Scleroderma Patient
Education Conference
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Chicago, IL
8 am - 4 pm
Save the Date!
Information below refers to the 2024 Fall Education Conference
About the Conference
You didn’t choose scleroderma, but you do have choices - and you’re not alone. We have experts to guide you, and a community of people to support you so you can make informed decisions and live better.
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Hear the latest treatment options
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Experts in pulmonology, gastroenterology, rheumatology & more
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Find answers to your questions
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Get inspired by a community that understands
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Learn about small lifestyle changes to improve everyday life
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Take a holistic approach to your health
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Registration is FREE
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Breakfast and lunch provided
Thank you to our sponsors
View the Video Playlist
Topics & Speakers
Skin Signs of Scleroderma: A Dermatological Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment
Paras Vakharia, MD, PharmD
Assistant Professor, Dermatology
Associate Program Director
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Dr. Vakharia is a dermatologist and pharmacist at Northwestern. He completed his residency at the University of Texas Southwestern in 2022, and is part of the rheumatology-dermatology team at Northwestern, with a focus on scleroderma and other autoimmune diseases. Given his pharmacy background, he is a principal investigator for numerous clinical trials for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases at Northwestern.
Dr. Vakharia's talk will focus on the various skin signs of scleroderma, focusing on the presentation of these signs but also delving into the treatment of them as well. Attendees will hopefully be enlightened on the wide breath of involvement of the skin in scleroderma and the role of the dermatologist in scleroderma. The goal of this talk is to help patients understand the visible aspects of scleroderma, and also how these various skin aspects can be managed.
Scleroderma and Gastrointestinal Health
Joy Liu, MD
Instructor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
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Joy Liu, MD, is a gastroenterologist and hepatologist working at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She received her MD from Brown University Medical School in 2015 and completed her residency at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
GI issues are some of the most common symptoms of a scleroderma diagnosis. Dr. Liu will share invaluable insights about how you can improve your gut health while combatting scleroderma symptoms.
Updates in Clinical Trials in Scleroderma-Associated ILD
Bradford Bemiss, MD,
Associate Professor of Medicine
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Dr. Bemiss graduated from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and completed his fellowship at the Washington University School of Medicine. He has been in practice for over 10 years and has a subspeciality in Pulmonary disease and critical care medicine.
Dr. Bemiss will lead this informative session. The talk will center around the crucial topic of interstitial lung disease (ILD). Attendees can expect to gain invaluable insights into the latest advancements in ILD management, potential treatment options, and the importance of clinical trials in advancing care for scleroderma patients.
What’s New in Pulmonary Hypertension Treatment?
Michael J. Cuttica, MD
Associate Professor
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Department of Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine
Ruben Mylvaganam, MD
Assistant Professor
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Department of Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine
Dr. Cuttica has extensive experience in pulmonary vascular conditions, interstitial lung disease, and obstructive lung disease. He is committed to a career in patient-oriented research for pulmonary vascular disease, stemming from his clinical experience developing and building the Northwestern Pulmonary Hypertension Program. He is also interested in exploring the mechanisms of PH in order to identify the disease early and potentially alter PH progression. Dr. Mylvaganam has over seven years of experience with pulmonology and critical care medicine. He graduated from New York University in 2015 and completed his residency at Mount Sinai. He holds a fellowship from the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. His focuses are on chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, critical care, pulmonary embolism, and pulmonary hypertension.
Dr. Cuttica and Dr. Mylvaganam will co-lead an insightful talk on new developments in pulmonary hypertension (PH). Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about pulmonary hypertension, one of the most serious conditions that impact individuals with scleroderma. The talk will give an overview of pulmonary hypertension and new research and treatments.
Side Effects of Common Scleroderma Medications and How to Reduce Medication Risks
Carrie Richardson, MD
Assistant Professor, University of Michigan
Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Rheumatology
Co-Director, Northwestern Scleroderma Program
Dr. Richardson has worked with the Northwestern Scleroderma Center since 2012 and has published several papers on scleroderma, calcinosis, myositis, and interstitial lung disease. She completed her residency at Northwestern in 2015 and her fellowship at Johns Hopkins in 2018, and she returned to Northwestern in early 2022 as Co-Director of the Scleroderma Center.
Dr. Richardson's talk will focus on scleroderma treatment and how to reduce side effects or treatment risks. Scleroderma treatment is a complete necessity, and this presentation seeks to empower you with the knowledge to know what medication is right for you. If you or a loved one is experiencing side effects from their medication, this talk will be a must-attend event. Additionally, this presentation will discuss navigating the appointment process to optimize your ability to control your health and get the treatment you deserve.
Wellness Workshop: Improving our Mental Health and Coping with Chronic Illness
Judith Wilen, PhD
Professor, Northwestern University
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Tiffany Phanhdone, M.D.
Judith Wilen, PhD, is a clinical psychologist from Northwestern Scleroderma Program. Dr. Wilen received her PhD from the University of Chicago in 1986. Dr. Wilen treats psychotherapy as a collaborative process between the mental health professional and the patient to actively develop problem-focused interventions and improve the mental health of chronically ill individuals. Dr. Phanhdone will co-lead the wellness workshop, providing both medical and personal insights about coping with scleroderma.
Throughout the conference, we will offer two mental health workshops for attendees to engage in a discussion about improving mental health and coping strategies for dealing with chronic illness. If you’ve experienced feelings of sadness, anxiety, isolation, fear, grief, or depression since receiving your scleroderma diagnosis, know that you are not alone and there are steps you can take toward improving your mental and emotional health. These workshops are optional and we encourage you to participate in this important and uplifting discussion.
What Is CAR T-Cell Therapy and How Can It Help Systemic Sclerosis Patients?
David Collier, MD
Kyverna
Industry-sponsored event
Dr. Collier is a founding member of the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium, known as the SCTC. Previously, he was a Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado Medical School for 28 years. Since 2011, he has been in the Clinical Medical Industry. Dr. Collier was a Clinical Research Medical Director at Amgen for 12 years and at Kyverna for the last 11 months. Dr. Collier has had a long interest in systemic sclerosis. He ran a scleroderma clinic for 25 years and participated in several pharmaceutical trials focused on scleroderma patients. He's currently consulting with Kyverna Therapeutics' KYSA-5, a Phase 1/2 study of KYV-101 in patients with systemic sclerosis (NCT06400303).
In his talk, Dr. Collier will cover the way CAR T-cell therapy can help reset the patient's immune system by eliminating autoantibody-producing B cells and will provide a short overview of what eligible patients should expect as trial participants. Dr. Collier will also present some case studies where investigational CAR T-cell therapy led to a durable, immunosuppressant-free remission in study subjects.
Conference Schedule
8:00 - 9:00 Registration & Breakfast
9:00 - 9:30 Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:30 - 10:15 Dr. Vakharia, Skin Signs of Scleroderma: A Dermatological Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment
10:15 - 11:15 Dr. Liu, Scleroderma and Gastrointestinal Health
11:15 - 11:30 Break
11:30 am -12:30 pm Dr. Bemiss, Updates in Clinical Trials in Scleroderma-Associated ILD
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch
12:45 - 1:30 Wellness Workshop: Improving our Mental Health and Coping with Chronic Illness
(Boardroom 620)
1:30 - 2:30 Dr. Richardson, Side Effects of Common Scleroderma Medications and How to Reduce Medication Risks
2:30 - 2:35 Break
2:35 - 3:05 Dr. David Collier, What Is CAR T-Cell Therapy and How Can It Help Systemic Sclerosis Patients?
3:05 - 4:00 Dr. Cuttica & Dr. Mylvaganam, What’s New in Pulmonary Hypertension Treatment?
4:00 Closing Remarks & Raffle
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Covid-19 Guidelines
If you are experiencing any symptoms of Covid-19, such as a fever or cough, or have recently been exposed to someone who tested positive for Covid-19 we ask that you stay home. Surgical masks will be provided as needed. For those who may be at higher risk or prefer being around others who are wearing masks, we will have tables reserved at the conference where masks will be required.