Rheumatology Update and Highlights from ACR 2025

The Rheumatology Update & Highlights from ACR course, organized by an interprofessional team of physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, is designed for a wide range of healthcare professionals, including rheumatologists, internists, hospitalists, family practitioners, ophthalmologists, pathologists, physiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, nurses, and pharmacists. This course may also be of interest to physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

This half-day in-person course will feature lectures, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions, to provide updates on the latest advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases, with highlights from the ACR Convergence 2025 meeting. The course aims to enhance participants' knowledge, competence, and clinical performance in managing rheumatic diseases while fostering interprofessional collaboration. Topics will include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, vasculitis, scleroderma, Sjogrens syndrome, myositis, crystalline arthritis, and interstitial lung disease. Participants will also engage with faculty during an informal lunch session to discuss key concepts. The goal of this activity is to enhance knowledge, skillsstrategy, performance, and patient care.

1. Evaluate and apply the latest developments in rheumatology to their clinical practice.
2. Implement new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for managing patients with rheumatic diseases.
3. Understand and apply current and emerging ACR guidelines for the diagnosis and management of rheumatic diseases.
4. Describe the latest treatment options for conditions such ascrystalline arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, Sjogrens syndrome,vasculitis, inflammatory myopathies, and interstitial lungdisease.
5. Review and interpret the mechanisms of disease and organ system dysfunction associated with these rheumatologic conditions.

This is a continuing medical education activity intended for healthcare providers.

*** IMPORTANT NOTE for Employees of industry (e.g., pharmaceutical & device companies):
DO NOT REGISTER HERE. Please email [email protected] for pre-approval for attendance at this course. Should you register without pre-approval, your registration will be cancelled and refunded less a $25 administrative fee. 

Registration will be available until Friday, February 6, 2026 12:00pm CT.  After this time, please register on-site.

Fees include enrollment, continuing education credits, educational materials, continental breakfast, lunch, refreshment breaks and daytime self-parking (paid registrants only).

Registration/Payment Policy: Your full payment in advance completes your registration and ensures your enrollment in this course. 

Cancellations: Registration fee less $50 administrative charge is refundable if cancellation is received in writing by emailing [email protected] by January 24, 2026. Registration fees are not transferrable.

In support of improving patient care, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis 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.

The cancellation cut-off dates and fees are specific to each course. Refer to the cancellation policy on the individual course page. Please send cancellation requests to [email protected].

WashU Medicine CME reserves the right to cancel or postpone this program if necessary; in the event of cancellation, course fees will be fully refunded. We are not responsible for other costs incurred, such as non-refundable airline tickets or hotel penalties.

Continuing Medical Education at Washington University School of Medicine fully complies with the legal requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act rules and regulations thereof. If any participant of this meeting is in need of accommodations, please do not hesitate to submit written requests, at least one month prior to seminar date.

Suggested Hotel Accommodations: 
Doubletree by Hilton St. Louis Forest Park 
Adjacent to the conference center:
4550 Forest Park Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110

Make your hotel reservations directly with the hotel:

By phone at 314-256-7777.  Ask for the Washington University Visitor rate.

Online at  https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/stlpkdt

Enter Code #3209101 under “special rate corporate

The Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta St. Louis
212 N Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108
Make your hotel reservations directly with the hotel.
Online: Chase Park Plaza Hotel
By phone: 314-633-3300

AC Hotel St. Louis - Central West End
215 York Avenue, St. Louis MO 63108

314.367.2566   

Or click this link to make reservations:   
Washington University School of Medicine - AC Hotel Reservations

Please Note: Washington University is not responsible for airline, hotel reservations or any other travel expenses. Please confirm registration acceptance prior to purchase of nonrefundable or penalty airline tickets.

Transportation:
•    Taxis from the airport are approximately $40.
•    Lyft and Uber are also available.
•    MetroLink runs from the airport to the Medical Center
     (Central West End Station) for approximately $4.00.

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis School of Medicine adheres to ACCME Criteria, Standards and Policies regarding industry support of continuing medical education. Disclosure of faculty and their commercial relationships will be made prior to the activity.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including Faculty, planners, reviewers, or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

Member Information

Role in activity

Nature of Relationship(s) / Name of Ineligible Company(s)

Prabha Ranganathan, MD
Division of Rheumatology
Wash U Medicine
St. Louis, MO

Course Director, Faculty

Grant or research support-Janssen Scientific Affairs LLC|Grant or research support-Pfizer Inc|Other relevant financial or material interests

Mohamed Babiker, MD
Washington University
St. Louis, MO

Faculty

Nothing to disclose

Vladimir N. Despotovic, MD
Washington University School of Medicine
St. Louis, MO

Faculty

Colin Diffie, MD
WUSM
St Louis, MO

Faculty

Grant or research support-Amgen Inc|Other relevant financial or material interests

Andrew Jones, MD
Assistant Professor
Washington University/Barnes Jewish Hospital
St Louis, MO

Faculty

Nothing to disclose

Alfred H Kim, MD, FACR
Associate Professor
Washington University School of Medicine
Saint Louis, MO

Faculty

Consulting Fee-ABBVIE (Relationship has ended)|Consulting Fee-AMGEN (Any division) (Relationship has ended)|Grant or research support-AstraZeneca (Any division)|Consulting Fee-AURINIA PHARMA U.S., INC.|Grant or research support-BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB|Grant or research support-CRISPR Therapeutics|Consulting Fee-Exagen Diagnostics|Consulting Fee-GENENTECH (Relationship has ended)|Consulting Fee-GLAXOSMITHKLINE|Consulting Fee-Hinge Bio (Relationship has ended)|Consulting Fee-Invivyd|Consulting Fee-Kymera Therapeutics (Relationship has ended)|Consulting Fee-Kypha|Royalties or Patent Beneficiary-Kypha|Consulting Fee-Miltenyi Biomedicine (Relationship has ended)|Grant or research support-NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS|Honoraria-The Rheumatology Education Group|Honoraria-UpToDate|Consulting Fee-Zenas BioPharma

Deborah L. Parks, MD
Professor of Medicine, Director of Clinical Operations, Div Rheumatology
Washington University School of Medicine
St. Louis, MO

Faculty

Other relevant financial or material interests-Path Healthcare Systems Corp (*)|Grant or research support-argenx BV

Deepali Sen, MD
Associate Professor
WUSM
St. Louis, MO

Faculty

Aisha Shaikh, MD
Associate Professor
Washington University School of Medicine
St. Louis, MO

Faculty

Nothing to disclose

Reema Syed, MD
Professor
Washington University School of Medicine
olivette, MO

Faculty

Nothing to disclose

Colleen Dostal, DNP
Washington University of St. Louis
St. Louis, MO

Faculty, Nurse Planner, Peer Reviewer

Nothing to disclose

Chrisitne Pham, MD
Guy and Ella Mae Magness Professor of Medicine
WUSM
St. Louis, MO

Faculty, Other Planning Committee Member

Nothing to disclose

Sumon Sen, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Internal Medicine
VA St Louis Health Care System
St Louis, MO

Faculty, Pharmacy Planner

Advisor-Ventegra

Saturday, February 7, 2026