CRArthritis interview, she talks about lupus and pregnancy in women in Alberta. In her study, they looked at what happens to women in pregnancy and what health care providers are doing with medications.
Interview 20 - Patient and citizen engagement in arthritis research
In this #CRArthritis interview, Ellen Wang, ACE’s Programs Coordinator, speaks with Dr. Karen Beattie, Research Manager in Pediatric Rheumatology at McMaster University and the Lead for Patient and Family Engagement in Research for the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University. Her research interests are in autoimmunity, clinical science, patient and citizen engagement, and patient-centered care in rheumatology and rheumatoid arthritis. Karen and Ellen discuss her unique roles and the importance of patient engagement in health research. Karen also shares an outcomes of an exciting project lead by Dr. Michelle Batthish and colleagues that addressed transitioning from pediatric to adult rheumatology care.
Interview 21 - Optimal team-based rheumatology care: health care professionals and patients experience
In this #CRArthritis interview, Daphne To, PhD Candidate at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the University of Toronto and Women’s College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions & Virtual Care and Gabrielle (Gabby) Sraka, a PHSc Student at McMaster University stop by the Arthritis Broadcast Network studio to discuss their complementary poster presentations: “What characteristics are needed for optimal team-based rheumatology care? A qualitative study exploring the experiences and perceptions of rheumatology health professionals” and "It's like a one-stop shop: A qualitative study exploring patient experiences in receiving interdisciplinary team-based care for rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.”
Ms. To and Ms. Sraka report on how their respective studies reveal the benefits of a team-based care model for both patients and health care providers, including earlier diagnosis and better disease management.