Today’s #CRArthritis includes part two of a two-part series on juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
Arthritis is not just a disease of aging—it also affects over 24,000 children and youth in Canada, making it the most common cause of chronic disability in children. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis can cause chronic pain, joint damage, and disability, impacting physical development, education, and overall quality of life.
Caring for children with rheumatic diseases in Northern British Columbia – Dr. Lori Tucker and Brittany Barnes
In this interview, Dr. Lori Tucker, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia and Ms. Brittany Barnes, Director of Programs and Partnerships at Cassie and Friends, join Cheryl Koehn in a conversation about caring for children with rheumatic diseases in Northern British Columbia. 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 messages from their workshop.
The association between body composition and disease and treatment outcomes in juvenile idiopathic arthritis – Dr. Michelle Batthish
In this interview, Dr. Michelle Batthish, pediatric rheumatologist at McMaster Children’s Hospital and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at McMaster University, summarizes her study. The study found that children with JIA who are obese took longer to reach disease control, despite earlier treatment and discusses why obesity affects treatment response and disease outcomes. She also explains how her study found that underweight children required earlier biologic treatment and the challenges they face in managing JIA, and why they may need more aggressive treatment.
Sports medicine in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and AI scribing – Dr. Tommy Gerschman
In this interview, Dr. Tommy Gerschman, pediatric rheumatologist in North Vancouver, shares insights about artificial intelligence scribing (AI scribing) and sports medicine in JIA care. He defines what sports medicine is and why it is so important to incorporate into a JIA treatment plan. When sharing his insights about AI scribing, Dr. Gerschman explains what AI scribing can do for rheumatologists and other health care professionals.