Chaim Putterman, MD - Summary of Research Program and Goals. Dr. Putterman is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Lupus Nephritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE), and Vasculitis.

Dr. Clement Tagoe obtained his medical degree from the University of Ghana Medical School, Ghana, and a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Leeds, UK. His basic science research interests included the study of the role of annexins in cell function and rheumatic diseases, and subsequently the mechanisms of disease in transthyretin amyloidosis using several animal models of transthyretin amyloidosis. His clinical work in the area of transthyretin amyloidosis has greatly illuminated our understanding of the form of amyloidosis associated with the Transthyretin V122I (pV142I) mutation, which is found in about 3 to 4% of African Americans. His current work focuses on the role of autoimmune diseases in fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain, and in particular the association of these syndromes with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). His work also explores the other musculoskeletal and rheumatic manifestations of autoimmune thyroid disease, including the association with peripheral osteoarthritis and spinal osteoarthritis. These autoimmune syndromes can occur in the absence of thyroid dysfunction and are of particular interest to physicians and patients because AITD is by far the commonest autoimmune disease. Dr. Tagoe is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Sjogren Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Polymyositis.

Jonathan Samuels is a Rheumatologist in New York, New York. Dr. Samuels is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency, Tissue Biopsy, and Knee Replacement.

Dr. Elizabeth Kitsis is the Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Strategic Planning at Einstein. In this role, she supports the Einstein faculty in all aspects of professional development and well-being. She oversees faculty appointments and promotions, annual faculty evaluations, and faculty mentoring, among other activities. In addition, she leads the strategic planning process for Einstein. Dr. Kitsis is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. Her top areas of expertise are Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Sjogren Syndrome, Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome, and Antisynthetase Syndrome.

Dr. Barry J. Fomberstein is Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine (Rheumatology) at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a practicing rheumatologist at Montefiore Medical Center. He graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1976, and did his residency and fellowship at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Dr. Fomberstein is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD), Lupus Nephritis, and Dermatomyositis.

Dr. John Hardin joined the Division of Rheumatology full-time in January 2003. After several years in administration, Dr. Hardin resumed laboratory research and participates as an attending physician at the Jacobi Campus and at the Jacobi clinics. His research interests are systemic lupus erythematosus and autoantibodies. Dr. Hardin is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Arthritis, and Osteoarthritis.

Sandeep Gupta is a Rheumatologist in Bronx, New York. Dr. Gupta is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Bursitis, Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), and Tenosynovitis.

Joann Kang, MD, is Director, Cornea and Refractive Surgery and Associate Professor, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at Montefiore Einstein. A well-recognized physician and surgeon, Dr. Kang is devoted to patient care, surgery, research and teaching. Her clinical and surgical expertise includes cataract surgery, full and partial thickness corneal transplantation, ocular surface surgery/reconstruction, minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) and laser vision correction such as laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).Dr. Kang received her Bachelor of Science from Cornell University. She then pursued her Doctorate in Medicine at Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. After completing her transitional medicine internship at Maimonides Medical Center, she completed her three-year ophthalmology residency at Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago and was elected chief resident in her final year. Following this, she completed a corneal and external disease fellowship at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. Dr. Kang is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. Her top areas of expertise are Interstitial Keratitis, Glaucoma, Cataract, Corneal Transplant, and Trabeculectomy.

Claudia Patricia Castiblanco, MD, is Assistant Professor and Director of the Uveitis Service in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Montefiore-Einstein. Dr. Castiblanco’s clinical focus is the diagnosis and management of pediatric and adult patients with ocular inflammation, including uveitis and scleritis.  She attended Iona College and received her Bachelor of Science in biology and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2002.  She then completed the Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) focusing in genetic research at Yale University in 2003.  She attended Yale School of Medicine and earned her Doctor of Medicine in 2008. Her postdoctoral training began with a year-long internship in preliminary medicine at Greenwich Hospital. She then completed a three-year residency in ophthalmology at Yale-New Haven Hospital in 2012. Dr. Castiblanco finished her uveitis fellowship in 2013 with Dr. Stephen Foster at Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution (MERSI) where she obtained training in the medical and surgical management of patients with ocular inflammation. Dr. Castiblanco’s research focuses on the evaluation and management of uveitis. Her work has been shared through peer-reviewed journals, review articles and poster presentations.   Dr. Castiblanco is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the National Hispanic Medical Association and the Foster Ocular Immunology Society. Dr. Castiblanco is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. Her top areas of expertise are Uveitis, Neuroretinitis, Pigment-Dispersion Syndrome, and Scleritis.

Viral Virendra Juthani, MD, is Co-Director, Hutchinson Campus Ophthalmology and Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology at Montefiore-Einstein. Dr. Juthani’s clinical focus is on cornea and external diseases, refractive surgery, keratoconus, Fuchs dystrophy, corneal infections, and cataract surgery including advanced premium lens surgery, corneal transplantation, ocular surface disease and ocular surface reconstruction. Dr. Juthani is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Keratoconus, Cataract, Dry Eye Syndrome, and Glaucoma.

Konstantinos Loupasakis, MD, is an attending rheumatologist at Montefiore Einstein and Rheumatology Fellowship Program Director and Associate Professor, Medicine at our Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Loupasakis sees patients with a wide range of rheumatologic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus and multisystem sarcoidosis. Dr. Loupasakis is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Gout, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Sarcoidosis, and Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE).

Dr. Kumthekar is board certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. He received his medical degree from Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, India and trained in Internal Medicine at Jacobi Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He further completed his sub-specialty training in Rheumatology at Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Kumthekar is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Axial Spondyloarthritis (AxSpA), Arthritis, and Rheumatoid Vasculitis.

Dr. Ruchi Jain is board certified in Rheumatology and is a member of the American College of Rheumatology. After receiving her medical degree from the University at Buffalo School of Medicine (Buffalo, NY), she completed her Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital (New York, NY). Dr. Jain is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. Her top areas of expertise are Rhizomelic Pseudopolyarthritis, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), and Gout.

Teja Kapoor is a Rheumatologist in New York, New York. Dr. Kapoor is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. Her top areas of expertise are Dermatomyositis, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), MASS Phenotype, and Mixed Connective Tissue Disease.

Anca Askanase is a Rheumatologist in New York, New York. Dr. Askanase is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. Her top areas of expertise are Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Lupus Nephritis, Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD), and Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE).

Laura Geraldino-Pardilla is a Rheumatologist in New York, New York. Dr. Geraldino-Pardilla is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. Her top areas of expertise are Lupus Nephritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Arthritis, and Tissue Biopsy.

Richard Crane is a Rheumatologist in New York, New York. Dr. Crane is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis, Raynaud Phenomenon, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, and Rhizomelic Pseudopolyarthritis.

Harold Keiser is a Rheumatologist in Bronx, New York. Dr. Keiser is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Polymyositis, and Psoriatic Arthritis.

Damon Pettinelli is an Ophthalmologist in Bronx, New York. Dr. Pettinelli is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Ocular Hypertension (OHT), Glaucoma, Pterygium, and Cataract.

Anthony Terraciano is an Ophthalmologist in Bronx, New York. Dr. Terraciano is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Sjogren Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Glaucoma, Choroid Plexus Carcinoma, Cataract, and Allergic Conjunctivitis.