Improving Rheumatoid Arthritis Care: Understanding the Latest Approvals and Treatment Strategies
- CME / AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- MOC / ABIM MOC Part 2 Credit
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) persists as an inflammatory condition with substantial morbidity. While the wide variety of RA treatment options continues to grow (two additional agents were approved in the last two years), rheumatologists remain challenged with staying up-to-date on the latest clinical trial data. Other gaps in RA care relate to the lack of treat-to-target (T2T) goals and shared decision-making (SDM), both of which are now important components of modern RA management. To best address these knowledge and practice gaps, it is critical that rheumatologists partake in continuing education.
“Improving Rheumatoid Arthritis Care: Understanding the Latest Approvals and Treatment Strategies,” will provide rheumatologists with current evidence regarding treatment goals and therapies for RA as well as strategies for effectively communicating with patients about their RA care.
AGENDA
Welcome and Introduction
Improving Patient-Provider Collaboration and Goal-Setting
Understanding the Latest RA Armamentarium
Q&A Session and Activity Roundup
TARGET AUDIENCE
The intended audience for this activity is rheumatologists, the main care providers for patients with RA.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
This program is designed to address ACGME and NAM competencies, including delivering patient-centered care and practicing evidence-based medicine.
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Implement strategies to facilitate shared decision-making to establish treat-to-target (T2T) goals
- Evaluate the safety and efficacy data for newer RA agents
- Incorporate the latest RA therapies into appropriate treatment plans
ACCREDITATION
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Boston University School of Medicine and Rockpointe. Boston University School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
CREDIT DESIGNATION
Boston University School of Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
For information about the accreditation of this program, please email: cme@bu.edu.
FACULTY

Rheumatology & Immunology
Associate Professor of Medicine
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
Board‐certified in internal medicine and rheumatology, Dr. Kimpel manages patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), vasculitis, and other rheumatology disorders in clinical practice. His research interests include understanding the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and how inflammatory cells reach their targets.
Dr. Kimpel is Program Director for the Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program. In addition to providing education on clinical skills, his teaching interests include clinical decision-making and the science of learning. He has received several awards, including the 2016 Bedside Manner Award from Our Health Magazine and inclusions on the listings of the “Best Doctors in America” and “America’s Top Physicians.”

Professor and Chairman of Academic Medicine
Dept Rheumatologic Disease
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Cleveland, Ohio
Dr. Mandell joined the Cleveland Clinic in 1993 following a faculty appointment at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Chief of Rheumatology at the Graduate Hospital. He previously earned a BA in Biology and a PhD in Physiology and Biophysics from Washington University, St. Louis, and then a Medical Degree from New York University School of Medicine. He trained in medicine and rheumatology at the University of Pennsylvania. He is board certified in Internal medicine and Rheumatology. He served as interim Director of Inflammation Research and Exploratory Clinical Pharmacology at CIBA Pharmaceuticals.
He is currently Editor-in-Chief of the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine and is a Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. He previously served as the Director of the Cleveland Clinic Internal Medicine Residency Program’s Scholarly Activity Program and the Medicine Humanities Program. He is a graduate of the Stanford Faculty Development Program in clinical teaching. He completed a term as member of the Cleveland Clinic’s Board of Governors, and has participated in or chaired many clinical/administrative and academic task forces at the Clinic.
Dr. Mandell has served on or chaired national education planning and writing committees for the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American College of Physicians (ACP), including serving as chairman of the Annual Meeting Planning Committee for both the ACP and ACR. He served as Vice Chairman of the ACGME Internal Medicine Residency Review Committee (RRC) until 2019. He has served on the Editorial Board of several journals including Arthritis Care and Research, J Clin Rheumatology, and Arthritis and Rheumatology. He is an Editor of the Merck Manual (rheumatology and immunology sections). He presents the annual workshop in synovial fluid analysis at the annual ACR scientific meeting and speaks nationally and internationally on a range of topics including gout, vasculitis, medical education and authorship.
He has published approximately 200 articles, chapters, and editorials in peer-reviewed publications and textbooks related to clinical and basic aspects of medical science as well as medical education. He is a clinical investigator and has a special interest in gout as well as vasculitis and multi-system inflammatory diseases.
DISCLOSURES OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Boston University School of Medicine asks all individuals, and their spouses/partners, involved in the development and presentation of Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) activities to disclose all relevant financial relationships with commercial interests. This information is disclosed all activity participants prior to the start of the educational activity. Boston University School of Medicine has procedures to resolve all conflicts of interest. In addition, faculty members are asked to disclose when any unapproved use of pharmaceuticals and devices is being discussed.
Steering Committee
The steering committee reported the following relevant financial relationships that they or their spouse/partner have with commercial interests:
Donald L. Kimpel, MD, MA: Nothing to disclose
Brian F Mandell, MD, PhD, FACR, MACP: Consultant/Independent Contractor: Genentech, Merck
Michael York, MD, BUSM Course Director: Nothing to disclose
Non-faculty Content Contributors
Non-faculty content contributors and/or reviewers reported the following relevant financial relationships that they or their spouse/partner have with commercial interests:
Chad Williamson, MS, MBA, CMMP; Elizabeth Drury; Natalie Sanfratello, MPH: Nothing to disclose
ABIM MOC DESIGNATION STATEMENT
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.
To receive CME credit and/or MOC points, you MUST pass the post-test and complete the evaluation. For ABIM MOC points, your information will be shared with the ABIM through BUSM’s ACCME Program and Activity Reporting System (PARS). Please allow 6-8 weeks for your MOC points to appear on your ABIM records.
MOC APPROVAL STATEMENT
Through the American Board of Medical Specialties (“ABMS”) ongoing commitment to increase access to practice relevant Continuing Certification Activities through the ABMS Continuing Certification Directory, Improving Rheumatoid Arthritis Care: Understanding the Latest Approvals and Treatment Strategies has met the requirements as a MOC Part II CME Activity (apply toward general CME requirement) for the following ABMS Member Boards:
MOC Part II CME Activity
Family Medicine
DISCLAIMER
FDA DISCLOSURE
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS AND OBTAINING CME CREDIT
PROVIDER
Jointly provided by Boston University School of Medicine and Rockpointe
SUPPORTER
This program is supported by an educational grant from Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.
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