2025 Update on Vasculitis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica & Vasculitis Ultrasound Workshop

Cambridge, MA US
March 28, 2025 to March 29, 2025

PLEASE NOTE: The Vasculitis Ultrasound Workshop is an optional add-on
 

 

A comprehensive update on vasculitis and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), with an optional hands-on vasculitis ultrasound workshop. Sessions will discuss the diagnosis and treatment of vasculitis and PMR. The course will feature high-yield talks from world-renowned physician-investigators conducting research on vasculitis and related conditions including giant cell arteritis (GCA), PMR, Takayasu’s arteritis (TAK), and ANCA-associated vasculitis (granulomatosis with polyangiitis [GPA], microscopic polyangiitis [MPA] and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis [EGPA]). This course targets the practicing rheumatologist, rheumatology trainee, and allied health professional including nephrologists, pulmonologists, otorhinolaryngologists, neurologists and others interested in learning about important advances in the field of vasculitis and PMR in recent years.

Registration Fees:

Registration TypeLectures ONLYLectures AND Workshop
Faculty & APPs$199.00$499.00
Fellows/Trainees$99.00$349.00
Industry $499.00$999.00

Target Audience

This activity is intended for Physicians, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, and other members of the healthcare team.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

  1. Become confident in the use of the various imaging modalities available for the diagnosis and longitudinal monitoring of patients with large vessel vasculitis (e.g., vascular ultrasound, advanced vascular imaging [CTA, MRI/MRA, PET]) while understanding strengths, limitations and performance of each modality.
     
  2. Employ the ability to create a comprehensive management plan for patients with large vessel vasculitis and PMR including immunomodulation, prevention of treatment-related side-effects, and longitudinal monitoring for disease relapse and disease-related vascular damage.
    • Understand the indications of tocilizumab for patients with GCA, recognizing its limitations and current knowledge gaps (e.g., treatment duration) while identifying alternatives for patients failing tocilizumab treatment.
    • Understand the role of sarilumab for patients with PMR
       
  3. Employ the ability to create a comprehensive management plan for patients with small vessel vasculitis including immunomodulation, prevention of treatment-related side-effects, and longitudinal monitoring for disease relapse and disease-related damage.
    • Understand when and how to use avacopan for the treatment of GPA and MPA
    • Understand the role of plasma exchange for patients with AAV
    • Understand when and how to use IL-5 blockade therapy for patients with EGPA

Hands-On Ultrasound Workshop:

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

  1. Illustrate the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of GCA.
  2. Describe the scanning protocol for large vessel vasculitis and review key considerations.
  3. Assess sonographic findings in vasculitis.
  4. Demonstrate how fast-track clinics can improve the care for patients with GCA.
  5. Perform hands-on vasculitis ultrasound training in small groups under expert faculty supervision. 
     

Additional Information

Provided by: 

Massachusetts General Hospital & Mass General Brigham 

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 12.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 12.00 Participation
Course opens: 
09/16/2024
Course expires: 
04/29/2025
Event starts: 
03/28/2025 - 7:30am EDT
Event ends: 
03/29/2025 - 11:30am EDT
Cost:
$199.00
Add to calendar: 

2025 Update on Vasculitis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Friday, March 28, 2025 | 7:30am - 5:40pm

7:30amCourse Registration, Welcome & Breakfast
8:00

Imaging of the Cranial Arteries for the Diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis (US, MRI and PET)
| Mark A. Matza, MD, MBA, RhMSUS

8:40

How to Use Large Artery Imaging for the Management of Patients with Large Vessel Vasculitis | Kaitlin A. Quinn, MD

9:20

Q&A Panel: LVV Imaging |
Kaitlin A. Quinn, MD
Mark A. Matza, MD, MBA, RhMSUS
Minna J. Kohler, MD, RhMSUS

9:50Morning Break
10:10

Difficult Vasculitis Cases | Belen Arevalo, MD & Eli Miloslavsky, MD

11:10

Current Treatment of Giant Cell Arteritis: IL-6 Blockade and Beyond | John H. Stone, MD, MPH

11:50

What is the Role of Biologics and Other Glucocorticoid-Sparing Agents in the Treatment of Polymyalgia Rheumatica | Sebastian Unizony, MD

12:30pm

Lunch Break

1:20

Standard of Care and Future Perspective for Takayasu’s Arteritis | Tanaz A. Kermani, MD

2:00Towards No Glucocorticoid Use for ANCA-Associated Vasculitis: Avacopan and Other Treatments in the Pipeline | Peter Merkel, MD, MPH
2:40

To PLEX or not to PLEX? What is the Current Role for Plasma Exchange in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis | Zachary S. Wallace, MD, MSc

3:10

Afternoon Break

3:30

When and How to Use Eosinophil-targeted Therapies for Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis | Michael Wechsler, MD, MMSc

4:10

Not Everything is Immunosuppression in Vasculitis. Adjunctive Treatments (glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis prevention, immunizations, cardiovascular disease prevention) | Naomi Patel, MD, MPH

4:50

Panel: Vasculitis Treatment Q&A | 
Peter Merkel, MD, MPH
Zachary S Wallace, MD, MSc
Michael Wechsler, MD, MMSc
Naomi Patel, MD, MPH
Tanaz A Kermani, MD
Sebastian Unizony, MD

5:30Conclusion Remarks
5:40pmAdjourn


*Please Note: Agendas Are Subject To Change
 

Vascular Ultrasound Workshop

Saturday, March 29, 2025 | 7:30am - 11:30am

7:30am

Welcome and Introduction to Vasculitis Ultrasound | Mark A. Matza, MD, MBA, RhMSUS & Minna J. Kohler, MD, RhMSUS

7:35

Basics of Vasculitis Ultrasound: Machine & Doppler Settings, and Protocol | Mark A. Matza, MD, MBA, RhMSUS

8:05

Live Demonstration: Temporal and Axillary Artery | Mark A. Matza, MD, MBA, RhMSUS

8:15

Hands on Vasculitis Ultrasound Scanning: Temporal Arteries |
Mark A. Matza, MD, MBA, RhMSUS
Minna J. Kohler, MD, RhMSUS
Hamid Shokoohi, MD, MPH
Myma Albayda, MD

9:15Morning Break
9:30

Pitfalls, Tips, and Tricks in Vasculitis Ultrasound | Mark A. Matza, MD, MBA, RhMSUS & Minna J. Kohler, MD, RhMSUS

9:45

Clinical Cases in Vasculitis Ultrasound | Mark A Matza, MD, MBA, RhMSUS

10:00

Hands on Vasculitis Ultrasound Scanning: Axillary and Temporal Arteries | 
Mark A. Matza, MD, MBA, RhMSUS
Minna J. Kohler, MD, RhMSUS
Hamid Shokoohi, MD, MPH
Myma Albayda, MD

11:30am

Adjournment of Vascular Ultrasound Workshop


*Please Note: Agendas Are Subject To Change

Kimpton Marlowe Hotel
25 Edwin H Land Blvd
Cambridge, MA 02141
United States

Course Directors

Mark A. Matza, MD, MBA, RhMSUS
Clinical Director, Rheumatology,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Sebastian H. Unizony, MD
Co-Director, Rheumatology Vasculitis Program,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Zachary S. Wallace, MD, MSc
Co-Director, Rheumatology Vasculitis Program,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

​​​​Minna J. Kohler, MD, RhMSUS (Vasculitis Ultrasound Workshop Co-Director)
Director, Rheumatology Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Program,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School

 

Faculty

Belen Arevalo, MD
Rheumatology,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Tanaz A. Kermani, MD
Rheumatology,
Santa Monica Rheumatology,
UCLA Health;
Founder and Director, Multi-Disciplinary Vasculitis Program, UCLA

Eli Miloslavsky, MD
Co-Director, Vasculitis and Glomerulonephritis Center,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Peter Merkel, MD, MPH
Chief, Division of Rheumatology
Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology,
University of Pennsylvania

Naomi Patel, MD, MPH
Rheumatology,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Kaitlin A. Quinn, MD
Staff Clinician,
Vasculitis Translational Research Program,
Associate Director, Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program,
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

John H. Stone, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School,
The Edward A. Fox Chair in Medicine,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Executive Chairman, The IgG4ward! Foundation

Michael Wechsler, MD, MMSc
Professor of Medicine,
Associate Vice President, Innovation & Industry Relations,
Director, NJH Cohen Family Asthma Institute,
Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health
 

Instructors

Hamid Shokoohi, MD, MPH
Director, Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship,
Director, Emergency Ultrasound Research,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine,
Harvard Medical School

Myma Albayda, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine,
Director, Rheumatology Fellowship Program,
Director, Musculoskeletal Ultrasound and Injection Clinic,
Johns Hopkins University

In support of improving patient care, Mass General Brigham is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Credit Designation Statements

AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM
Mass General Brigham designates this live activity for a maximum of 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Available Credit

  • 12.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 12.00 Participation

Price

Cost:
$199.00
Please login or register to take this course.
Registration TypeLectures ONLYLectures AND Workshop
Faculty & APPs$199.00$499.00
Fellows/Trainees$99.00$349.00
Industry $499.00$999.00

 

 

Cancellation Policy:
Registrations cancelled on or before March 14, 2025 will be refunded, less a $40 administrative fee. Registrations cancelled after March 14, 2025 will not be refunded.

Contact mgbcpd@mgb.org if you require assistance in cancelling your online registration.