News and Announcements
01.20.2026
Arthritis Foundation Presents:
Inflammatory Arthritis Research SummitDate/Time
February 20, 2026, 8:30am (ET) to February 21, 2026, 2:00pm (ET)Join leading experts for two days of cutting-edge sessions on emerging therapies, pain, epigenetics and more. In-person and virtual options available, with limited space for poster presenters.
Time is running out to register. Registration closes Feb. 16!
Secure your spot before registration ends.
Email questions to AFscience@arthritis.org
*
- 01.05.2026
OAI Knowledgebase presents a live webinar:
State of the OAI and Introduction to the OAI Knowledgebase
Date/Time
February 09, 2026 at 11:00amSpeaker
Jeffrey Driban
Director, OAI CORE KnowledgebaseRegister
Visit oaiknowledgebase.com for more information*
- 01.05.2026
On Monday, January 26, the Feinberg Office of Health Equity will host its winter quarterly session of The Scholars Exchange. Admission is complimentary, however, advance registration is required as space is limited and seats are expected to fill up quickly.
Featuring
Nilay Shah, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Cardiology, Preventive Medicine, and Medical Social Sciences
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Preventive Cardiologist, Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute
Gilbert S. Omenn Fellow, National Academy of Medicine
Heart health is as much determined in the clinic as it is in communities. Dr. Shah will share his research group’s work and approach to advancing cardiovascular health across individuals, neighborhoods, and populations through community partnerships, policy evaluation, and evidence-based interventions.Date and Time
Monday, January 26
2:00pm - 3:00pm CT
Location
Simpson Querrey Auditorium
303 E. Superior Street, Chicago
View the event flyer for more information
Register
About The Scholars Exchange
At its core, The Scholars Exchange defines scholarship as the intentional creation, application, and dissemination of knowledge that contributes to a more just and equitable health system. By elevating emerging scholars whose ideas reflect a deep commitment to improving health outcomes, engaging communities, and producing impactful scholarship, this series aims to foster dialogue, promote learning, and strengthen our collective ability to advance health for all. For additional information, please contact us.*
- 10.24.2025
Presenting Medical Research with Excellence with Michael FoleyDate and Time
Thursday, November 13
12:00pm - 1:00pm CT
Location
Hughes Auditorium
Lurie Medical Building
303 E. Superior Street, ChicagoPresenting Medical Research with Excellence is an advanced workshop designed to enhance each participant’s ability to conceptualize, construct and deliver a clear and compelling presentation on a complex subject.
How do we engage and hold our audience’s attention? How do we avoid getting bogged down in details and sidetracked by challenging questions? How do we make a persuasive case in a relatively short period of time? During this session we will address each of these questions in detail. In addition, the following topics will be addressed:
- Persuasion Skills: Structure ideas in a logical and concise format while using relevant facts, figures, visuals, examples and stories to drive home a compelling message.
- Performance Skills: Demonstrate good presentation mechanics: voice, eye contact, gestures, energy, stance and movement.
- Content Organization & Development: Quickly and easily develop a customized presentation that is designed to address your audience’s most pressing needs and concerns.
- Audience Engagement: Use various interactive methods to stimulate your audience’s curiosity and participation.
- Slide Design: Quickly and easily create attractive / easy to understand slides that flow from one idea to the next.
Featuring:
Michael Foley
Founder and CEO, Clarity Central, Inc.
Clinical Assistant Professor of Management & Organizations
Kellogg School of Management
Northwestern University**This seminar is offered as a HYBRID event, but IN-PERSON attendance is strongly encouraged. Please RSVP regardless and indicate your intended mode. Lunch will be provided for in person attendees on a first-come, first-served basis.**
Date and Time
Thursday, November 23
12:00pm - 1:00pmLocation
Zoom OnlyPublic health educators, scholars and workers face an unprecedented time. Trust in science and government is being deliberately eroded, and federal agencies are being dismantled from within. How can we make progress in protecting and advancing public health?
No magic solution exists, but certain approaches can help. One of those is public interest communications – research-based strategic communications for social change. Public interest communicators draw on research into behavioral science, cognitive linguistics, political communication, social science and other disciplines to approach problems strategically and craft powerful messages that motivate people to act positively. They seek opportunities, acknowledge barriers and figure out how to overcome those. Despite seemingly insurmountable challenges, they have managed to effect positive social change.
In this session, we’ll highlight key public interest communications concepts and frameworks. Using examples and case studies, we’ll offer practical guidance to bolster efforts to reach and move policymakers, provide a quick guide on countering disinformation and show how to strengthen communications with communities to protect public health.
Featuring:
Angela Bradbery
Frank Karel Endowed Chair in Public Interest Communications
University of Florida*
- 08.26.2025
Join the Arthritis Foundation Science Team for our free, virtual Community Health & Workforce Summit.
Date: Friday, Nov. 14, 2025
Time: 1:00pm - 4:15pm ET
This event will bring together thought leaders and practitioners with expertise in clinical rheumatology, accessibility of care and community health to learn more about the Arthritis Foundation’s efforts to empower all people with arthritis to live their best lives. The Summit will highlight:
- Our commitment to augmenting the rheumatology workforce and improving health outcomes for everyone living with arthritis
- Updates on our patient education, community-building and advocacy initiative
In addition, two keynote speakers will present on their Arthritis Foundation Awards focused on cultivating a new generation of health care professionals to serve people with arthritis.
* - 07.02.2025
Sam Dowling, MD, PhD, a Pediatric Rheumatology fellow at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, has received a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the Arthritis National Research Foundation!
Dr. Dowling completed his pediatric residency at Lurie Children’s Hospital, where he joined Dr. Harris Perlman’s research group. Dr. Dowling’s research interest is in the pathogenesis and treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). He is defining genetic signatures of immune cells, with a particular emphasis on monocytes and macrophages, from the synovium, the tissue that lines the inside of the joint and is the main site of disease activity in JIA.
Congratulations, Dr. Dowling!
* - 06.16.2025
Save the Date!
Make sure to block your calendar and join the Feinberg Office of Health Equity (OHE) for the Fall 2025 Lyceum Speaker Series from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Hughes Auditorium on Tuesday, October 14.
Fall Lyceum 2025 Speaker
Leslie R. Walker, MD
Chief Academic Officer and Senior Vice President, Seattle Children’s Hospital
Ford/Morgan Endowed Chair and Professor of Pediatrics; Associate Dean, University of Washington School of Medicine
Co-Founder and Executive Sponsor, UW/Seattle Children’s Health Equity Institute for Healthy Pregnancy, Children and FamiliesImmediately following the lecture, the second annual Health Equity Research Symposium will take place in the Potocsnak Family Atrium from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. The symposium will feature a poster session that highlights innovative research into interventions and policies aimed at reducing health disparities and promoting equitable healthcare for all populations. Abstract submissions will open in July!
Add these events to your calendar.
Join UsTuesday, October 14
10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center
Hughes Auditorium & Potocsnak Family Atrium (First Floor)
303 E. Superior St., Chicago